Doyle could not be prouder of his players

ST LAZARIAN’S Abbeyleix were on the wrong side of the result in SETU Carlow on Sunday afternoon as Meath’s Dunboyne were crowned Leinster champions.

Abbeyleix manager, John Joe Doyle, said he was immensely proud of his players, particularly those who were also involved in Ballyroan’s first-ever Laois LGFA Minor ‘A’ triumph on Friday evening.

“That's a sore one to lose. We put in a Trojan effort in the second half. Some of the girls played football Friday night, and that’s hard going. That's their fourth game in a row. Look, I’m very proud of them; they put in a savage performance there in the second-half,” he said.

The defeat brings to an end a brilliant year for St Lazarian’s. Last month, Doyle guided them to the club’s first-ever adult camogie title when they defeated Clough/Ballacolla in the Laois Junior final.

“It was a fantastic year for the club. It was the first adult camogie final that Abbeyleix had ever won. Earlier in the year, we were set for a county final and were trying to win that. Then we won that, we got on a roll in this, but sure, that's the way it goes,” Doyle said.

In the end, it came down to the finest of margins as Dunboyne edged the contest by a single point.

“We pressed hard there, and we were looking for one score to get it to a draw. Sure, look, it didn't happen, so that's the way it goes,” Doyle ended.