'We had them on the ropes' - Grange' boss reflects on his side's All-Ireland near miss

David Conway has had a wonderful first season in charge of Grangenolvin but the lure of an All-Ireland final in Croke Park left him a very disappointed manager on Saturday afternoon.

“We got the perfect start, turned over the ball on their 45 won a free but one of our players was blinded by the sun and the intercepted pass lead to the first goal. They got in on us easily for the second goal and although we knocked it from the hand a fly kick from 21 yards just flew to the net. That is the joys of sport.

“Today has been the proudest I have been of those lads all year. To be behind at such an early stage against a Kerry side who were raging hot favourites showed the character of the lads. We had a two point free which we missed and they got a soft two pointer which swung the game back 4 points in their favour during the second half.

“We had them on the ropes in the latter stages and I think we got to within a point but you always felt we needed a goal to overcome their two and it didn't come. That's the joys of sport, it's soul destroying.”

Alot of people in Kildare would have questioned Grangenolvin's bottle over the years but they showed it to Ireland today said the proud manager.

“You are a game away from Croke Park with your club, it's a massive carrot for players. That's sport, that's life. It teaches you life lessons and it creates friendships and the bond in that dressing room is massive. The bond in the community is equally as strong.”

Conway concluded by saying they will look back on a successful season overall, take six or seven weeks off and look forward to the Intermediate Championship

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