Manager Kearney hails ace forward Devine’s super show

Modeligo manager Pa Kearney acknowledged the green flags raised by his side in yesterday’s Munster JHC win over Castlemartyr were crucial to their win.

“It was definitely the old cliche today, goals win matches. No matter who you play, if you get the ball in around the square then there are going to be chances if you can win the breaks. We were lucky those breaks went our way and we ended up getting five goals.”

Kearney also hailed the crucial display of full-forward Tom Devine.

“Tom’s a superb hurler and he’s such a versatile player he can line out anywhere from wing-back up to full-forward.

“But it’s only in the last two games he’s gone into full-forward for us.

“You have to change things up every now and again, he stuck to the task and set up goals as well as getting two himself. He’s a big man and he’s hard to handle, and that move worked for us. But he can’t puck the ball into himself, the backs and midfielders and others must supply the ball, and they did that.”

Kearney was concerned when Castlemartyr rallied early in the second-half.

“The fourth goal came just at the right time. We knew they were always going to come at us at some stage, and they did.

“We gave away some silly frees in the second-half that left them back into it but then we got the break with the goal – that meant that instead of having to claw back three points, one ball and you’re there.

“It made a big difference and it really steadied the ship.

“We could have been under fair pressure without that goal.”

Now Modeligo take on the English champions. “Two years ago there was an English team in the final and three years ago an English team won it,” said Kearney.

“It doesn’t matter where the club is from if they get to a final. A Northern side won it last year so that doesn’t make a difference. It’s another game for us and hopefully we can give it a right shot.

“We’ll take a few weeks of a break, see what we have to do and give it a shot.”

Castlemartyr coach Christy Connery was disappointed for his players:

“The better team won on the day, if you don’t perform you don’t win and that’s the pity of it.

“When you get to this stage you’d like to play as well as you can. Only one team can win it, and fair play to Modeligo, they played extremely well.

“We set out our goals at the start of the year and getting up to the next level (was the main one). We did that, and fair play to the lads. It’s not just a case of what was done this year, it’s work that was done over the last five or six years. We can’t be too disappointed, it’s been a terrific year.”