‘It is an absolute disaster, this is so disappointing’

On the pitch, and along with every other player in blue yesterday, Cratloe wing-back and captain Martin ‘Ogie’ Murphy had run himself ragged as they worked to pull back a seven-point half-time deficit.

Afterwards, having come so close, he was left shattered in every sense.

“We started very well, went two points up, then they got their bearings and went 10 points to two ahead. We got a point back before the break but we left ourselves with too much of a gap. The second half was just brilliant, if only we’d had a bit more of that in the first half we might have taken it. They scored only three points in that half which is testament to the defending we did, from 15 all the way back.

“At half-time Colm questioned us. He said we hadn’t done enough in the first half and we hadn’t. We dug deep after half-time and just came up short. It is an absolute disaster the way it finished, it’s only sinking in now.

“We finished the much stronger team. This is so disappointing.”

The Colm who had done the questioning at half-time was manager Colm Collins. Those questions though were only of a temporary nature — no one could be as proud of this young team who were given no chance before this game.

“We were quietly confident coming in, we knew we had a very good team and the fact we were such outsiders gave us an even greater chance. It didn’t work out, we were just that small bit short, lacked a little composure when the chips were down at the end. We left Dr Crokes get too far ahead.

“I don’t know if we were paying them too much respect or if it was just nerves but in the second half we played really well. But I’m very proud of them.”

Back-boning Cratloe, first-time Clare senior football champions this year, was their full platoon of All-Ireland-winning hurlers, U21 Enda Boyce at wing-back, midfielder Conor Ryan, and all six attackers, including his own two sons Sean and the omnipresent Podge. “Ah they’re good footballers, a lot of them are very natural, they’ve been playing it since they were seven or eight. They’re a great bunch, they’ve been doing this all year long. They’re extremely dedicated, they give everything every day they go out. You’d have to be very proud to be associated with them, it’s a pleasure to work with them and train them.”

It wasn’t just their attack of course — defence has been the cornerstone on Cratloe’s advance this year, and defence was to the fore again yesterday, albeit after a dodgy opening half.

“The second half was different. We had conceded no goal in the championship and I figured if we managed that again today we’d win the match. Unfortunately it wasn’t good enough but credit to Crokes, they’re a fine team, lovely natural footballers, well able to take their points under pressure. Daithí Casey kicked the equaliser, Johnny Buckley the winner, neither was an easy kick but fair play to them, they stuck it over the bar. Congrats to them but we’re bitterly disappointed, we felt we had a fantastic opportunity.”