We knew we had a great chance says pollard boss

Castlepollard manager Jody Murray was thrilled with his side’s shock win in last Saturday’s Westmeath senior hurling championship semi-final against the holders Castletown-Geoghegan.

The former 'Pollard defender and SHC medallist stated at the outset: “It was a great victory and it’s wonderful to be back in the county final for the first time since 2005. We are really looking forward to it.

“We knew coming into the game that we had a great chance. We believed in our own ability and were quietly confident.

“That belief paid off in the end. We were underdogs and no one gave us a chance.

“But I knew the way the lads have been training since January, I knew there was a big game in them. It doesn’t have to be pretty, the main thing is you work hard, give a commitment and you get the result. We got it today.”

The bainisteoir continued: “Our backs were excellent. We knew coming into the game that our defence, man for man, would give everything and stay tight.

“We kept the pressure on all the time and never lost shape.

“The backs were absolutely tremendous. Darren McCormack was tremendous, but the entire team worked hard. What do you say about Darren? He’s a super hurler and great club man.

“He was injured for the last two weeks and did nothing only a bit of physio to get ready for today. He always brings his best game to the table for Castlepollard. He’s a credit to his club and county.”

John McCarthy’s two goals proved priceless for the surprise finalists, and the manager heaped praise on the young corner forward: “He is only a minor and was in and out of the team since the first round.

“He was unlucky with goal chances in earlier rounds, but he got his chance today and scored 2-1.”

David Fennell’s late miss for the champions - he pointed when a goal seemed certain - proved costly and Murray conceded: “My heart skipped a beat alright - you could never relax in that game because we were only two points ahead most of the way.

“If they got that goal it might have killed us off, but they never took the lead. They got back on level terms, but we went down and got ahead again.

“I knew once we got ahead and the lads got their heads up, they’d stay ahead.”

The men in blue and gold will be underdogs again for the final against Raharney, but the manager is looking forward to the challenge: “Raharney are a very experienced team, while we are inexperienced in a way, and that showed at times this year.

“But we’ll prepare hard for it and we’ll believe that we can win it, that’s the main thing.”