‘The kid was tired’: Kelly opens up on toll of appeal on Killeen

Killeen’s red card from the December 21 semi-final win over Slaughtneil was only overturned late on Friday night by the Disputes Resolution Authority, just over 36 hours before throw-in. The teenager, man of the match in that semi-final, was unable to replicate that influence and was substituted five minutes from time.

“There was an awful lot of talk around will he play, will he not play. I was delighted he got to play, but I think the kid was tired today,” said Kelly.

“He looked tired there in the second half, and I think it probably took an awful lot out of him. But he's a super, super guy, his attitude was just fantastic, and I couldn't speak any higher of Cullen or any of the Killeens or any of my players really, they're just fantastic men.”

The uncertainty also disrupted Loughrea’s preparations, with management unsure until midnight on Friday whether their preferred midfield pairing would be available.

“Yeah, listen, it wasn't ideal [preparation], definitely not ideal, but there's no excuses. We got the player we wanted to start in midfield. We had another plan B, and we spoke to that guy as well, two or three weeks out, and we were saying that he'll be in if [Cullen’s appeal was unsuccessful].”

Despite a strong opening half, Loughrea were left to rue poor shooting efficiency, striking eight wides before the break and seeing two goal chances saved.

“I think we were down at 40-something percent in the first half for conversion. Yeah, left a lot of scores behind. We needed to build a lead if we were going to have any chance,” Kelly continued.

“We still felt we were in a good position at half-time, we were winning a lot of dirty ball. They definitely turned the screw on us in the second half a little bit. We have a bit of learning to do after that one today, we have to get up to an awful lot higher than where we are.

“Our scores probably tightened up definitely in the second half. When you're pressing for a game and you're trying to go forward and win a game, because we were brave, but when you are playing against an exceptional Ballygunner team, they're going to hit you on the counter-attack, and that goal at the start, that was a killer, it really was. It gave them breathing space.”