Leitrim's second half performance frustrates Dhani Keane
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Carrick-on-Shannon hurler relished experience of playing in Croke Park despite disappointment over final defeat
One of Leitrim’s emerging young players, Dhani Keane was both delighted to have played in Croke Park but deeply disappointed with the Green & Gold’s second half display against Longford in last Sunday’s Lory Meagher Cup Final.
One of Leitrim’s emerging young players, Dhani Keane was both delighted to have played in Croke Park but deeply disappointed with the Green & Gold’s second half display against Longford in last Sunday’s Lory Meagher Cup Final.
Standing outside the dressing room underneath the Cusack Stand, what was notable was the sheer frustration on the faces of the Leitrim players as they returned to their sanctuary and the young Carrick hurler was no different, highlighting Leitrim’s fade in the second half as the reason for defeat.
“The first half, we were great - we made no mistakes,” was Dhani’s thoughts when asked to reflect on the Final, “Then 10 minutes into the second half, we just fell apart. Our structure, our hunger just went, everything - Longford wanted it more. The goal made a difference but it was coming - they hit two long balls in. That was the turning point, I thought.”
Asked what Leitrim might have done different in the cauldron of a big match at GAA headquarters, Dhani felt that a little more composure might have helped the Green & Gold across the line: “If we took the half a second longer and placed them, we could have had two or three goals. But we rushed it and just wasted the opportunity and that was it.”
Despite the disappointment, Dhani sees plenty of positives from this year’s campaign for Leitrim hurlers going forward: “Two of the lads, Martin Feeney, Stephen Goldrick, didn't even make the 26 in 2019. The last time, James McNabola was playing and those lads are our key players now. It's a good sign, how young of a team we have.
“There's me, Niall Crowe, Pearce - we’re only up in senior in the last few years. So we’re really driving it on. It's disappointing to lose today but it's a good sign for everything coming on. We’ll definitely drive on, we’ll be back.”
Asked to reflect on the experience of playing in Croke Park, Dhani couldn’t keep a smile from his face: “It was unreal - Denis Byrne, our coach, said during the week it's just a few sheds, but it's not. When you go out and you see it, it's savage. We got the Louth Dublin people in for the second half, it was just class.”
And the Leitrim corner-forward was thrilled with the support the hurlers got: “It definitely made a difference - when we knocked over points, there was a great roar.”
As for his own half, Dhani felt it was a mixed bag: “I was happy in the first half. The second half, I kind of got out a bit deeper, I wouldn't be used to it. I adapted to it and didn't get as much ball, but created space. I was happy enough.”