What they said ... the weekend in quotes
May 02, 2016
Davy Fitzgerald as Clare manager and Waterford manager Derek McGrath clash on the sideline during the HL Division 1 final at Semple Stadium, Thurles.
©INPHO/Ryan Byrne.
"That's what hurling is all about. It was a man's game out there, toe to toe, and that's what it was today."
It may not have been a game for the purists but Davy Fitzgerald enjoyed what he saw.
"I think Maurice deserves respect; it took a lot of liathróidí to put the ball over the bar."
Waterford selector Dan Shanahan was full of praise for younger brother.
"Full credit to the boys - they were absolutely fantastic. The attitude the last few weeks in training has been absolutely incredible and I sensed in the dressing-room before the game that this was a team ready to perform."
Westmeath's win over Offaly came as no surprise to manager Michael Ryan.
"We all, including myself, have to look in the mirror."
Offaly's hurlers have plenty of soul searching to do according to Eamonn Kelly.
"The big plus for me is there's another 40% in them. We hurled below par but still won, which is a good sign."
Ciaran Carey believes his Kerry team are capable of a lot more.
"We made mistakes with 13 wides in the first half, plus two silly goals. That's 19 points. If you get half of that, or prevent half of that, it's a different game. But Kerry were the better team on the day."
Carlow had their chances but manager Pat English said the Kingdom deserved their victory.
"The goals before half-time gave us a great cushion to try to push on a bit. Credit to Cork, they pushed us all the way, the goals from the lads towards the end gave us a bit of breathing space."
Mike Solan guided Mayo to a first All-Ireland U-21 FC title in 10 years.
"It is because of the bond that we have. We never feel that we are under serious pressure because we know if we keep playing our game and stick to the process we will be there or thereabouts. Thankfully we got the break."
Star forward Conor Loftus revealed the secrets behind their never-say-die attitude.
"I thought we were going to come out the other side, but the two goals we let in, you are not going to come back from that with two minutes to go. Mayo won, and that's it. That's life."
Cork manager Sean Hayes was magnanimous in defeat.
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