Multy managers hail ‘savage squad’ after memorable sudden death win

Despite the incredible drama of their Westmeath intermediate football quarter-final win against Tubberclair, there was still time for humour in the Multyfarnham camp shortly after their penalty shootout victory.

This humour included a reluctance between Graeme Corcoran and Darren Rigney to decide who actually was the manager of the side in maroon and white, so both of them spoke after what had been a titanic encounter.

For his part, Graeme said: “We believe in these boys and, more so, they believe in themselves. There is a ‘never say die’ attitude out in Multyfarnham and I know that from being involved with teams playing against them over the years. They went to the well this evening. They got their reward for the amount of work they put in.”

He continued: “We are both outside men, but it’s not about us though, or the backroom team. We have all rowed in together. We never thought we’d lose, even when we were playing catch-up. Ronan (Wallace) was unlucky not to win it with the free, and that might have saved his heart and mine by avoiding a penalty shootout! Now, the next day up (laughing), it’s my own club Garrycastle.”

Darren then added: “My voice is gone, as you can hear or not hear! People don’t realise there are serious-quality footballers in Multy. We have a big, powerful, physical team. We have a small squad in terms of numbers, but we have a savage squad. Nobody gave them a chance to come out of the group, but they won the group, and there’s only ourselves and Milltown unbeaten.”

Looking ahead to a semi-final clash with Garrycastle, he said that it’s all to play for.

“Everybody thinks Garrycastle will go straight back up, and there’s a reason why. They have a phenomenal side with a lot of senior medals. But we’ll enjoy tonight as we have enjoyed every win so far, and then we’ll go and plan for them and, please God, it’ll work out the next day as well.”