Considine: We weren’t going to be beaten, not today

A dog-fight was what Kilmallock manager Tony Considine expected, a dog-fight was what he got.

“We were under fierce pressure today after the manner of the semi-final win over Na Piarsaigh, everyone was raving about that game,” he said.

“It’s hard then to get lads back down to earth and they were nervous out there. In the first half especially you could see that. I knew though, that once we got ahead we wouldn’t be beaten. That goal was critical [47th minute] and opened that little gap, but remember, in Adare you’re talking about a very experienced team.

“I know the Sparrow [Adare manager Ger O’Loughlin, another Clareman] very well, I’d be good friends with him. He has three county titles in a row won with these lads. That takes them some effort and many of those players were still here today.

“I knew he’d have them prepared for us but, by Jesus, we weren’t going to be beaten, not today.”

Having seen them destroy 2011 Limerick and Munster champions 4-24 to 4-13 in the semi-final O’Loughlin knew Adare couldn’t afford to take on Kilmallock in a shoot-out.

“We made a battle of it but to be fair to these players, over the last seven or eight years they’re a team of winners, and I didn’t expect anything different today,” he said.

“We knew we were coming up against a very strong Kilmallock team, very impressive in their win over Na Piarsaigh. In saying that it could have gone either way. We could be going up those steps as easy as Kilmallock, it was literally one puck of a ball, that goal. We lost our concentration for a minute, lost our shape and to be fair to Kilmallock, they took advantage.

“I’m awful disappointed to lose a final but hugely proud of these lads. Every last one of them gave their last ounce, I couldn’t have asked for anything more.”