Sammon hails Tubberclair players as Leinster final fixture is confirmed
Following their sensational victory over Hunterstown Rovers, Tubberclair will face Sallins of Kildare in the Leinster intermediate club football final on Sunday, December 14 at Cedral St Conleth's Park, Newbridge (throw-in 1.30pm).
In the aftermath of last Saturday's 4-16 to 4-12 win over Louth's Hunterstown in Stabannon, Tubberclair joint manager Daniel Sammon was barely able to get his head around the way the game finished.
Tubberclair were six points ahead near the end and looking comfortable, but they let that lead slip from their grasp as goals from Marc Ward and All-Star nominee Ryan Burns brought Rovers level.
The Westmeath intermediate champions also had to deal with being down to 13 men in the closing stages, after Tom Bourke picked up his second yellow and Eoghan McCabe was given a black card.
However, Fred Kelleher's goal from a penalty - one of three green flags he raised in an incident-packed game - helped to seal a thrilling victory.
“Incredible turnaround. With four minutes of injury time up, I think it was a draw game,” said Sammon, who is joined at the helm by Keith Higgins.
“It is just the type of year we are having. There is other years where things don’t go with ya and we are just on a run at the minute,” said Sammon.
“Like any sport, when you have support, and the momentum behind you, these things can happen.
“I thought we were gone and once they got the fourth goal...and you were just wondering how we are going to get out of here, but fair play to them (the players), we got what we wanted.”
Against in the wind in the opening half, Tubberclair showed their quality and their staying power.
“Pitches are soft (at this time of year) but they have it in the legs. They’d run all day but they are good footballers to go with it," Sammon remarked.
“We were fairly happy at half-time, but we were disappointed too. We were turned over for steps and then we kicked a cross field ball that was intercepted for their second goal. We did fancy ourselves at half-time but I don’t think we could have predicted how it went at the end,” he continued.
By the end of the interview, Sammon's thoughts quickly turned to the final against Kildare intermediate winners Sallins on Sunday week.
Sallins defeated Offaly senior 'B' champions Clara in the other semi-final in decisive fashion last Sunday, 2-18 to 1-12.
“By all accounts Sallins are All-Ireland favourites. So it will be a huge challenge, but with the year we are having, we will believe we can win it," Sammon added.