Paul Geaney: 'It's very difficult to win this thing'
Paul Geaney following Daingean Uí Chúis' dramatic AIB All-Ireland Club SFC Final win at Croke Park. Photo by Piaras Ó Mídheach/Sportsfile
By Cian O'Connell
"That's the nature," Daingean Uí Chúis captain Paul Geaney reflected about another chaotic and gripping game that has been part of a thrilling AIB All-Ireland Club adventure.
"You could say that we were whatever, but we've played so many quality teams, that's the thing, you're playing against the county champions of every other county."
"As I said last week, they all have their own stories and their own journeys and they're not just going to pack it in."
A gripping match against St Brigid's unfolded at GAA headquarters, but Daingean Uí Chúis prevailed. "It's not as easy as you start well, which we did today, and you go on and you stay on top," Geaney added.
"All these teams are champions. It's very difficult to win this thing. You see it in the Roll of Honour, there's different counties winning it and different clubs representing different counties winning it since it's been brought in.
"That was going to be the way of the game, ebbing and flowing. I felt that maybe when they missed that close enough free - I felt maybe we had the chance there. If that one went over, I think it was going to four. At the same time, we all felt that we were always going to stay in and give it our all."
Tom O'Sullivan delivered in style in the closing stages, nailing two critical points from play before Mikey Geaney's classy winner.
"It's just when time is ticking down and you see fellas starting to go down with cramp, it's like, we have to make hay when we get chances here," he added.
"Most of the time, when you get up, you don't execute, but we executed every single time we went up, which gave us a chance.
"Then Tom took the game by the scruff again and we saw the inside of his boot today.
"He was cramping up and he had the composure to go past fellas and slot them over. Didn't drop them short, didn't put them wide, his accuracy was still in and he dragged us over.
"Maybe my thing [injury] overshadowed the semi-final and said we might have been happy enough to leave that because you want to take the spotlight off, allow him to do his stuff.
"I don't know if that would make a difference because he's just going to do his stuff anyway. He was unreal that day, dragged us back into the game that day too, six points in that second half.
"Unreal again today. An outrageous leader for us and a great player."
