McConnell: victory tinged with sadness

MID-MORNING yesterday at the CityWest Hotel and Pascal McConnell is standing at the top of the stairs overlooking a lobby drowning in a sea of red and white still trying to process the events of the previous 48 hours.

“After 2005 we never thought that it would take three years to get back to another final. Things were looking so bright but then a spate of injuries set in. It was nice to turn things around when those boys recovered and get the chance to produce another All-Ireland.

“It’s testament to everyone involved. It’s been great to bounce back.”