“We dug deep, that’s what finals are all about,” says Allenwood boss Mooney
"Well it sounds good (Leinster Champions), to be fair to the lads they have been phenomenal since the county final, with everything that we have thrown at them. They were immense in every scenario, they just wanted more and more,” Allenwood manager Noel Mooney speaking after his side’s Leinster Intermediate title win over Dublin side Scoil ui Chonaill.
“We knew Scoil ui Chonaill were very good and we just had one or two little tweaks to make sure that we got back into the game. They were really good and were unlucky they missed their penalty, but I think I responded really well every time they threw something at us and we went with a little bit more for them.”
The Allenwood boss hailed his team's work rate and bounce back ability. Demonstrated by his side's trailing by four points eight minutes from the end of the first half and going in at half-time four to the good.
“We dug deep, that’s what finals are all about, finding something different. We could have laid down and felt sorry for ourselves but we showed our character and the support got right behind us when we really needed it as well, which was brilliant.”
Mooney also spoke on what this fairytale run has meant for the local community.
“It’s been phenomenal for the community, seeing three buses leaving Allenwood today, it’s something you can only dream of. We got our just rewards for our attitude and the effort that team has put into it and now people are on that bandwagon with them, people want to be part of it.”
Allenwood are now into the All-Ireland Intermediate Championship and despite celebrations their manager says they must now look ahead to the next task at hand.
“They are back in next Thursday. We are still on a journey, we promised ourselves after the county final that we’d really put a big push into it (Leinster) and see where we could get to. We are lucky enough now that we have got a Leinster title on this journey. And we want to get back at it again and go again,” Mooney said.