Ryan: Nobody gave us a chance coming down

THE winning manager was a little detached as the celebrations began yesterday. When De La Salle’s captain, Ian Flynn, paid tribute to Michael Ryan the man in the bainisteoir’s bib gave a nod to the podium but didn’t go overboard.

He had the look of a man savouring the surroundings.

“We have to be happy,” said Ryan. “We’ve had a very tough campaign – we beat the Cork champions in the semi-final and Tipperary now. Nobody gave us a chance coming down only ourselves, and Thurles Sars are a formidable team, a very good hurling team.