“Devastated”: Offaly captain disappointed that they couldn't provide a bigger challenge
Killian Sampson says Offaly hurlers need more days like this in the years ahead
“We're devastated inside in our dressing room. We thought that we had a lot more and obviously we didn't bring it today. We're just bitterly disappointed.” Those were the words of Offaly captain Killian Sampson in the wake of Offaly's defeat to Cork in Sunday's All-Ireland Senior Hurling quarter final in Thurles.
“We had a set up there and we didn't execute,” he added. “Obviously they got a couple of early goals and we were never going to be able to come back from that. So yeah, first reaction is just very, very disappointing.”
The one thing most Offaly supporters feared was that Cork would get a good start and then get on a roll. “Yeah, look, I think we've seen over the last few years they can do that against anybody. So I was just disappointed that it had to be us today and that we weren't able to come with something different.”
Offaly kept going in the second half, even though the game was effectively dead, but the heads never dropped. “We kept trying, but ultimately we probably knew at half time that the game was probably gone for us. And that was just hugely disappointing.
“We wanted to just get to half time and still be in the game and hope that come the last maybe 15 or 20 minutes that we had something there to play for. And we just didn't, which was disappointing from our side.”
This has been a year of progress for Offaly. They survived in the Leinster Championship last year with a last day victory over Antrim but this year lost just one of their five group games and finished third of six teams in the group.
“It is a step up from where we were last year. And it's another step that we need to take again,” said Killian. “We don't want to obviously be fluctuating between Joe McDonagh after coming from the Christy Ring the whole way up. So we just want to go to the next level and be competing for Leinsters and be in the All-Ireland Series every year.”
While it's tough to take on a day like this, this is the learning experience for this young Offaly team that shows them what they have to do to get to that next level?
“Yeah, definitely. Look, Cork are obviously competing for Munster Championships and All-Ireland Championships as well. So that's where we need to be at. And you need to be at that kind of pace and level hurling. And we just weren't at it today.”
The Offaly supporters turned up in big numbers again in the attendance of over 40,000. Killian said it was great to see the crowd back behind Offaly again this year. “We kind of gave the crowd something to come and shout for and support us this year. And we see the numbers that came over here to Thurles today to support us. It was obviously disappointing. we couldn't give them a bit more, but it's great to see them back out and hopefully we'll give them some more good days in the next few years.”
This is a young Offaly team and this was a big experience for them. There are a lot of talented young lads coming through and the future should be bright for the county.
'There's a lot of young lads, but in fairness, most of our group have played in big games like that with the Minor All-Ireland and the under-20 All-Irelands. So, look, we need more days like this. We need more learning experiences. And hopefully in the next year or two, in the near future, that we can kind of take that next step,” Killian concluded.