"There were a few people that said things (at half-time), it was the honesty. There's no point beating around the bush, you have to come out and say what you know is the truth, and sometimes the truth hurts."

A few home truths were said during Cork's half-time team-talk according to captain Anna Geary.

"The problem in the first half was we were hitting the ball aimlessly out of the backs, whereas in the second half we were able to carry it out and our midfield came into it and worked it up the field."

Rebel manager Paudie Murray was a lot happier with the second-half performance.

"Cork probably showed more intensity in the second half and we failed to match it. You have to credit the girls for fighting to the end and getting in around the square."

Kilkenny joint-manager Graham Dillon gave credit to his troops for fighting to the end.

"It's been an incredibly tough week. We speak a lot about resilience and courage as a group, but for Gearóid O'Connell to do what he did in the last week and a half, with the grief he went through, it's incredible to go out there and play like that and give so much, after such a tragedy."

Clare U21 joint-manager Donal Moloney heaped praise on right half-back Gearoid O'Connell whose father was tragically killed in a farm accident recently.

"It was a nice way to sign off to win your last underage match, but to win it in an All-Ireland final in Thurles and to do the three-in-a row is special."

The hero-of-the-hour, Tony Kelly, picked up his third All-Ireland U21 HC souvenir.

"As hard as it is to take getting beaten, it's a little bit easier when you know the quality of the opposition."

"This is our third year here and luckily enough we pulled it off. Obviously them getting that last minute goal put the heart crossways on us again, but we were the better team. For some of those lads, it's their third final and it's brilliant to win one."

Kildare also celebrated All-Ireland U21 hurling success on Saturday and joint-manager Noel McMahon outlined what it meant to the Lilywhites.Model County boss JJ Doyle conceded the better team won in Semple Stadium.

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