Hyland’s frustration at how he sees his club being treated boils over

WHILE obviously very happy to have completed back-to-back senior hurling titles, Willie Hyland did not pull his punches.

It was a great achievement, and one against the odds for Clough/Ballacolla to retain their title, but Hyland was of the opinion that the County Board did little to make things easy for them and actually they were hampered in their ambitions to make it five titles in six years.

But initially the manager wanted to focus on the resilience displayed by his players over the past 12 months.

Speaking to media after the game he spoke of his pride in his charges. It is a massive achievement given that he is relatively new to the role of manager, but he has now won two county medals as a manger to add to the five he has as a player.

So how does winning as a manger compare to winning as a player?

“They’re all different,” he said. “The first one is probably the most special for an area like ourselves. But this one is different.

“We’ve had knockback after knockback. This is a story of resilience for this team because it’s been unbelievable all year. Picky (Maher) did his cruciate back in April or May.

“Tommy Rennan broke his leg and then Robbie Phelan gets suspended. That’s three of our top forwards gone. Lee (Cleere) came off the last day at half-time. It was just heroic,” he said.

But eventually his frustration bubbled to the top. He had to let off steam. One of his major grievances was around the league fixture pileup that resulted in Clough/Ballacolla giving walkovers in Division 1 and Division 2.

He felt they were being punished by having so many of their players representing county teams. This put huge pressure on his playing resources and felt there was a lack of flexibility by the County Board when they went looking for some leeway.

He was also critical of the suspension handed down to Robbie Phelan, who got a red card fifth round win over The Harps. The initial suspension was doubled to a two-game ban as he had previously been sent off in a league game this year against the same opposition.

“Look, if I’m being honest, I’m a bit disappointed as well in how we were treated,” he said.

“It seems to me that we give seven lads to the county every year and I don’t think we get the same credit. From a county board point of view, we’ve asked for a bit of help with regard to fixtures. Our same players play Premier Intermediate and Senior. We were asked in one week this year to play three games in four days.

“There was nobody playing ball from a county board point of view. One time I asked PJ Peacock, he was over at Abbeyleix. It was down for Sunday evening, we asked for a change to Sunday morning. Abbeyleix were happy, we were happy, the referee was happy. It wasn’t changed.

“Robbie Phelan has been treated disgracefully. What Robbie did that day was nothing, he was just defending himself. We played that day, we were playing against a team that were pinching and poking and saying things about players’ families and their partners and their mothers.

“Robbie was just defending himself. What he did was minimal. He shouldn’t have been missing the county final. He was actually sent off in the wrong in the league game against the Harps as well.

“You’re talking about a club where every year we give the most amount to the county and we’re getting no payback. That’s why it’s so sweet. We were absolutely wound up to win this county final. We were so wound up.

“We knew all we wanted was one rap at a final and we wouldn’t be too far away. Sorry now, I know I’m going a bit of a rant here, but I’m angry. I’m angry at the way we’ve been treated as a club.

“Angry is not the word. Robbie Phelan, my heart goes out to him. I’m on the ground. I ring Robbie Phelan the following day after an EP and I see how disappointed he is.

“We’re trying to keep that man in the country, have him hurling with the club. He’s been an absolute stalwart for us over the last number of years. So it’s not right.

“Until the hurling people leave to take hold of this county board, we are in trouble. We are in trouble. That was a story of resilience today, what we did. A story of resilience.” When the sides met in the group[ stage, Camross were comfortable winners. But Camross had a huge reason to win that game. Had they lost they were as good as out of the championship. Clough/Ballacolla were in a far more comfortable position.

“We were just chatting about it during the week. We played them in the group stages and if Camross lost that game, they were out, right? We were telling our lads, ‘look, there’s a chance to knock Camross out when we play them’.

“But realistically, the lads knew they were still in the championship. As much as you say to the lads when you try and get into their heads, they knew they had a safety net.

“Finals are different. We were saying to the lads all year, just get to a final by hook or by crook and then you have a 50-50 chance.

“And it turns out they had the best display of the year there. We’re so proud of them. You know, I could name lads all over the field, but heroic performances all over.

“And I thought even in the first half, Camross, they got the goals kind of against the run of play. Zane got a great second goal but he should have been tracked. You know, the free, you should be stopping them really.

“We were three points up against the wind at halftime. We probably should have been an awful lot more. And the second half, look, it got a bit nervy there near the end.” Given Picky Maher’s absence for so long, was he considered for the final, which came into as a substitute. Maher said the management chatted on Friday night about when they’d bring him on.

“He had some entry there. You know, he set up a score. I think he got a point from play and a massive free,” said the manager.

Man of the Match Stephen Bergin, scorer of 1-13 came in for special praise as did corner-back Joe Pearson.

“We’re particularly happy today to see him really stand up and take hold of the game by the scruff of the neck. He gets his 1-13, his man of the match. He’s been a stalwart for the last 10 years probably at this stage.

“And that was one of his best performances I’ve seen in a Clough/Ballacolla jersey. Steve is one of the cleverest players I’ve ever played with or managed. He’s an absolute assassin. He’s some man to get a goal. And he loves finals.

“And he might frustrate you in league games or challenge games. But by God, when the big day comes, Steve O never lets it down. And we all love Steve O. “He had a big responsibility hitting the frees as well. That’s not an easy thing.

Picky was obviously missing. And he was unbelievable to man him all year, you know. And there’s just everything about Steve O today. He was just a different. You could see he was just in a different zone today.

“Joe (Pearson) was unbelievable in fairness to him,” said Hyland. “That was a big ask (marking Tomas Keyes). Mossy was the in-form forward in the county. There wasn’t a bother on Joe.

“He’s an easy-going type of fella. I wasn’t worried about him, to be honest with you. We felt he was a good match for Mossie. And I thought he was really, really good,” he added.

No doubt there will be a few pints drank but Hyland has only one thig on his mind - a Leinster club campaign beginning with a game against the Westmeath champions. Clough/Ballacolla will have to wait another week to find out who their opponents will be as Lough Lene Gaels and Castletown-Geoghegan drew on Sunday.

“We want to do well. We haven’t done well there the last two times we’ve been there. Since we got to the Leinster final, we haven’t performed like we want to. Look, Willie Dunphy (who retired injured on Sunday) is a big concern there. He’s a big player for us. “The standard at Westmeath is very, very high. So whoever comes out of there is going to be strong.”