Doherty 'gutted' as Thomastown exit the Leinster Championship - Kilkenny People Sport

Thomastown manager Noel Doherty has claimed the panel will 'appreciate what they've done this year' 'when the dust settles' as the Kilkenny senior champions lost their Leinster quarter-final to Castletown Geoghegan 1-25 to 1-14.

It's been a memorable campaign for the Grennan outfit who after winning the All-Ireland Intermediate title in January, made history by winning their first senior championship since 1949.

READ MORE: Thomastown v Castletown Geoghegan - Match Summary

"Gutted is the initial feeling here for the boys, they gave a tremendous effort all year and just came up short today," Doherty told CRKC's Nickey Brennan after the match.

"I don't think it was down to the conditions, our players have played in worst conditions than this, it's just hard to put your finger on exactly what happened. You try and do your best and motivate the players as best you can but we were just that little bit off today, we never got going but look they're a great bunch," he added.

"They put in a massive last couple of weeks so it's not all doom and gloom for this group and when the dust settles they'll appreciate what they've done this year and how far they've come," Doherty continued, commenting the players have made 'great strides'.

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