Clough-Ballacolla manager Willie Hyland reacts to his side being crowned Senior county champions

Clough-Ballacolla manager Willie Hyland radiated pride following his team's victory in the Laois Senior Hurling Championship final on Sunday. He reflected on a match defined by contrasting halves, with the strong wind significantly impacting both teams' play.

"It was a game of two halves really; there was a strong wind there. Similar to the semi-final, we were down by four points at halftime, but we didn't panic. We knew there was a strong breeze in the second half. We really pushed up on Rathdowney-Errill, and they struggled maybe to get possession from their own puck outs. We had some outstanding displays all over. Things weren't going well for some lads in the first half, but they turned it around at half-time. I'm just very proud of the lads and everybody involved,” Hyland said.

He acknowledged the swirling wind's challenges, especially during the first half, where Clough-Ballacolla's early attempts didn't succeed. Nevertheless, their second-half resurgence revealed the squad's character and determination.

"You saw the wind there; it was serious, and a couple of our shots in the first half didn't come off. In the second half, it was blowing towards the corner as well, so it was hard. Some of our lads were giving out; we were shooting wides, but at the same time, it was very hard with a swirling wind there. It was an unbelievable second half from our lads. How many times have we done that now? There's great character in this group, and it's unreal,” the Clough-Ballacolla manager said.

Hyland reflected on the previous year, pinpointing a lack of focus as a factor in the team's struggles. He emphasised the necessity of raising standards, pointing to man of the match Picky Maher as an example of the dedication needed for success.

"The lads got lax last year. We had that chat with them at the start of the year. There were two holidays being taken, maybe three in some cases. I think Picky had three holidays last year. We've got him down to one this year, and you see what he did. The lads just started taking shortcuts, and it wasn't good enough. We've got standards in place, and the lads probably fell short last year. You have to work for these things; they're not handed to you like that, but they're an amazing group of players,” he said.

Despite the challenges of his first year as manager, Hyland highlighted the collaborative effort that contributed to their success, crediting those around him for their unwavering support. He also underscored the community spirit that played a significant role throughout the year.

"Just get good people around you. I've got a good team around me; Mick and Shane are unbelievable with me. We don't have a backroom team, but we have loads of volunteers helping out. Other volunteers that we had, Jimmy on the gear, Joe and Ben, I could name loads of people. The mothers every Sunday morning, breakfast for the lads. We trained last Sunday evening, and you’d want to see the spread that was left out for us. There were curries, soups, and stew. Everybody was just putting their shoulder to the wheel. Community effort, no heroes, no egos, everybody doing it for the one cause. We're all working together,” Hyland said.

He also recalled moments of guilt when requesting help from volunteers but felt justified in their efforts after the championship win.

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"Jimmy, at times, the kit man there and Joe and Ben, you felt guilty at times asking them to do certain things during the year. I just put my arm around them and said, ‘Hey look, it's all worth it now, Jimmy.’ It's great when you win to be able to justify that, all the effort and stuff,” Hyland remarked.

Although the final whistle brought elation, Hyland admitted the path to victory was fraught with challenges. The weight of decision-making and the pressures of management were substantial, but the outcome made it all worthwhile.

"I was far from cool. To be honest, I found it easier hurling if I'm being straight. The last couple of nights have been sleepless nights. We had to make big decisions on players. You're human at the end of the day. You're questioning yourself and talking to the lads a good bit. An awful lot goes into it. As I said, Shane and Mick were unbelievable with me. The work we put in together. We're all driving it for the one cause, and look, it's great that it's paid off now," Hyland confessed.