Emotional Man of the Match Ronan Kennedy might hang up the boots right now

You rarely hear a footballer talk about hanging up the boots in the immediate aftermath of a County Final victory but for Man of the Match Ronan Kennedy, Mohill’s victory in the Connacht Gold Leitrim SFC Final might just be the perfect way to go out!

Having recently taken up golf, Ronan admits the small ball might be occupying more of his time in the future! “That’s the retirement plan - I even got 12 holes in last night, I was in college until 5 but I got out and got in a few holes, the last few were in the dark which might have been better in the dark. I had to iron out a few bad ones at the start.

“I don’t know if I’ll ever bother playing in Connacht to be honest, I’m happy that’s it. I’m so proud of everyone - Keith, Shane, Domhnaill, Padraig, those boys have been around a long time so to keep putting in that shift and keep coming back is amazing and I’m so proud of everyone.”

Mohill celebrate wildly as they regain the Connacht Gold Leitrim SFC title after epic battle with St Mary's Kiltoghert - GALLERY

Mohill celebrations were long and loud in Avant Money Pairc Sean Mac Diarmada as the four in a row Connacht Gold Leitrim SFC finalists got their hands back on the Fenagh Cup after an epic 2-10 to 0-14 victory over defending champions St Mary's Kiltoghert on Sunday. Observer photographer Willie Donnellan was a busy man with the camera chronicling the celebrations ..... see who you can spot here!

Certainly the emotion was bubbling out of the Mohill ace and it is easy to forget his starring role in Mohill’s 2006 victory. So winning the man of the match award made it a very special day for a player who has consistently delivered on the biggest stage!

“I said to Eamonn just before the game, chancing my arm, that if it was in the melting pot, please leave me in. This is my 20th year in a row, tenth final, fifth win and to get this man of the match award is a fairytale ending, you couldn’t write it any better. It is just incredible, I’m really emotional after the game.”

What Ronan really highlighted was the spirit in the Mohill squad: “There were a couple of words about bottlers earlier on in the year, that we weren’t fit enough last year when we got turned over by Carrick. Carrick are a good team, we just couldn’t stem the tide last year but I think we proved a few points today.

“You hear it - two finals in a row, Mohill are getting older, they’re on the way down - that’s eight finals in a row. A lot of the lads have won four championships, six leagues, they deserve every bit of respect they get, nobody should ever write us off.”

If Ronan feels Mohill deserve more respect, he certainly holds St Mary’s in high regard: “Carrick are an excellent team and we just wanted to come back, get to the final and give ourselves a chance after last year. It is a hard thing to come back and win it a second year in a row so take nothing away from Carrick, they pushed us to the pin of our collars there today.

“Chatting there with Paul Keaney, what a performance he put in there today, James McGrail coming down the stretch there today, a massive score with the outside of the boot. That was the turning of the tide at one stage.”

Check out Willie Donnellan's fans photos from Sunday's Connacht Gold Leitrim SFC Final - GALLERY

Fans were out in force in Avant Money Pairc Sean Mac Diarmada for Sunday's Connacht Gold Leitrim SFC Final with Mohill regaining the title as they triumphed 2-10 to 0-14 against defending champions St Mary's Kiltoghert. Observer photographer Willie Donnellan captured a lot of fan shots from before and during the game .... see who you can spot!

Analysing the game, Ronan acknowledges there was a bit of luck about Mohill’s two goals but he felt that they earned that luck: “Two points down at halftime, we’d have taken it at the time, I know we got a goal, flukey enough you could say, but we got it and took our chances. My one was fortunate enough but I think coming down the stretch we showed how desperately we wanted it.”

Incredibly given that he won the Man of the Match, Ronan wasn’t sure he would finish the game with what he termed a poor first half: “I thought I was going to get hooked myself, I was done for over carrying in the first half, I shot in one-on-one with Sean Reynolds, I should have given it back to Keith Keegan, I got a few effs and blinds in my ear from behind but I just kept plugging and plugging but that’s the nature of this team. I’m thankful Eamonn left us on.”