‘We’re disappointed, but we’ll still give the All-Ireland a right crack’ - St Kierans Manager Brian Dowling reflects on Leinster Final defeat

After a big win over Colaiste Eoin in the semi-final, hopes were high of a St Kieran’s Leinster final victory on Saturday but a hugely talented Offaly Schools outfit had other ideas.

St Kieran’s College manager Brian Dowling was downbeat afterwards after his side experienced a two point loss in UPMC Nowlan Park.

“We are very disappointed and obviously we came in to win today but we fell short and missed a few chances at the end,” he said.

“Unfortunately we didn’t do enough to get over the line. We had this same feeling after the Leinster semi-final last year and we’ve that feeling again now and we just have to lick our wounds and move on for the All-Ireland series.”

The St Kieran’s boss admitted that facing an intercounty calibre side was always going to offer a stiff test of their resources and being without a couple of key players didn’t help the Kilkenny school.

“When we saw the competition listings at the start of the year and that Offaly Schools were in it, we knew it was going to take one hell of an effort to beat them,” he said. “When we were down a couple of players we knew it was an even bigger task.

“There was still nothing in it there at the end with only two points separating the teams,” he added. “We had chances to level the game and bring it to extra-time and it’s disappointing they didn’t go over but fair play to Offaly - best of luck to them.”

Dowling did highlight Kieran’s top scorer Ted Dunne for his performance on the day as he brought the challenge to the Offaly Schools.

“Ted had a super game for us,” the manager said. “He had a great start and Offaly put an extra defender in front of him to try and stop him. I thought we were on top, but when Offaly got the goal it probably gave them the kick on that they needed.”

That goal arrived from a Stephen Manogue puckout that went astray but Kieran’s do play a high risk game at times and mistakes can happen.

“All year Stephen has been absolutely superb,” said Dowling. “We tend to take on those chances and unfortunately they don’t always pay off - today there was a forward there in Adam Screeney who was well able to finish.

“We were under no illusions coming in today that Offaly were a super team and they’ve hammered everyone in this competition as they are basically an under 19 county team.

“They have no weaknesses and the subs coming on are nearly as good as what they have on the field but look I’m proud of the boys as they gave it absolutely everything today. However, we’ve another chance at an All-Ireland series so we just have to go at it again.”

While Offaly Schools year is at an end, St Kieran’s have an All-Ireland quarter-final with St Raphael’s of Loughrea on Saturday week to look forward to and Dowling is hopeful of having a full deck to pick from.

“At the start of the year you would have said that Harry Shine and Ben Whitty were two of the best forwards in the country,” he said.

“To be without them is a huge loss as they are two leaders and the two of them were mad to play but if we threw them out there today, there’d be a risk that they’d miss the rest of the championship.

“We’ll hopefully have the two of them back the next day as well as Tom McPhillips and Tom Brennan and be at full strength to give this All-Ireland series a right rattle.”