Double whammy and missed penalty cost St Joseph’s says manager Brian Doyle

Goals for Glencar Manorhamilton either side of halftime and a missed penalty were the decisive factors in last Saturday’s Sweeney Oil LGFA SFC Final according to St Joseph’s manager Brian Doyle who felt that there was very little between the teams on the day.

Asked if Muireann Devaney’s goal before halftime was the decisive score, Brian demurred, saying “I wouldn't say that really. It was an opportunist goal all right. It wasn't that that changed the game. Probably the penalty early in the start of the second half changed the game. Us, they're getting theirs and we're missing ours.

“That's the difference I think. There was very little between the teams all through - I don't think seven points is in it, but it is what it is and that's it. We played very great football. They just got a grip on us, they got a run on us in the second half.”

The St Joseph’s manager also highlighted the loss of regular penalty taker Bronagh O’Rourke with injury: “Bronagh getting injured was a big turning point because probably she'd have been taking the penalty. Carmel had a good go at it but their goalie made a couple of good saves. Small margins at the end of the day and Manor are a good team.”

The theme of Manor’s overall strength was reinforced by Doyle’s contention that it was Glencar Manor’s overall strength that proved crucial: “There’s more than Muireann, She's a great player, but she had a lot of good players with her - her sister in the middle of the field, Rooney is there too, there’s lots of good players.”

Brian felt that St Joseph’s put the champions under pressure and admitted that the defeat was tough to take: “It's tough. This is what we started back in the last week in January, to get here. We're delighted to be here, it's great to be here. It's a great day, it was a great spectacle, the first half in particular.

“In both halves, we put good pressure on and were doing very well on their kick-outs and it was a good game of football. But it's just, it's disappointing - last year we came so close, this year, seven points - we came close again but not close enough. So, just dust ourselves down, have a few points tonight and get on with life.”