"We're absolutely blessed. What an opportunity" - Ballygunner ace O'Keeffe
January 23, 2022
Ballygunner's Billy O'Keeffe and Conor McAllister of Slaughtneil ©INPHO/Ryan Byrne
Ballygunner ace Billy O’Keeffe says its been a long road for the club to reach its first All-Ireland club SHC final and says they are keen to now deliver on the biggest stage.
O’Keeffe struck 2-3 in a ‘Man of the Match’ performance for the eight-in-a-row Waterford champions against Slaughtneil of Derry earlier today.
Speaking to TG4 after his team’s 2-19 to 1-17 triumph at Parnell Park, the Gunners’ corner-forward was relishing the prospect of playing in the All-Ireland final in two weeks’ time which will see them take on holders Ballyhale Shamrocks after the Kilkenny champions’ dramatic win over St Thomas’ earlier in the day.
“We've been on the road a long time, this team," the corner-forward stated. "[Winning] Eight years [in-a-row] in Waterford, as good as they are, you always finish the year with a loss. It's something that always eats away at you, and you come back each year that bit hungrier. It's every team's goal when they win their own county to push on.
"You play the Munster final against Kilmallock, the Limerick champions, and you go out as if it's the last game you're ever going to play. You come out in an All-Ireland semi-final, and it's the exact same thing."
He added: “We're absolutely blessed. What an opportunity. We will be [one of] the last two teams training in the next two weeks. It's a fantastic opportunity.
"We're part of a massive club, full of fantastic people. There are people here that we really wanted to play for today. There are special people that we want to bring up that M9 to the All-Ireland."
Tweet“We're absolutely blessed and privileged to be in it” 👊
— Spórt TG4 (@SportTG4) January 23, 2022
Is é Billy O'Keeffe laoch na hImeartha inniu!
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