What they said…the weekend in quotes

May 23, 2016

Fans look on before the Leinster SHC round-robin encounter between Offaly and Kerry at O'Connor Park, Tullamore.
©INPHO/Tom Beary.

"It was pretty solid. That was a very difficult day for forwards. Even a slow back like myself might have done all right on a day like that."

Tipperary boss Michael Ryan describing the conditions in Thurles after his side's Munster SHC quarter-final win over Cork.

"That was classic defence turnover stuff. Hold the opposition up, force them into error and seize the opportunity to go at them."

Mickey Harte assesses the first of three goals scored by Tyrone in Sunday's Ulster SFC win over Derry

"Laois beat us by six or seven points a few weeks ago so there's no reason to suggest Laois would be any easier. Whoever you get you get."

Westmeath hurling manager Michael Ryan wasn't making an issue of playing Galway rather than Laois in the Leinster SHC quarter-finals after Sunday's win.

"These guys have been champions for the guts of the last 10 or 12 years. It's a huge challenge for us, but any of the guys inside in the dressing-room will hopefully look forward to it and take on the challenge of what's ahead."

Looking ahead to his team's Leinster SHC showdown with Kilkenny, Dublin boss Ger Cunningham was in a good mood after the display against Wexford on Saturday night.

"You think of those guys in the dressing-room there, they'll be ridiculed by everyone after that, which you have to take on the chin. Some fellas don't want that. They wonder is it worth the hassle and they decide it isn't. Some fellas will die for it. Everyone is different."

Cunningham's counterpart on Saturday, Wexford manager Liam Dunne, wasn't in as good a mood after his team's defeat at Croke Park.

"I'd say our training will be good over the next two weeks. We'll not be shouting from the rooftops about this performance, but we're looking forward to playing at Croke Park. That was our short-term goal."

Antrim stand-in manager Dominic McKinley was a happy man on Saturday after the Saffrons made it through to the Christy Ring Cup final with victory over Down.

"A lot of people have been doubting Wexford football. When I got the job Wexford was on a downward curve but I think we've shown it there tonight that we're getting it back up, maybe not where it was yet but we're getting there."

Wexford boss David Power was left to rue his team's missed chances on Saturday night after Kildare edged a 0-9 to 0-8 win at Croke Park.

"Our turnover rate, our fouls conceded stats were way up in the second half, which is a sure sign that you're not performing at your best."

Cian O'Neill speaking on Saturday after his Kildare side survived a close call against Wexford at Croke Park.

"The lads would be the first to admit that's not good enough for Cork hurling and as a management team, we've to take that on the chin as well."

Selector Pat Ryan shoulders part of the blame after Cork's nine-point loss to Tipperary in Thurles.

"We're a resilient bunch. My job is to try to change that situation where we don' just lose the first round of the championship and then head into the qualifiers, and we're trying out damndest to change it. There are some positives."

Leitrim manager Shane Ward looks ahead to the qualifiers after his side's 1-21 to 0-11 hammering by Roscommon on Sunday.

"I have to accept responsibility. Emotionally it didn't look like we were prepared for the occasion or indeed the contest."

Derry boss Damian Barton offers no excuses for his side's 3-14 to 0-12 defeat at the hands of Tyrone on Sunday.

"We looked average at times, but it gives us plenty to work on, and if you told me before we'd score 1-21 I'd be happy with that."

After a 13-point win over Leitrim, Roscommon joint manager Fergal O'Donnell gives his assessment of the performance in Carrick-on-Shannon on Sunday.

"It's been a barren enough time here and it's great, you could see the buzz last week with the footballers winning and hopefully today will give us a lift. It'd be great to get a good turnout here in two weeks' time."

Offaly manager Eamonn Kelly looks forward to his team's Leinster SHC quarter-final against Laois after defeating Kerry in Tullamore.

"It was difficult given the conditions. The showers got heavier and heavier and it made controlling and striking the ball very difficult. We don't care, we got the win and we're delighted."

Tipperary's Padraic Maher after his side's nine-point win over Cork in Thurles on Sunday.

"In my day, we used to whoop Tyrone's asses more often than not. A championship game between us was a hair-raising event where the spectators' heart rates soared beyond safe limits and they came away hoarse and either jubilant or devastated."

Former Derry All-Ireland winner and leading football pundit Joe Brolly recalls past duels with Tyrone while writing in his column for the Sunday Independent.


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