'Pure relief to get over the line'- Borris-Kilcotton manager Paudie Bourke

Borris-Kilcotton manager Paudie Bourke reflected on the significance of winning the County Final, especially after the heartache of last year's relegation. The team had been working hard to redeem themselves and get back to winning ways, knowing the challenge that lay ahead.

"It's a great feeling. You know this time 12 months ago, these boys were on the floor after being relegated, so they've really put their shoulders to the wheel all year, and to be honest, it's nearly more relief to kind of get over the line. We know the talk all year was about Borris-Kilcotton winning this championship and it's not an easy thing to do. I thought Ballinakill were fantastic tonight and they have been all year. We gave them massive respect coming in and we're just thrilled to get over the line, thrilled to win a county final,” Bourke said.

After being relegated to Premier Intermediate in 2023, Bourke spoke about the difficulties of getting the team focused again and the importance of their efforts in returning to Senior hurling. The determination shown by the players made this victory even more rewarding.

"It probably was difficult in ways, but we got back in January and February, we trained really hard, we got momentum in the league, which I think was a big thing, but look, as we said all year, we were where we were for a reason. Everybody had to take a good look at themselves in the mirror, and they did, they put their shoulder back to the wheel, it's the only way. It's been a long season, four or five championship games, stretched out over time. We've been back at it since January, so just to get over the line, it's pure relief, and we'll enjoy this one, it's great. Any county final is just brilliant,” he added.

At halftime, Borris-Kilcotton held a strong lead with a score of 2-11, nine points ahead, but they knew Ballinakill would come out fighting in the second half, particularly with the wind advantage.

"We left a few chances out there in the first half, maybe we could have had another goal or two, probably didn't keep the scoreboard ticking over enough. Obviously, the wind has had a huge factor, it's definitely a five or six-point wind at least. The boys battled great in the second half, they fought for everything, and no county final is easy won. They don't give them out for free, so as I said we're just thrilled. The boys showed great character, that's more important in a county final than our leadership,” Bourke remarked.

As for the Leinster Club Championship, Bourke stressed that their main focus was on the County Final, respecting the challenge Ballinakill presented.

"We weren't looking ahead at all, I know there has been a bit of chatter outside of our camp about it, but nothing from us, we've done a huge amount of work on Ballinakill, we've been at a lot of their games, we've watched a lot of footage of them, I think it would have been very disrespectful of us to even be looking anywhere past them, they're a really, really top side and really well coached, and play a very good brand of hurling. They work the ball really well, so no, we haven't looked at Leinster, we'll have a look now and we'll regroup, we'll enjoy it first, and yeah look, we hope to represent Laois the best we can in Leinster,” he concluded.

They'll now go forward and represent Laois in the Leinster Club Intermediate Hurling Championship where they'll face the Westmeath champions away from home on Saturday, November 16.