Flanagan has no complaints as Raharney taste defeat

Following his side’s eight-point reversal against Dublin’s Na Fianna on Sunday at TEG Cusack Park, Raharney manager Ger Flanagan offered no complaints about the outcome, although he felt the Westmeath champions could have been much closer had they taken their opportunities.

Raharney won the Westmeath title on October 8 and the lengthy lay-off could easily have conspired against them, but Flanagan felt they were well prepared for Sunday’s encounter.

“We were happy with how training went really. We didn’t mind having the break. Bodies were tired after the Westmeath championships: between the hurling and football being on every week. So we did get a good bit of training in and we were happy coming in today, that we would perform. And I think we did perform. We can’t have any complaints,” he said.

“We nearly had to pick from a full panel today so we don’t have any complaints. We definitely enjoyed our time. The last four or five weeks we celebrated the final like we should have and we had enough time then to regroup and give this the respect it deserves.”

A big factor last Sunday was the Dublin side’s control of the game and while they battled really hard, Raharney couldn’t forge ahead. Flanagan felt the Dublin side’s experience and greater economy were big factors, while his side failed to get the goal they required.

“We couldn’t get that point or two ahead. They were just probably a little bit more clinical in their shooting and a bit more patient maybe in their shooting. They scored from really all over today. We definitely competed and it was a very good performance from us, but we just didn’t get ahead at any stage, or maybe look like we were going to get ahead.

“We probably had a couple of goal chances alright, and maybe we needed to take them. We got inside the full-back line very early on and we just needed maybe to take those chances or at least get points out of those opportunities. While we didn’t hit too many wides, we probably could have made more, maybe, of our scoring chances at times.”

Raharney had the aid of the breeze in the first half but it was the visiting side who led by 0-14 to 0-11 at the interval and Flanagan felt conditions weren’t really a big factor on the day. He feels the victory will stand to the Dublin side and suggested they could now take some stopping in Leinster.

“No, the breeze wasn’t that significant. We had a great spell there in probably the middle of the second half and we knocked over three, four points in a row and got back into it. And then I think they got a great sideline cut, and then they probably started to use the ball a little bit better, and we just couldn’t get a grasp on them. And they were very patient in the game; they were very confident in what they were doing and maybe they were just slightly that bit better than us on the day. And fair credit to them, they could do damage now in Leinster. They have the confidence and they have the hurlers to go on and win the next day and maybe get to a Leinster final,” he remarked.

Raharney failed to get a goal in Sunday’s game, but when Na Fianna got their opportunity, they showed their superiority. However, the manager felt the final scoreline was harsh on his side.

“The goal chance – we probably had the ball in our hands, two or three different players probably had the ball in their hands, and probably needed to get it out of that zone. And then they got it in their hands and they just made the most of it and ran straight up the middle,” recalled Flanagan.

“And Aaron inside in goal really didn’t have any chance of blocking it and that probably was the nail in the coffin. But I don’t think they were eight points better than us. Maybe three, four points on the day, was probably a fair reflection on our performance.”

Raharney will be fully expected to make a strong bid for successive senior ‘A’ titles next year and it’s likely that the experienced Flanagan will be back at the helm having enjoyed such a successful run this season.

“It’s definitely there for Raharney. They have the hurlers, there’s probably nobody retiring and I don’t think the club have done it ever, not for a long time anyway, won two in-a-row. So I think that carrot is there for them,” he added.