Gracious Gammell hides disappointment and praises champs

For so many years Mervyn Gammell has been the hero for Charleville, starring in the North Cork championship when some of his current team-mates were still in the cradle.

On Saturday, on the biggest stage of all, Croke Park on All-Ireland final day, he was doing it again, scoring 1-2 in the second-half to bring his team to the verge of glory.

Ultimately there was no fairytale ending though with Gammell missing a half-chance from distance and man-of-the-match Bill Staunton then scoring a superb winner for St Patrick’s.

Immediately afterwards, and despite his own personal massive disappointment, Gammell was full of grace.

“It is very hard to take right now. I thought we’d brought it to extra-time but they came back with a great point to win it. They’re a very talented side with excellent hurlers all over the field. We can’t begrudge them the win.

“That (his own display) doesn’t mean anything to me. This evening they were just that little bit stronger but there’s nothing between us really — if we met again tomorrow, who knows?

Selector and long-time coach John Collins was full of praise for his team.

“Mervyn had a mighty game — I’d love to know what it is he’s eating, I’d have some for myself! We didn’t hit the heights we needed to, but St Patrick’s are a superb team. They were very quick around the break — you saw it there with Alan (O’Connor).

“He had some great catches but they were in around him immediately and if a ball spilt they were on to the breaks.

But there’s great character in this team; Mickey O’Flynn did very well at corner-back, he was outstanding after a shaky start.

“It was a pity we didn’t get the odd bounce of the ball — Danny (O’Flynn, captain and team leader) got a nasty hand injury (taken away for stitching just before half-time), I think it took a bit out of him.

“But it’s been an incredible journey. It is a pity we didn’t finish it off in style. We haven’t got long to wait now for our first intermediate game so we have to park this.

“We will have a few pints, a break, recharge the batteries and then knuckle down again.

It wasn’t all bad news for Charleville however. Dessie Fitzgerald, who suffered a serious spinal injury in the Cork semi-final, made a surprise but very welcome appearance in the dressing-room beforehand and watched the game from the sidelines.

“We had Dessie in the dressing-room beforehand and it was very emotional. He presented the jerseys and made a speech. It was great to have him here. He’s coming along, as well as can be expected and is in great spirits. If anyone can beat this, Dessie will.”