MATTIE KENNY’S EXPLOITS with Dublin senior hurling champions Cuala have seen him installed as one of the favourites to succeed Anthony Cunningham as Galway boss.
Kenny is second behind Michael Donoghue in the list of contenders with the bookmakers but Cunningham’s former selector refused to be drawn on recent speculation after the AIB Leinster club hurling final yesterday.
“My total focus was with Cuala, getting ready for today. Today is all about Cuala, there’s a lot of very disappointed people in the dressing room.
“We’ve got to look after these and make sure we get them safely back to Dublin, that’s my first priority tonight.”
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Mattie Kenny was previously a selector with Anthony Cunningham in Galway. Morgan Treacy / INPHO
Morgan Treacy / INPHO / INPHO
Kenny pinpointed the concession of a crucial goal just before half-time as one of the key factors in Cuala’s defeat.
Playing against the elements, Cuala would have accepted a five-point half-time deficit but David Redmond’s probing run opened up the chance for Tomas Dunne, which he accepted.
“Up to half-time we weren’t doing too bad, we were within five points and they got a goal in injury-time that gave them the cushion.
“There was a very strong breeze in the first half and I think if we’d gone in five points down it might have been a realistic target to attack in the second half.
“But the goal they got put it out to eight points and really gave them something to defend in the second half.
“Ideally he (Redmond) should have been tackled early, even if it was just the concession of a free and let them take the point but the lads will look at that and learn from it.
“Dave Redmond has made a habit of that in the last number of matches, making those deep runs from midfield and it was something that we were aware of, going right through the heart (of the Cuala defence). Possibly he should have been stopped.”
Despite Cuala’s defeat, Kenny has backed them to become a consistent force in Dublin club hurling and beyond over the coming years.
“Cuala are young, average age still under 23, maybe not as physically developed as they need to be.
“We came down to win, we thought we had a good chance. It didn’t open up and pan out the way we wanted to. Fair play to Oulart for playing it more on their terms.
“It’s a learning process, we need to move on from there. It’s a side that’s going to be around for a long, long time. Hopefully the next time they get back here they’ll be in a better position to go on and win the provincial decider.”
A leading contender for the Galway hurling post refuses to be drawn on speculation
MATTIE KENNY’S EXPLOITS with Dublin senior hurling champions Cuala have seen him installed as one of the favourites to succeed Anthony Cunningham as Galway boss.
Kenny is second behind Michael Donoghue in the list of contenders with the bookmakers but Cunningham’s former selector refused to be drawn on recent speculation after the AIB Leinster club hurling final yesterday.
Cuala lost to Oulart-the-Ballagh in the provincial decider and Kenny batted away a question about the Galway job from Newstalk’s Oisin Langan.
“My total focus was with Cuala, getting ready for today. Today is all about Cuala, there’s a lot of very disappointed people in the dressing room.
“We’ve got to look after these and make sure we get them safely back to Dublin, that’s my first priority tonight.”
Kenny pinpointed the concession of a crucial goal just before half-time as one of the key factors in Cuala’s defeat.
Playing against the elements, Cuala would have accepted a five-point half-time deficit but David Redmond’s probing run opened up the chance for Tomas Dunne, which he accepted.
“Up to half-time we weren’t doing too bad, we were within five points and they got a goal in injury-time that gave them the cushion.
“But the goal they got put it out to eight points and really gave them something to defend in the second half.
“Ideally he (Redmond) should have been tackled early, even if it was just the concession of a free and let them take the point but the lads will look at that and learn from it.
“Dave Redmond has made a habit of that in the last number of matches, making those deep runs from midfield and it was something that we were aware of, going right through the heart (of the Cuala defence). Possibly he should have been stopped.”
Despite Cuala’s defeat, Kenny has backed them to become a consistent force in Dublin club hurling and beyond over the coming years.
“We came down to win, we thought we had a good chance. It didn’t open up and pan out the way we wanted to. Fair play to Oulart for playing it more on their terms.
“It’s a learning process, we need to move on from there. It’s a side that’s going to be around for a long, long time. Hopefully the next time they get back here they’ll be in a better position to go on and win the provincial decider.”
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Cuala GAA Hurling Mattie Kenny Galway well dodged