Kilmallock’s Graham Mulcahy credited the team’s growing character following their extra-time victory over Cratloe in the Munster senior hurling club final.
After the sides finished level at the end of normal time, 3-15 to 1-21, Kilmallock outscored their Clare opponents by 0-11 to 0-03 in extra-time to claim the provincial silverware for a third time, 1-32 to 3-18.
And Mulcahy, speaking to RTÉ Sport, said: “I think it’s massive for the club. I think for a while there it was looking a bit bleak but we dug in.
"Gavin (O’Mahony) getting sent off, I think, as many have said already, galvanised us and really brought out the character in the team.
“We really fought back to take it to extra-time and get that 15 on 15 and it proved pivotal. After their match last week I think they were a bit tired on their legs.”
Referring to O’Mahony’s second half sending off, he continued: “I think Gavin is a massive player for us and he is a massive club man.
"I think we took it upon ourselves to take it to extra-time and then in the dressing room after we said we had to do this for him.
“It would be hard for us leaving the Gaelic Grounds today after losing, but it would be extra hard for him if we hadn’t gone on and taken the victory for him.”
"Each game has been very similar and I think those games have really stood to us and we built character as it went on"
Mulcahy admitted it was a shock to fall behind in the game and felt their mettle came to the fore in the aftermath.
He continued: “Yeah, I think we showed great character to fight back in the first half, and then a couple of quick scores for them (in the second half) and we’re behind all of a sudden and we couldn’t believe it because we should have had that game dead and buried.
“But, in fairness, we did come back again and we were leading coming up to the very end, and all credit to them, they got another score right at the death again to take it to extra-time, so for the crowd it must have been unbelievable, but for us it was heart-breaking stuff out there.”
When it was put to him that this was a match Kilmallock could hardly dare to lose, he responded: “Yeah, I think it’s been a character of the team all year round.
"From when we played the quarter-final, semi-final, final of Limerick they were all one and two-point victories and we really dug in.
“Each game has been very similar and I think those games have really stood to us and we built character as it went on.”
He concluded: “If we had lost today... there’s no imagining where we’re going to be next year or the year after.
"When you get your chance you have to take it. But it will be a great night in Kilmallock tonight.”
