Mental strength key to Na Piarsaigh victory, says Shane O’Neill

Na Piarsaigh’s Shane O’Neill admitted to concerns about the way Oulart seized the initiative in Saturday night’s game, paying tribute to the Wexford men’s mental strength.

“Oulart had all the momentum in the last 10 or 15 minutes. They showed how mentally strong they were. I said to the boys after full-time if I was told before the match we were going to go to extra-time, that I’d back them. I felt we would get there in extra-time and that’s what happened. But Oulart put up an unbelievable show in the second-half, in the last 15 minutes in particular, which caught our fellas by surprise.

“You could see how much Oulart wanted it but I think maybe our legs, our age profile got us through. But the lads are extremely mentally strong as well, despite the fact we had lost all the momentum and everything was thrown at us, we just regrouped and the boys went at it again which was a great sign.”