Cotter reflects on wonderful Bennekerry/Tinrland win

Winning captain Bennekerry/Tinryland captain Shannen Cotter wasn’t so sure how her acceptance speech went down after her team's brilliant win over Dee Rangers inthe Leinster Intermediate Football Championship Final. She need not have worried. It was fine and Shannen Cotter touched on everything which had to be said.

“It was really hard to make that speech. I am so proud. I am lost for words. I am so proud to be part of this set-up. Everybody put their bodies on the line so we could achieve that result. It is such an honour to be captain of this team,” she said.

Even if the sides had gone in level at half-time the eventual winners were prepared for what they had to do.

“As we always say you want to be in the game. Whether you are three points ahead or three points behind, you are still in the game. We sat down at half-time pointing out what we needed to do and what we needed to improve on,” Cotter articulated.

“On the saves, I was just lucky they paid off today. I am delighted they did.

We are very fit. As I said, 82 sessions. We have a lot of players playing with the county and players playing other sports. We knew we had the fitness. We backed ourselves today. It took a while but we backed ourselves and it worked out thankfully.” Ruth Bermingham was in two minds about how she felt. In one way she was bemused possibly thinking she was dreaming but beforehand, she was confident the team were destined to take their place among the Carlow sporting elite.

“I am in total shock but I knew we could do it. I know we have a team of absolute talent. I say to the girls it is unbelievable. There has been disappointments over the last few years with the club and with Carlow. This has made up for it,” she said.

The Carlow intercounty captain felt fitness was key for the club success.

“A lot of us having been training for over a year now. With Carlow some of us have been back since November. The fitness in the team is unbelievable. It allows us to play with that little bit of freedom. I always say you play with a bit of risk and you get your rewards. When you connect to going forward, you have to commit.” Clíodhna Ní Shé has done it all now with club and county. Usually scoring 1-6 would bag a Player of the Match title. Not on Saturday but she wasn’t thinking down those lines.

“That is the thing with this team. Fifteen players could have got Player of the Match but this is all about a team performance. It is not one person who stands out. It is such an evenly balanced team. We are so lucky to have that. Everyone drives each other on. If one player is not playing well or has one bad move everybody else is right behind you pushing you on. We are very lucky,” she proclaimed.

Where did this victory rank in relation to her previous successes both on the field and her personal sports star awards?

“Winning with the club is very special. It is the girls you have grown up with. the players you have played alongside for years. You are doing it for the people who have put work into you. All the volunteers. This is definitely for them and all the support. For myself and all the girls throughout the years, we owe a lot to the club and the parish. Winning with your club is very special.”