Hurney: we gave them one hell of a battle

DESPITE suffering a Munster final defeat, Ballinacourty manager Pakie Hurney wasn’t too despondent in Killarney yesterday.

He explained: “We were written off by all the pundits and, if you were to believe some of the papers, we had no business turning up here today.

“Nobody likes losing a Munster final and we are disappointed, but I can take a great deal of satisfaction from the effort our lads put in. Coming down here today we knew we were up against one of the best club teams in the country. But I’m quite sure Nemo will agree they got one hell of a battle off us. The effort the lads made out there today was massive and I’m delighted for that alone.

“Hurling would be our number one priority, but once we went out of the Waterford hurling championship, we put in a massive effort to do well in the football. We rode our luck along the way, but we came here determined to give it a right go.

“We didn’t fear them, we respected them. But all credit to our lads for the way they battled. There were only three points between the teams at the finish and who would have believed that before the game.”

Asked about the decision to play against the wind after they had won the toss, Hurney said: “that was our decision, and we’ll live by it.

“The wind doesn’t win or lose matches. It had a big bearing on today’s match, but it was all about effort on the part of the players, and I cannot speak highly enough of the effort and commitment our lads gave. We looked to have gotten back into the game when we scored 1-1 without reply early in the second half, but Nemo came back for a point which was crucial.

“Credit Nemo, they are a very good footballing team and were that bit slicker than us.

“Our team is exceptionally young, with 11 of the team who finished the game U21. We have the nucleus of a very good team, but only time will tell if we can fulfil our potential. When you consider we spent the first five months of the year concentrating on hurling, and there was only three points between us and Nemo Rangers in the Munster Club football final, I have to be pleased with the way the year has gone for us.”