Willie Coogan hails Mooncoin's greatest day

Mooncoin manager Willie Coogan cut a very relaxed figure after he led his side to All-Ireland glory but beneath it all you could tell that he was immensely proud of what his players had achieved.

“Our finest hour, to be fair,” he said.

“The lads have shown character all year, they have been tested in different ways throughout the campaign.

“ I never doubt them for that. They will always work until the very last second.

“I’m absolutely delighted for all the players and the people that have put in so much effort to those young lads from a very young age.

“There were some wonderful scores, even Martin O’Neill hitting the sideline to put us two points up at the end.

“We have quality all through our team and we back them to have the composure to win the ball, find the right man and use it well.

“ And to get the scores on the board we needed. We have been in tight situations before.

“I thought our first quarter of the second half was when we really put our stamp on the game. I know Ballygiblin got the goal to bring them back into it but we replied straight away.

“Teams of character will do that, teams that wilt will fade away. Every time questions were asked, the lads found an answer and they kept coming back.

“That was the winning of the match.”

A lot of the players that proved influential in helping Mooncoin get over the line weren’t around for the 2017 final defeat to Mayfield and it’s that influx of young talent, along with the likes of Eoin Purcell, Cormac Daly and Paul Henebery that have pushed Mooncoin onto the next level.

“We have 15 U21s on the panel, we had eight starting, Coogan added.

“They just took the game as it was and played it on its merits, they had no experience.

“When the first-half was out of our systems, the boys realised we are better than what we are playing.

“They got it out of themselves in the next half.

Asked to sum up what it means to everyone in Mooncoin, the Ballyhale native referenced how far his management team has come since taking over two years ago as well as reserving special praise for injured captain Niall Madden.

“It is absolutely fantastic. We set out two years ago, this management team came together. We were training at the back of the convent when Covid restrictions were lifted. It is a far cry from that today in Croke Park.”

“Niall Madden has been a fantastic player for the club for a number of years.

“Really good captain, hurling from the front all year.

“Unfortunately, he got a cruciate injury in the Leinster semi-final against Tara Rocks of Wexford that ruled him out.

“Even though he has been sidelined, he is a great guy in the dressing-room, a calm head organising guys. He has contributed in his own way.”