Joy mixed with relief as Tubberclair finally get over the line

Tubberclair joint manager Daniel Sammon admitted he was still demanding a free-in for a breach of the ‘three up’ rule when Taylor Slevin was scoring his “unbelievable winner” in last Saturday’s intermediate final against Shandonagh.

“I don’t think I even saw it go over the bar. I think Enda Kelly (linesman) won’t be too happy with me. I think there could have been a breach and when I turned around, the ball was sailing over the bar. I didn’t even see who kicked it.

“I think there was 32.50 on the clock and time was almost up. They did get their kickout off short and you’re sort of thinking, are they going go up and get a chance to equalise? But it’s just brilliant (to get the win)”.

“When they got that two-pointer against the wind (scored by Adam Treanor), you’re almost starting to think is it not going to be our day? In previous years, we probably would have gone under but they just kept at it.”

Sammon has been heavily involved with minor teams from the club who have two Division 1 championships in recent years. And following last Saturday’s Westmeath intermediate final victory, he was obviously proud of the way those young players have contributed to this year’s success.

“There was probably about five of them starting today. I think another one came on and then we must have had six or seven under-20s. Look, there’s no secret, they’ve been working hard and there is a good group coming through. The lads that have gone before them are also really strong. We just needed something, just something to give that little bit of freshness. I don’t know what to say; I’m just delighted to get over the line.”

Daniel’s father Danny was part of the Tubberclair team which won the Westmeath senior championship 40 years ago. And Danny is part the management team alongside Daniel, Keith, Gary Connaughton and Paul Madden, with Matt Keegan, James Higgins and Barry Rafferty (physio) also involved.

Tubberclair have suffered a large dollop of heartache in intermediate finals over the years. Looking back, Daniel said: “He (Danny) was manager in 2002 (when Tubberclair won the final) and I think I was the mascot. I didn’t get a game in 09 (Tubberclair’s previous win at this level). We lost in ‘15 and ‘16 and I didn’t get a game in 2022 (when Shandonagh defeated Tubberclair) so I’m happy to be on the right side of it this time. I think it’s maybe nearly fourth or fifth time lucky.

“They (the former players) are driving it on in the background all the time,” said Daniel, who quipped that his father is “not always easy to control on the sideline!”

“It just means so much to them. Sonny Farrell, who was our club president, it’s his one-year anniversary today. During the week, you would be wondering if it’s lining up for us. You don’t want to be looking into things too much, but it just caps it off and it makes it that bit more special because he’d be the first man onto the pitch today if he was still here.”

Tubberclair will play Kilkenny senior champions Mullinavat (who won their county final back in early May) tomorrow (Sunday) in the Leinster intermediate club championship, with The Downs the venue (throw-in 1.30pm).

The last time Tubberclair lifted the Peter Geraghty Cup in 2009, they went on to reach the Leinster intermediate final in which they were narrowly defeated by Maynooth of Kildare. Can they make a similar impact in Leinster this year?

Daniel Sammon is joined at the Tubberclair helm by Tubber native Keith Higgins, who has previously guided Kilbeggan Shamrocks to junior championship success.

Talking about Taylor Slevin’s late score, Higgins said: “He even had space in front of him, he could have brought it in for one point. The fact that he took on the two-pointer I had my heart in my mouth!”

“We’re absolutely thrilled to win. Maybe we’d admit when the dust settles that it probably wasn’t our best game, but finals are there for winning. We said that that the only thing that counts today is that we win the game, whatever it takes,” said Keith, who also praised Tom Bourke for his terrific two-pointer near the end.

“The work that was done at the club up to this point has been incredible. I’m very fortunate just to be asked in this year to give them a dig out,” said Higgins.

“I’m thrilled to be here and we’re thrilled to be playing next Sunday in Leinster. It’s a quick turnaround, but I don’t think that will bother the lads in the slightest. We’ll enjoy a few days and we’ll regroup during the week at some stage. Whatever happens in Leinster, this was the big one that we wanted and thankfully we have it now.”