RIVERINA FOOTBALL LEAGUE
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COLLINGULLIE-Ashmont-Kapooka coach Shane Lenon described the Demons' grand final victory as "clearly" the best win he has been involved in.
CAK etched its name into the record books as it claimed its first Riverina Football League senior premiership win with a magnificent come-from-behind victory over old foe Mangoplah-Cookardinia United-Eastlakes.
The Demons, bruised and batted with several injuries, came from 30 points down to land a memorable 13-point win.
Lenon has a sensational football record through his 25-year involvement in the game and he placed CAK's effort to down the Goannas yesterday as the best has been involved with.
"There were heroes everywhere," Lenon said.
"That was clearly the best win I have ever been involved in.
"I thought it was pretty special.
"First of all, the fact that it's been four years in the making.
"Then to be in that position halfway through the second quarter and things were going pear shaped with injuries to different blokes and we were really under the pump.
"But they drew a line in the sand and that's something we've talked about.
"They started to take the game on a bit more and they got their confidence up a little bit, then we came in at half-time two goals down and I was pretty happy.
"We had got ourselves in a position to at least have a crack at it."
Lenon said the six minute period before half-time where Brent Arho bagged three goals was the most important stage of the grand final.
"I think that's where the game was won, even though we were still behind," he said.
"Then just to dig in, blokes did play injured and sore, so to dig in and find a way to win well to me it was something special, something to behold.
"We had to overcome adversity and gee our young blokes stood up.
"Our leaders have been very good for us, but our improvement and why we won the flag this year is because of the young blokes we've been able inject into the side.
"Our young blokes took the next step and it was exciting to be apart of it.
"It was the most enjoyable year I've had coaching, irrelevant of the result (yesterday)."
Grand final day had not been good to CAK in recent times with the Demons going down in the last two premiership deciders, once to Narrandera and last year it was Coolamon.
Lenon believes his players drew on those experiences during yesterday's win.
"I think halfway through the second quarter it helped for sure," he said.
"I can say that now.
"I try not to look too much into the past, the easiest thing in footy is talking about it.
"People say it's your turn, well it's not your turn, you've got to turn up and earn it.
"You've got to play well and be better than the opposition on the day.
"Lessons are learnt, trophies are earnt, and I think we've learnt from the last two years.
"When the game was slipping away from us, I think they dug in and I think what happened in the last two years helped us."