"The Rattler... in our club, when we were growing up we heard so much about Mickey Byrne, 11 county finals in a row (winning 10) and that record, 14 county titles. So we were always looking up to them. A great family... we are very saddened by his death but it's a celebration of a great life, a great man and a great Thurles Sarsfields man. We are delighted to win it on this occasion."

Thurles Sarsfields coach Paddy McCormack paid tribute to club legend Mickey 'The Rattler' Byrne who passed away at the age of 93 yesterday.

"We didn't come out of the traps at all. I was disappointed with our lack of energy in that first-half. We weren't showing for the ball the way we should. We were also going too narrow in attack and playing straight into Moorefield's hands. They bossed most of that first half and there's no doubt that the penalty was a get-out-of-jail card for us."

Sarsfields, under John Crofton, came strong in the second-half to clinch the Kildare SFC bragging rights against Moorefield.

"We can go further but we will take it one step at a time. We will enjoy this and that's important. It's a great win, absolutely unbelievable. That bunch of players, I knew it was in them to come again. It was our first day today to have a full panel of players to pick from. I knew if we got a performance out of them they were good enough to win it."

St Thomas' manager John Burke deflected all the credit on this players following their four point Galway SHC final victory over Gort.

"They deserve this. Their focus has been fantastic all year. I know that because there was no talk about other years and other games that mightn't have gone their way. There was no mention of semi-finals or finals that happened in previous years, certainly no mention of the previous final against Ballincollig. They're a hugely talented group and it's great to see them get the reward."

Ronan McCarthy guided Carbery Rangers to a first Cork SFC success.

"He was awesome there. Talk about his pace being gone? That point he got down the wing was phenomenal. He just took the game by the scruff of the neck in the last 20 minutes and showed what a player he is."

Dr Crokes selector Harry O'Neill took his hat off to Colm 'Gooch' Cooper following the Gooch's seven point heroics in the Kerry SFC final.

"We struggled for periods of the first half but once we opened up the game in the final quarter, we managed the crucial scores. Fair play to Cloughbawn, they put up a huge fight but we are delighted to now go forward and defend our provincial title."

Oulart-The Ballagh, and manager Frank Flannery, didn't have things all their own way in the Wexford SHC decider.

"I honestly think they can go on from here. This success will instil further belief in the players and we will now embrace the challenge of the Ulster club championship."

A first Armagh county title win hasn't sated the appetite of Shane McConville and his Maghery players.

"When Mickey Moran came in to take this job for three years I'm sure at some point he thought he would win a championship but to have won three in a row is beyond your wildest dreams."

Slaughtneil assistant manager John Joe Kearney shone a light on Mickey Moran's input to their dominance of the Derry SFC.

"I had fellas I played with cutting the back off me for three years. I haven't seen too many of them coaching anyone to win anything. There's no real logic behind any of it because they can't stand up and say they have done anything themselves. I remember going home [after leaving Clare] and saying, 'I don't have to listen to that anymore'.The way I felt treated, and probably betrayed by some of them, was unreal, but that's the way it is and it is over."

New Wexford senior hurling manager Davy Fitzgerald accused some of his former team-mates of betraying him during his time as manager of Banner senior hurlers.

"It's a major shock to his family and to all who knew him throughout the world. It's hard to believe that this has happened to a man in the prime of his life, head coach to Munster. He was a wonderful sportsman who played gaelic games in his younger days. Our sympathy goes out to his family."

Clare GAA chairman Joe Cooney expressed the association's sadness at the sudden passing of Munster and Ireland rugby legend Anthony Foley.

 

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