CARROLL CUP
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MATER Dei coach Richard O’Connell has vowed the school will return hungrier for Carroll Cup victory in 2014.
Mater Dei had a shot at its third title in a row last night but failed to match an enthusiastic TRAC outfit, who won 6.6 (42) to 4.9 (33) at Robertson Oval in front of a big crowd.
The Mater Dei players were visibly disheartened following the loss, but O’Connell said the team will return just as good next year.
“We’ve got a good crew coming through, a good bunch of year 11s and 10s so they will back up again next year and fire up I’m sure,” he said.
O’Connell estimated “nine or 10” players from this year’s group will graduate but is confident in the talent coming up through the ranks.
Mater Dei was hot favourite heading into last night’s final and kicked the opening goal of the game to take a six-point lead into the first break.
TRAC came back to be level at half-time and kicked three goals to Mater Dei’s none in the third term to hold a considerable advantage heading into the last quarter.
Mater Dei had its chances but TRAC’s defensive pressure proved too good.
“I thought it was a good game,” O’Connell said.
“TRAC thoroughly deserved the victory, they out-played and out-pressured us and in the end we didn’t handle it too well.
“I just think we didn’t handle the pressure very well.
“We had a lot of soft games coming in and we just panicked under pressure.
“We held onto the ball for too long, didn’t get rid of it quick enough and they capitalised.
“When they moved it in quick we found it pretty hard to handle them.”
Jez Maslin was good again for Mater Dei and was later awarded player of the series, compiling seven votes in four games.
Jesse Cunningham was given a defensive job last night and rose to the challenge, as did captain Tom Keogh while small men Matt Kennedy, Tom Byrnes and Connor Byrne were all good.
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