We were not going to let this one go, says delighted Doody

Rockchapel manager Tom Doody may be no stranger to club football success, but yesterday will rank among his most memorable achievements.

Doody has enjoyed glory days with the likes of Kiskeam, Ballyclough and Ballydesmond but securing a county title with his home parish may possibly surpass all that has gone before.

Achieving victory in a replay added to the drama of the journey.

An elated Doody said: “I thought our boys really stood up to it and played great football. We came back to try and right what we did wrong the last day.

“We watched the DVD and we had 15 wides. That never happened to Rockchapel this year. We said if we get our passes right, play as a team, and forget about individuals, all we wanted was victory. I didn’t care who scored. A goal at any stage is going to turn the tide. We got it a good time and our heads were up. There were a few dangerous moments but we survived. All our six backs did extremely well. We cut it fairly well at midfield. Up front we got 1-7 and you couldn’t ask for more.”

Doody’s side started poorly, failing to score for the first 15 minutes. “We were on the back foot,” Doody agreed.

“We then got four points and at half time we said we were a half an hour from glory and we were not going to let this one go.”

Kilmurry selector Sean Murphy graciously admitted the better side won. “We were lucky to survive the first day, and we thought our luck might turn. Congratulations to Rockchapel, I thought they deserved it and good luck to them. It was a reverse to the last day when we got the good start. But we didn’t play to our potential, it is disappointing but we will get on with it.

“We only played as well as were let play too. We gave it our best. In a tight game a goal was always going to make a difference.

“We had possession and we lost it. But these are the margins and the small things that games turn on. The lads have been great all year. This is our first defeat in 19 games.”