Clare senior football manager Colm Collins said he could not be more proud of his side after they edged past Roscommon to claim a place in the All-Ireland SFC quarter-final.
Two pressure dead ball scores from Keelan Sexton and a stunning 74th-minute winner from Jamie Malone turned Saturday's football qualifier at Croke Park on its head, as the Banner scored 1-03 in the last six minutes of play to knock the Rossies out. What's next is a place in the last eight of the All-Ireland race, the first time the county has reached that juncture since 2016.
Collins couldn't hide his delight when talking to RTÉ Sport after their last-gasp win on Jones' Road.
I'm really proud of the lads; they are a fantastic bunch of players and they've proved that so often," he said.
"When people think they're beaten they'll dig out out a win; I'm absolutely delighted for them.
"We had a decent first half and then took our foot off the accelerator a bit, we eased off and weren't attacking them, but when the gauntlet was thrown down to them they responded."
'You're proud to be associated with them - it's an honour to be associated with them' - @GaaClare manager Colm Collins hails his troops after the win over @RoscommonGAA pic.twitter.com/uIm9JC4tkY
— RTÉ GAA (@RTEgaa) June 12, 2022
Collins has been at the helm in Clare for nine years now. They remain a competitive force, a constant in Division 2 of the league for a few years now. Prior to the win over Roscommon, he felt his side had it in them to make the quarter-final. He now is looking forward to the draw, a testament he adds to what his players and backroom staff have given him.
"It's great to be there and I'm glad to be up for 8.30am on Monday for the draw. Nobody would last nine years with a group of players unless they were incredible. You're proud to be associated with them; it's an honour to be associated with them.
"There is an incredible backroom team. There's too much made of the manager in my book. The fellas that I have behind me; medical people, stat people, selectors, coaches, all incredible people."
