Aylward rues missed opportunities as Kilkenny champs fall short

Mullinavat’s Leinster football championship odyssey came to an end at the hands of Wexford side St Mogue’s on Saturday.

The Kilkenny senior football champions had the chances to secure their place in a second Intermediate football final in four seasons but, unlike in 2019, they just came up short.

“It’s severe disappointment for the lads as they played well and they were just beaten by a better team,” said Mullinavat manager Michael Aylward.

“They were maybe just a bit more clever than us at times and while we had chances, we just didn’t convert them.

“I can’t fault any of the lads though, they gave it their best shot and just came up a little short.”

With scores very much at a premium, taking any opportunities on offer was going to be crucial. Aylward may look back on a few misses in the opening period as to where the game go away from them.

“You only get so many chances and you have to be able to convert them,” the manager said.

“At this stage of the competition, whether it’s goals or points, the conversion rate has to be high and unfortunately today it didn’t go our way but that’s the way it goes and we’ll just get on with it.”

Despite the defeat, Mullinavat can still look back on a season that saw them win a fifth Kilkenny senior football crown in six seasons.

The Mullinavat boss also suggested that St Mogue’s regular playing of football probably told against his side come the end.

“Little things went against us,” he said. “Maybe they were just a bit more football savvy and they are playing a different level of football than what we are used to on a regular basis.

“We can only benefit from the quality of game today and while it’s disappointing, we’ll get up and go again in Kilkenny next year.

“We won back the championship and we also won a league which was played for the first time in a couple of years so it was nice to win a domestic double,” he added.

“We’ve had three good games in the Leinster Championship too and while we ultimately fell up short in our goal, we can only improve.

“The hardest games we will play next year will be in Kilkenny and we can only concentrate on that, Thomastown beat us in the 2021 county final so to win that title back this year was hugely satisfying,” he finished. “Retaining our title will be the main aim next year.”