THE YEAR BEGAN for St Vincent’s with the loss of one of their most iconic figures when Kevin Heffernan passed away.
Yesterday their season concluded on a happy note after a campaign where Heffernan’s legacy has been maintained in a fitting fashion.
They collected their fifth Leinster senior football crown in Tullamore by virtue of a victory over Portlaoise that maintained the pattern of their season – success was achieved by a strong finale after a furious battle.
County and provincial titles ensure that 2013 has provided a treasure trove of memories for St Vincent’s.
“If you were more spiritual than me you might believe it’s something to do with that”, reflected attacker Mossy Quinn afterwards. “It’s just a nice side mark to the year that’s gone on.
“Everyone in the club knows what Kevin did for the club. He’s had an effect on every team that’s played and the style we play. We try and play and we try and honour other great Vincent’s people that have gone before us and worn the jersey.
“We’re just trying to create a bit of that. There’s hundreds of kids on the pitch here, maybe in few years’ time they’ll be trying to do what we’re doing. I think that’s what club football’s all about. That’s the beauty of the GAA.”
Pic: TheScore.ie
It took time to fend off Portlaoise in a game where goals rained down in O’Connor Park.
“Maybe some day we’ll find out what it’s like to win a game with 10 minutes to go but we don’t seem to know how to do that”, admitted Quinn.
“It was probably a bit sloppy from our point of view, maybe mentally switched off after getting the two goals and they are a good team. They showed incredible resolve all year and we knew it was going to come down to the last 10 minutes. We trusted ourselves all year to make the big plays in the last 10 minutes.”
St Vincent’s chances of success were boosted before the game with Ger Brennan and Diarmuid Connolly back in harness after suspension. The big names may have been on board but within the St Vincent’s camp, it did not alter their preparations.
“Maybe from the outside it seems more of a boost than it is from us as a team”, said Quinn. “The big challenge for us this year as a club team is getting up to a standard where the lads only have to come in and make us a little bit better, when we’re not relying on them.
“Dermo and Ger played their part but I think so did everyone else. We’re not looking at them every few minutes saying, ‘Come on, do something for us’. That had to be the way.”
Diarmuid Connolly and Mossy Quinn.
Pic: INPHO/Cathal Noonan
