Anthony Cunningham: ‘If you don't win it, this year still would be a failure’

The ambition had been set in the 2024 defeat by Glen. The only way to improve was to go one step further and finish the job.

Anthony Cunningham: ‘There is only one winner really, that is the hard line of sport.’ Pic: Seb Daly/Sportsfile

It came in sequence. Four days after their All-Ireland final defeat, Jerome Stack stood down as St Brigid’s manager. Twenty-four hours later, Anthony Cunningham was appointed. There was only one direction the club intended to travel.

They were closing fast on the summit of the county championship roll of honour. Cunningham, a former Galway All-Ireland-winning hurler and ex-Roscommon football manager, had worked with them previously — as well as guiding Westmeath’s Garrycastle to an All-Ireland final.