Enright disappointed but praises players

NEWMARKET manager Bob Enright was full of praise for De La Salle after they overcame his charges in Sunday’s semi-final and he wished them well in the Munster decider.

That said, he was clearly disappointed with the result. “We are gutted at the moment. We knew we would have to give 100% and we did. We are gutted but I am fierce proud of the lads. They gave it everything,” he said.

In the lead-up to the provincial semi-final, the Newmarket boss said, “None of these lads were born when the club last participated in the Munster championship” before acknowledging “the club had a bit of history in the competition”.

An indication of Newmarket’s determination to do well in the provincial championship came when the squad returned to training just three days after ending a 31-year wait for the county title.

“We threw everything at De La Salle. They stood up to it and they got their goal at the end. It could have gone either way,” he acknowledged. “It went their way and I wish them the best of luck in the final.”

The Ennis-based schoolteacher agreed that the Newmarket move, which ended with the ball rebounding of the crossbar midway through the second half, was a big turning point.

“It would have been a marvellous time to have got a goal. That’s sport and that’s hurling. These things happen and we will get up and get on with it. Right now, I am fierce disappointed for all involved,” he concluded.

Despite Sunday’s defeat, the season is still not over the Newmarket, who will attempt to complete the Clare senior double when they play Clonlara in the league final (Clare Champion Cup) this weekend.