Niall Ó Ceallacháin: 'We're absolutely delighted'

By Cian O'Connell

"We're absolutely delighted, it is a big day for our club; we're really proud of the lads to put in that performance on the biggest stage of all," Na Fianna manager Niall Ó Ceallacháin reflected at Croke Park.

A dynamic Na Fianna display was rewarded with a 2-23 to 0-20 win over Sarsfields with Ó Ceallacháin acknowledging the contribution of those who served the Mobhi Road outfit throughout the decades.

"We're very, very proud of them," Ó Ceallacháin remarked. "So many others over so many years, supporters, parents, coaches, they've supported the lads in so many ways.

"For the lads in there and the teams that have gone before, we're really pleased to have got the result to give back a bit to all of those people who've put so much in."

These are glorious times for hurling in Na Fianna. A couple of Dublin senior titles have been captured with Leinster and All-Ireland honours secured too. "In the last four or five years, the success we've had for sure, but the last 10 or 20 is straightforward enough in the amount of hours and work that so many have put in from an underage side of things," Ó Ceallacháin says about the importance of the work carried out in the club.

"We got our house in order at underage, starting in the 90s, that ramped up further in the early 2000s, it has gone to a different level altogether.

"So, standards have been increased significantly over those years by so many people. We're really, really pleased for them."

This performance was a reflection of that sheer graft according to Ó Ceallacháin. "There is no doubt about it," he responded.

"Even people who've been in this dressing room and who've passed on from this dressing room, and who've finished up, and what they gave to the jersey.

"In the past 20 years the work that has gone in at underage to bring those lads to a situation and an opportunity for a performance on the biggest day like that, it doesn't come overnight.

"The systems are in place for that. I hope with me moving on, I hope it continues to be the case."

Ó Ceallacháin's thoughts will quickly turn to Dublin, who face Antrim in the Allianz Hurling League at GAA headquarters next Saturday evening.
"You'd do anything for days like today," he says.

"It is busy, but you'd do anything. From the morning I'll be throwing all of my lot and energy into a different set of lads with Dublin, doing all I can for them. I'm looking forward to that too."