Caffrey: Dubs Lucky to get second chance
Caffrey, who coached the Na Fianna team which contested the All-Ireland club final two years ago, was the man who took over the role of manager and readily admitted his disappointment at the outcome. “There wasn’t that much left after we got our second goal, and I thought we were in with a great chance of winning it.
“Unfortunately, we just didn’t have the composure in the last four or five minutes. But you would have to credit Donegal, who kept plugging away and built up the chances. The couple of late chances we had we fluffed them. We just panicked. But, it was awful hot out there and you couldn’t blame the players.’’
The start of the game was scrappy, he also said, especially when compared to the type of “champagne football in the opening minutes of the second game on Sunday, when nobody could miss”.
“The tactics of the teams decided that it wasn’t going to be a serious open game ’til the sorting out was done and fellows got accustomed to where they were playing.’’
The message to his team at half-time was that they weren’t playing well - with Ray Cosgrove’s first goal coming at a stage “when they were on the back-foot”.
“I don’t think we played football as good as we played the last day, but we always looked to be in the game. And, when you get goals, you expect to win games. But, then again three points is always a dangerous lead.
“I don’t know if Donegal are elated or not, but we are disappointed.’’
Pointing out that the news of Lyons’ admission to hospital was a shock to all concerned, Caffrey said that they all had jobs to do. It was merely a matter of “getting the heads down”.
“I was hoping we’d be giving him something to put a smile on his face, but, it wasn’t to be. And, he’d only have a smirk now,’’ he joked. At a personal level, he pointed out that he had been due to fly out to Spain with his wife and three sons this morning.
More pertinently, he made it clear that he hadn’t come under additional pressure as a consequence of taking over the manager’s responsibility.
“Tommy is doing a great job with this team, but we have all been
involved from the start. It was just a matter of carrying on. Looking on, the disappointing fact is that we did not play as well as we did in our last two games. While I felt we should have held out, maybe we were lucky at the end to get another chance.’’
Ray Cosgrove didn’t claim inspiration for his two goals, although he felt fortunate enough to be in the right place, at the right time. “Somebody up there is looking down on me,’’ he said.
His recollection of the first goal was of turning the full-back, “pulling the trigger” and seeing goalkeeper Tony Blake go to the wrong side. The second one came “on a plate”, courtesy of a pass from Jason Sherlock. “I just couldn’t miss,’’ he added.
Cosgrove revealed that the players only became aware of Lyons’ illness when they met for training on Sunday evening. “We did well without the gaffer. Hopefully he will be back for the replay. He’s a great man manager, very confident inside in the dressingroom and that confidence rubs off on you.’’
Dublin Secretary John Costello pointed out that he had been in contact with Lyons a few hours before the game. “We spoke to him shortly before we came into Croke Park and he was in great condition. He wished the rest of the selectors the best of luck and said he had every confidence in their ability. We wish him the best of luck and we hope to have him back on the sideline soon, and in full health,’’ he said.
To his knowledge, there had been no contact between Lyons and the management during the game. And, he discounted any possibility that it would have any implications for his future tenure of the position.
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