Limerick Rugby - Tucker devastated for Bohs

UL-BOHS head coach, Colm Tucker admitted to feeling ‘devastated’ after his charges were denied a precious ODM Munster Senior Cup final success by a last gasp try at the Mardyke.

Tucker and his UL-Bohs must recover quickly from the bitter disappointment of losing out on a first Munster Senior Cup success since 1962 as the Red, Red Robins face a crucial AIL Division 1A clash with Dolphin at Annacotty this Saturday.

Colm Tucker said: “I am devastated really. The boys in the dressing room are devastated. It is exactly how I feel. It is absolutely cruel, a last second try. It is devastating.

“We seemed to be holding them at bay. I felt we were struggling to catch a break in there at times, as well, in terms of turnover of ball or getting a penalty, it wasn’t coming our way.

“I thought we were comfortable tight in, we were defending it fairly well. They got a two on two outside. Ivan Dineen got an outside shoulder and an off-load. Sport is cruel after that.

“They say you have to go through hell to get to heaven. That is about all of us recovering from this and battling on. The guys enjoyed the hype of the final and interest around it, so that is there for them now. They have to keep going after it.

“We spoke about it after the game, it is a big test of character. We don’t have long to recover from this. We are back into the day job straight away this week, and a huge game against Dolphin at home on Saturday in the AIL. We need to get four points under our belt and that is not going to be an easy task.

“You can use the hurt to motivate you, but you can’t play on passion every week. You have to make sure you are technically adept and ready to go. I thought we implemented our gameplan very well tonight at the same time. We have to pick it up.”

Tucker admitted that UL-Bohs’ inability to convert their superiority in terms of possession and territory in the opening half into points had contributed to their defeat.

“We didn’t put the points together when we had the ball in the first half,” Tucker agreed.

“But it is a Cup final. Both teams are fresh out of the blocks at that stage. You may dominate, but you are not coming up against tired bodies, so that makes it that bit more difficult. Con came back to lead 10-7, but we fought back to get ahead again. I thought we were the better team tonight. We just didn’t finish it off.

“I am very proud of the lads. All week you are trying to make the player understand the significance of this final, first and foremost, but not overawe them with it either so they don’t perform. I think we got the balance right.

“We had them fired up and ready to go. I think that showed in the way we came out of the blocks. It is disappointing we didn’t finish it off.”