For once, Castlehaven engine never really fired, admits Collins
Macmonagle By O'shea Final Looney The Don Dr In And Shoots Gavin Castlehaven's Quarter Surrounded photo: Club Munster During Killarney Evan For Collins Disappointed: Crokes's Goal Sfc Mark
As Dr Crokes advance to a Munster Club SFC semi final against Waterford's Rathgormack, Castlehaven are left to wonder. And with regrets, admitted their veteran playmaker Mark Collins.
"We are disappointed because we didn't do ourselves justice. In fact it was one of our poorest performances in the last couple of years," Collins said.
"To be fair, Crokes were excellent, definitely the better team. We knew we didn't play super in the first half but to be a point down at the break was ok. Our plan was to be in with a chance with fifteen minutes to go but the couple of minutes after half time were a killer.
"They got a goal virtually from the throw-in, then we panicked a small bit, didn't get a couple of kickouts away. That was something we struggled a bit with all day whereas previously we've been up around 90% on restarts. Crokes had their homework done on us. They had us under the cosh."
Castlehaven had a couple of goal chances in the second period that could have kickstarted their momentum because they needed some more of those surges. Backed by a huge travelling crowd, the reigning Munster champion struggled to keep Dr Crokes on the back foot.
"Even when we were down to 14 without Brian we managed to get it down to three points going into injury time so there was no faulting our commitment again but we are disappointed because we feel we didn't do ourselves justice - but a lot of that is down to how Dr Crokes played.
"I think we were beaten by the better team, fair and square. They played very well on the day and I think they are a good team."