Dingle boss: 'Tom is one of the best footballers in the country. He's such an influential player for us'

Dingle manager Pádraig Corcoran also paid tribute to his coaching team for preparing the players for chasing games as they have done in four of their last five outings.

Tom O'Sullivan scored five points for Dingle in their All-Ireland Club SFC final victory over St Brigid's. Pic: Piaras Ó Mídheach/Sportsfile

Dingle never lost sight of what was on the line for them in this final, claimed Pádraig Corcoran.

"We needed everything we had and we left everything we had outside in the field today," he remarked.

There’s nothing to say St Brigid’s will be back in an All-Ireland club final any time soon but for Dingle, competitive and demographic hurdles appear greater.

“I just think it's such a hard road to get back,” said Corcoran. “And to get out of our own county championship there's so many really, really good teams there. It took us 77 years to win a championship.

“But we knew that there was so much on the line today. That we might not get back there. You even take Mark (O’Connor) in point. You might not get Mark again if he was still in Australia.

“It was unbelievable to get him in when Barry O'Sullivan was injured. But you just don't know. Fellas could move out. Or move away. Or they're travelling.

“And we got a great commitment from guys coming back. The two O'Connor brothers came back this year. Aidan and Patrick. And you saw the influence they had.

“I thought Patrick did fairly well on Ben O'Carroll there. Inside in the corner. And Aidan. They've been big players for us. And they bring physical strength. And we need everybody we can get.” 

Corcoran hailed Tom O’Sullivan who kicked those two crucial points before Geaney’s winner.

“We thought before that he might be cramping up. But he found a new lease of life there, I suppose, in the last few minutes.

“Just real composure to get the ball into the scoring position and drive on. He really drove on for one of those scores at the Hill 16 end. Tom is just one of the best footballers in the country. And he's such an influential player for us. He's a real leader and he showed that again today.” 

Corcoran agreed Ballymacelligott and neighbours An Ghaeltacht’s junior and intermediate All-Ireland triumphs last Sunday did spur on Dingle to follow suit.

“Those two wins, without even saying it amongst the group, probably inspired the players. And it gave them an even bigger incentive maybe.” 

The manager also paid tribute to his coaching team for preparing the players for chasing games as they have done in four of their last five outings.

“Their game management is good. And I think you've got to give a lot of credit to our coaches. The likes of Tommy Griffin, Johnny B. Brosnan, James Weldon, Aidan O’Shea have done a massive amount with Jim Garvey and Thomas Barrett along with our unbelievable S&C group in Shane O'Rourke, Gavin Curran and Mark Evans who just have the boys in great fettle.

“And I think that shone through in the last number of games. Going to extra-time, our ability to keep going but the calmness and the coaching outside on the field done by the boys I named there. Liam O’Connor as well. Unbelievable.”