Hanniffy loud in his praise of Oranmore Maree players
ORANMORE Maree minor hurling manager Gearoid Hannify paid tribute to his players after they secured a four-point victory over Craughwell following extra time in the Galway Minor A Hurling Final replay at Kenny Park on Saturday.
“I probably didn’t expect anything else, some battle it always is. I’m just ferociously proud of the boys out there, they really had to dig deep. Hard luck to Craughwell, they pushed us there,” Hannify told Stream Sport.
Oranmore Maree appeared to be in a commanding position when they led 0-16 to 0-6 midway through the second half, but Craughwell produced a remarkable comeback to force extra time. Harry Glynn's goal ultimately proved decisive as Oranmore Maree retained their title.
Saturday’s win further highlights the strength of the club's underage structures. However, Hannify said that plenty of work remains to ensure these talented young players transition to adult hurling.
“There’s no doubting that getting them to adult hurling is a different animal altogether. We’re all aware of the work that goes into them at this age, it’s only starting really to get them to adult hurling.”
Gus Lohan was outstanding, finishing with an impressive personal tally of 1-12. While Hannify praised Lohan's contribution, he was also keen to acknowledge the collective effort of his players.
“There’s a lot more than just Gus too, Gus is special there is no question about it. He’s the ability to bring everyone else around him into the game, he’s worked hard; it’s not just his hurling that gets him out of trouble. He’s a gem really.”