On the final day of All-Ireland, the big players had to reach their targets and none came as high as Shamrocks’ Eoin Cody.
Without the injured Adrian Mullen, a new player would have to step up to the mark and Cody certainly did that with his Man of the Match display scoring 1-5 off the play .
His first-half goal proved crucial in bringing the nine-time champions back into the game after a poor start. He knows how lucky he is to be part of the Shamrock Team.
“It’s unbelievable. All the All-Ireland wins are surreal. For us, we’re a very lucky group to have been in the last four All-Ireland finals. It’s great. We’ve won three. It’s incredible for a small club like this, it’s a great group of young people to work with.”
All-Ireland success will bring some solace to a club that has been strangled off the pitch over the past 12 months.
It’s not lost on Cody, who tragically lost his uncle Paul Sheffrin last March, and he paid tribute to his ex Harler.
“It’s been a very tough year off the pitch and on the pitch it’s clear we lost the All-Ireland final to Barry Gunner.
“Today (Sunday) I realized that the last time my uncle Paul saw me play for the Shamrocks was the All-Ireland final. It’s heartbreaking that it was his last game.
“I wish he was here and like so many others who have left the club, what we have achieved today is unbelievable.”
The former Young Hurler of the Year also admitted that a seven-point lead did not justify a valiant Ulster opponent.
“The scoreboard doesn’t really reflect the game, because it was just one or two points overall, and it was TIT-FOR-TAT,” added Cody.
“We went up to three points in the second half, then went back down to one. Only when we were on the bench did we show what a great panel we have.”
The 22-year-old has already won three medals for the All-Ireland club, but only half as many as team-mates TJ Reed, Colin Fennelly, Eoin Reid and Mark Aylward. Like Cody, TJ Reed admired the losing Dunroy side.
“It was a very tough fight and perhaps what ultimately gave us the edge was our fitness level with Nile Lacy last year.
“It was a dangerous game because there was no getting away from Dunroy because we only had a few points all the time and never really opened them up.
“Dunroy worked very hard and played with a sweeper, which made it difficult for us, but credit him for running the ball outside the defense.
“Then the half-back pushed a little bit and created some overlaps that we couldn’t have done in the first half.
“At the end of the day, even coming back here after last year, redemption is certainly sweet.”
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