Munchin’s coach praises charges after ‘heartbreaking’ defeat

St Munchin’s forwards coach Ger Burke was only thinking of the crestfallen players when he described yesterday’s Avonmore Supermilk Munster Senior Schools Cup final defeat to Rockwell as “heartbreaking, absolutely heartbreaking”.

Munchin’s coach praises charges after ‘heartbreaking’ defeat

“They didn’t deserve to lose, they didn’t deserve this, I honestly thought this was going to be our year,” he said.

“They’re a superb bunch of guys and my heart is breaking for them. Don’t get me wrong, Rockwell are a fabulous side, well coached, great individuals and they play great rugby, but I couldn’t have asked for any more.

“They played absolutely superb did our boys, they did everything that was asked of them, their defence at times was breathtaking and they also created plenty of chances. It was just so close that it’s really hard to take.”

In the midst of Rockwell’s celebrations, their head coach Mark Butler even took time out to sympathise with the vanquished.

“People were making us favourites before the competition but I always knew Munchin’s would be a very tough side to play against and in fairness to them I thought they actually played the better rugby today.

“How we went in at half-time just 5-0 down I don’t know, but we showed good character towards the end and I really would like to thank the guys for that, they were an absolute pleasure to work with all year.”

Butler admitted the prospect of winning back to back titles for the first time since 1960 and 1961 had crossed his mind but stressed: “We have been trying not to think about that because it is largely a new group from last year. We were really, bar six or seven players, starting from scratch again and we had to think that this was the first opportunity for many of the group.

“What’s gone in the past is gone, we were doing our best to concentrate on the present, on this season, and that’s the way we approached it.”

Rockwell supporters took great delight in the college reaching a 25th trophy milestone but Butler insisted that every title is as important as others: “We were really just thinking about securing this title in itself.”

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