Lisdowney manager and players react to Intermediate Championship victory over Gowran

It may have been only four years since their previous Intermediate success, but the feeling in front of a full crowd felt like a different world this time around for Lisdowney.

The North Kilkenny club’s penalty success over Thomastown in 2020 arrived during the heart of Covid, so at least they got the proper final winning experience this time around.

Fresh from leading Shinrone to a first Offaly SHC title two years ago and a stint with Down earlier this year, manager Trevor Fletcher found the winning formula for the club.

“It’s fantastic; we spoke at half-time and to be honest with you we thought we didn’t have enough scores on the board with the wind that was there and we just looked for leaders in the second half and men to go to the well and they did exactly that.

“The Intermediate grade in Kilkenny is so tough and any one of the 12 teams in it could have won the championship.

“It was an eye-opener coming to the county and seeing the toughness and raw emotion that goes into every game and that is unbelievable.”

The Roscrea man spoke about the pride in the club returning to the top tier in Kilkenny and the importance of building the squad depth.

“The lads spoke about it that they had played senior before and they wanted to get back there but they had to grind it out as there is no final that you will win easily.

“All year round I’ve spoke to the lads about building this panel and building 22 to 24 players who are capable of playing and to be fair to those boys, the lads that didn’t start even though disappointed gave it their all and got us over the line.”

Fletcher also heaped praise on former Tipperary star John Carroll with the selector helping with the bedding in process.

“For me coming here, John Carroll was pivotal as he was with the team last year and he knew all of the players inside out.

“I only came in late in May but the lads have been fantastic and it all starts from Aidan Tallis who made a couple of incredible saves in the semi-final going down the wire and again today in the final he stood up and attacked the ball and he’s a quality goalkeeper.”

Lisdowney were captained by 29-year-old Mick Kenny, who described the victory as ‘very sweet’ — especially on a a difficult day for hurling.

“It was an unreal win and the conditions make it even a bit sweeter when you get over the line as they made it a real battle out there,” he said.

“We practiced playing a sweeper earlier in the year as we knew come the business end of the championship, you’d be faced with all sorts of conditions and it paid off there today.

“Niall Brennan played in the free role and you won’t find a better player to do that role in the county and lads made the right decisions in the last few minutes when we were under pressure.”

The attacking defender acknowledged that having the entire squad bar Aidan Tallis for the full year was a huge advantage to them.

“At the start of the year we’d one lad in with Kilkenny in Aidan Tallis so we were able to practice with more or less our full team all year which was a huge positive.

“Obviously it’s great having lads in with Kilkenny as they will become better hurlers but when you know inside out the lad you are playing beside, it definitley helps,” Kenny said.

Young Irelands kept battling right ‘till the end of the game and Kenny knew the Gowran outfit would be a tough nut to crack given their recent pedigree in winning titles at all grades.

“We knew the battle Gowran would give us as we only played them in the league final last month and we were blessed to come out of it with a last minute goal,” he said.

“They have won Junior A, under-21 and under-19 titles in the last few weeks and we knew that they are coming as a club, but we were delighted to get over the line on the day as we know there is nothing in the intermediate grade as it’s almost impossible to win.”

The buttermaker by trade outlined what the win means to a club like Lisdowney.

“Out in Lisdowney we have strength in numbers and we don’t have any superstars or egos and any man can come on and do a job and that’s what we have.
“We are not a special team when we don’t work hard so that’s the way we play and it makes it all the sweeter when you win playing that way.”

Victorious goalkeeper Aidan Tallis saved Lisdowney’s blushes on more than one occasion throughout the championship and he added to the joy on the pitch afterwards.

“It’s unbelievable, this is what we aimed for at the start of the year and we know that Intermediate is one of the hardest grades to get out of in the country. We won in 2020 but we were only young then so to go all the way is such a relief as it matters so much to our parish.”

Hear more reaction on the Kilkenny People Sport Podcast HERE