Crowley proud players are answering 'soft Sars' jibes

Sarsfields manager John Crowley was delighted with his side's resilience and perseverance

Mon, 02 Oct, 2023 - 06:54

Therese O’Callaghan

Sarsfields manager John Crowley was delighted with their resilience and perseverance as they head to their first Premier senior county final since 2015.

“I said it to the lads inside, every question that has been asked of us this year, we’ve answered.

“Our temperament – there’s this thing out there that, if you put Sars under pressure, they’ll buckle and they don’t have the heart and they can’t play under pressure. We seem to be answering these in abundance.

“We’ve gone through the championship unbeaten and we’ve beaten three of the last four county winners – Imokilly, Blackrock and the Barrs – and there has to be a bit of quality about a team to do that.

“We’re beating average teams, we’re beating really good teams with a lot of depth, a lot of class and a lot of big names. We’re over the moon.”

Even in extra-time, there was no reason to be anxious.

“We went in and we were a very composed dressing room.

“We spoke about our belief and our systems and what we’re about. We rejigged it a small bit. We brought Cathal (McCarthy) out from being the plus-one inside to a plus-eight. We felt that, if he got on a bit of ball, he might do some damage and he did.

“In the last 20 minutes, he was terrific but they all were. It took some amount of character, not alone to come back but to get your mind right to go again. I’m delighted for the lads, delighted for the club.

“I know it’s a cliché but it’s true, I’m so proud of these boys.”

Imokilly manager Denis Ring said he was very proud of the effort his players put in, but when the game went to extra-time he was concerned about player welfare as several of them had lined out with their clubs over the weekend.

“Once it went to extra-time, I was worried then for our fellas. It was going to be a big ask. It was almost surprising they hung on there and were within a puck of the ball.

“It was a massive concern coming into the game. Castlemartyr two weeks in a row playing on the Saturday, not even getting 24 hours. I couldn’t really understand how that could be done. We are disappointed from that point of view.

“When players give so much to their club, their division and their county on a voluntary basis, I would have serious concerns for player welfare. I don’t think if anybody was on a fixture committee that was a player or a medical person, that you would impose that on players.

“Could you imagine a club side going out and playing a championship match with everything on the line on Saturday, and going out and playing again on the Sunday? It is like playing the semi-final on Saturday and the final on Sunday. It would be unheard of.

“I’ve been involved with a lot of teams over the years, these are extraordinary guys. Nine of the 15 played over the weekend. Of those that came on, you are talking 12 or 13.

“Very proud, I thought they played very well, but disappointed for them.

“I wouldn’t like to take anything away from Sars, they play the game the way it should be played. I wish them well.”