'Until the hurling people of Laois take hold of this County Board, we are in trouble’- Clough-Ballacolla's Willie Hyland

Clough-Ballacolla claimed their fifth Laois Senior Hurling Championship title in six years on Sunday, defeating Camross in a hard-fought final.

Manager Willie Hyland spoke openly about the challenges his side overcame, the frustrations they faced throughout the year, and the performances that helped them lift the Bob O'Keefe Cup once again.

On the significance of the win, Hyland highlighted the resilience shown by his players after he won his eighth county medal, his second as a manager.

"They're all different. The first one is probably the most special for an area like ours, but this one is different. We've had knockback after knockback. This is a story of resilience for this team because it's been unbelievable all year. Picky did his cruciate back in April or May, whenever it was. Tommy Brennan broke his leg, and then Robbie Phelan got suspended. That's three of our top forwards gone. Lee came off the last day at half-time. It was just heroic."

Hyland was also candid about the treatment he feels his club has received from the county board, particularly in relation to fixtures and player discipline.

"If I'm being honest, I'm a bit disappointed as well at how we were treated. We give seven lads to the county every year, and I don't think we get the same credit. From a county board point of view, we've asked for a bit of help with regard to fixtures. Our same players play Premier Intermediate and Senior. We were asked in one week this year to play three games in four days. There was nobody playing ball from a county board point of view.

"One time, I asked PJ Peacock, who was over at Abbeyleix at the time, if we could change the match to a Sunday morning. It was down for Sunday evening, so we asked for a change on Sunday morning. Abbeyleix were happy, we were happy and the referee was happy, it wasn't changed. Robbie Phelan has been treated disgracefully. What Robbie did that day was nothing; he was just defending himself. We played that day, we were playing against a team who were pinching and poking and saying things about players' families and their partners and their mothers. Robbie was just defending himself, and what he did was minimal. He shouldn't have been missing the county final. He was actually sent off in the wrong in the league game against The Harps as well. You're talking about a club that every year we're giving the most amount to the county, and we're getting no payback.

"That's why it's so sweet, lads. We were absolutely wound up to win this county final, we were so wound up. We knew all we wanted was one wrap at a final, and we wouldn't be too far away. Sorry now, I know I'm going a bit of a rant here, lads, but I'm angry. I'm angry at the way we've been treated as a club; angry is not the word. Robbie Phelan, my heart goes out to him. I'm on the ground, I ring Robbie the following day after an appeal, and I see how disappointed he is. We're trying to keep that man in the country, have him hurling with the club. He's been an absolute stalwart for us over the last number of years, so it's not right. Until the hurling people of Laois take hold of this county board, we are in trouble. We are in trouble. That was a story of resilience today in what we did. A story of resilience. Harsh words, lads, I know."

Reflecting on the group-stage meeting with Camross, Hyland acknowledged the different stakes for the sides and praised his players’ composure in the final.

"We were just chatting about it during the week. We played them in the group stages, and if Camross lost that game, they were out. We were telling our lads, look, it's a chance to knock Camross out when we play them, but realistically, the lads knew they were still in the championship. As much as you say it to the lads or you try and get into their heads, they knew they had a safety net. Finals are different, lads. We were saying to the lads all year, just get to a final by hook or by crook, and then you have a 50-50 chance. It turns out they had the best display of the year there; we're so proud of them. I could name lads all over the field, but heroic performances all over. I thought even in the first half, Camross got their goals against the run of play. Zane got a great second goal, but he should have been tracked. The 21, you should be stopping them, really. We were three points up against the wind at half-time. It probably should have been an awful lot more. The second-half, look, it got a bit nervy there near the end."

Clough-Ballacolla welcomed back star forward Picky Maher after an ACL injury, while another club stalwart, Stephen Bergin, won man of the match after scoring 1-13.

"But look, Picky Maher, some story. We had a fair debate on Friday night about what time we were going to bring him in at, but by God, he had some entry there. He set up a score, he got a point from play and a massive free. Stevo Bergin, unbelievable to see him get mad at a match. Stevo is one of the cleverest players I've ever played with or managed. He's an absolute assassin. He's some man to get a goal, and he loves finals. He might frustrate you, maybe, in league games or challenge games. But by God, when the big day comes, Stevo never lets you down. We all love Stevo. He had a big responsibility, hitting the frees as well, that's not an easy thing with Picky missing. He was unbelievable on them all year. Everything about Stevo today, you could see he was just in a different zone. In a final, that's what you want out of a fella."

Hyland also heaped praise on corner-back Joseph Pearson, who neutralised Mossy Keyes, one of the county’s in-form forwards.

"Joe was unbelievable, in fairness to him. That was a big ask. Mossy was the in-form forward in the county. There wasn't a bother on Joe. He's an easy-going type of fella. I wasn't worried about him, to be honest with you. We felt he was a good match for Mossy, and I thought he was really, really good now."

Looking ahead, Clough-Ballacolla will represent Laois in the AIB Leinster Club Senior Hurling Championship and face the winners of the Westmeath championship in three weeks, either Castletown-Geoghegan or Lough Lene Gaels, after they couldn't be separated in Mullingar on Sunday.

"We want to do well. We haven't done well there the last two times we've been there since we got to the Leinster final; we haven't performed like we want to. Willie Dunphy is a big concern there; he's a big player for us. We're going to have to see what way he is. We've got three weeks now. We played Raharney recently, who got beaten in a semi-final. They were a very good team. The standard in Westmeath is very, very high, so whoever comes out there is going to be strong."

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