Experience tells as Conahy star players step up to the mark
Tom Phelan and James Bergin spoke after the club won a first junior title since 2020
The JJ Kavanagh Junior Hurling Final was played in the midst of terrible conditions on Saturday afternoon but that won’t make much difference to Conahy as they celebrated their fourth title victory at this grade.
Despite conceding an early first half goal, the winners deservedly came out on top as they showed superb battling qualities to hold on against a stubborn Graignamanagh outfit.
The older players really made their mark for Conahy in the two point success and none more than Kilkenny star Tom Phelan as he helped drive his side back to the intermediate grade.
“ It was a real dogfight and we played against a very strong wind in the second half so we just had to concentrate on winning every ball and go through it one play at a time. Our backs were unbelievable as they kept coming out with the ball and we just clung on there at the end.
“The weather probably didn’t make it for a good game to watch and it was just a battle of wills really. The frees were massive too and even them were so hard to take but it was just pure workrate that got us over the line“, Phelan added.
The 30 year-old outlined how they had to come through tough conditions as they played against the wind in the second half.
“ We were three points up at half time and then they got the first score of the second half very quickly and I don’t know how we stayed in front but we did and big credit must go to the lads for that.
“We just dug really deep and ran with the ball but they still had a free at the end and anything could have happened so it was nervous for a period and we’re just delighted to get through it“ .
Phelan scored a couple of crucial points in the victory and he outlined that their big aim for the year was to get into Nowlan Park for the latter stages and go from there.
“ The plan this year was to get to Nowlan Park and to make a semi-final and our league was probably up and down but once we got the first win against Johnstown we just grew in belief. In fairness we came through some tough battles with Kilmacow and Callan to just get to a final.
“Junior hurling is so competitive in Kilkenny and there’s no easy days out and today’s win was no different“ , he finished.
Another player to really stand up on the day for the Conahy men was James Bergin as he put in a big performance on a day that was difficult for any free-flowing hurling.
“I’m just over the moon and I nearly think that they’ll need the army out to try and get us off this pitch but it’s just unbelievable. Words can’t describe it really and it’s just unreal.
“We knew we had 30 minutes of hard work ahead of us in that second half and we knew if we battled for every ball, we’d be there or there abouts at the end and thank god we got over the line“.
The win sees Conahy make up for relegation two years ago and the inside forward feels the club is now in a better position to kick on.
“When we went up the last time we probably didn’t get to the pitch of the higher level or lacked the consistency needed at intermediate and we got punished at the end of the day. We now have a different group of players and we’ve three minors there with us and they’ve brought a freshness and energy to the team. Our oldest player on the field was Philly Cass and he’s only 31 or 32 so there ‘s a great blend of youth and experience helping us along“.
“I haven’t really came to terms with the win yet and we’ll enjoy it and celebrate for the next few days as we’ll really relish this one. We weren’t looking past this day and as a club we’ve a Roinn B Minor Final next week so that’s our priority at the moment and we’ll look at the Leinster campaign from there“, Bergin continued.