CONLEITH Gilligan is a glass half full type of guy and when several others were spitting feathers over manner of Kilcoo’s one-point defeat to Warrenpoint, he wasn’t pointing the finger of blame.
Patrick Murdock’s late winner sent Kilcoo into the qualifiers of the Down Senior Club Championship and the Kilcoo coach said his side will be ready for next week.
Plenty at the match questioned the timing of the final whistle as referee Paul Falloon blew it with 61.05 minutes played, including the water-break, substitutions and injuries, but the Kilcoo coach said that they’ll have to accept it.
“We probably would have loved the extra couple of minutes that we probably felt were due, to have a crack at it, but the referee didn’t play them and that is for somebody else,” said Gilligan.
“Our boys played to the whistle and they done very well at that and they kept their cool in very difficult situations and circumstances and for that reason we are very proud of them.
“The time is the time and somebody else has to decide that I thought it was a bit short.
“In terms of the game itself it was up and down, and it was played like a game that had no meaning.
“Both teams really went at it and wanted to win and credit to Warrenpoint they got the point at the end. It is a case that that we will have to look at and learn from it.”
Indeed, the Derry native expects a tough challenge to get back to the final but he has confidence in his player and he was pleased with how his side handled themselves in Pairc Esler and he is glad of the second chance.
“We are very proud of them, they put on a huge effort in two different stages of the game and for 20 minutes we only had 14 men and in them stages we probably played the better football,” Gilligan said.
“They are the things that we will look away and digest and hope that we can try and bring to the next day.
“All is not lost; we will learn, and it is another game that will take us on. Obviously, you would want to be sitting in the quarter-final and have an extra week’s break.
“That is not where we are at and we will have to dust ourselves down on Tuesday night and go at it again. We will have to go it the hard way. With Mayobridge and Warrenpoint and no doubt the teams that already are in the section, to win it we will have to go the hard way. But look, these boys wouldn’t want it any other way.”
