Kilmallock manager Ger O'Loughlin has hailed his side’s 3-22 to 3-20 extra-time victory against Sarsfields in the Munster Club SHC semi-finals, but is keeping his feet firmly on the ground ahead of the provincial decider against Cratloe in two weeks’ time.
The Limerick champions and Sarsfields finished on 3-15 apiece at the end of normal time and remained deadlocked at half-time in extra-time before points from Paddy O’Loughlin and Graeme Mulcahy finally proved decisive.
O'Loughlin, reflecting on the outcome of the match, conceded that the result could easily have gone the other way, saying: “To be fair to Sarsfields, if they had have won by a point or two you’d have said that they deserved it as well. It was that type of a game, it was so tight.
“I suppose, for us, the difference was that we got the scores at the end at a vital time and we were just able to keep our heads in front.
“The advantage [in the second period of extra-time] was back with us if we could avail of the bit of a wind that was there - it was fairly substantial.
“We managed to take the couple of scores and it was Kilmallock’s day, that’s the bottom line, and I’m very proud of the way that they applied themselves today."
Kilmallock’s attentions now turn to Clare champions Cratloe, who saw off Thurles Sarsfields on a 1-18 to 0-14 scoreline in Ennis.
Speaking to RTÉ Sport, O'Loughlin added: “We have five lads 22 years of age, we then have a huge amount of experience and a huge amount of disappointment down the years as well.
“It’s back to the guys now and the management to say ‘look, we know the task that’s ahead of us’.
“Cratloe are on a roll in Clare and they’re playing extremely well. They put away Thurles Sars’ today.
“I think that in itself should be enough for us to get back down to reality and realise what is ahead of us."
