Horgan praises his history makers

REACTION Manager's masterclass claims Challenge Cup glory

There's an old saying that floats around American sports in particular that 'players win games, coaches lose them'.

Rarely, if ever, do coaches or managers grab the headlines or claim the plaudits. It's always the players who pull the shirt up in celebration, seeking the adoration of fans.

When games are won the praise is generally heaped on a moment of genius from a individual or a spectacular team performance.

However, when games are lost, it is normally the manager or coach who is blamed for setting up the team wrong or applying the wrong tactics.

That certainly was not the case for Trim Celtic at Weavers Park on Saturday as their third successive Challenge Cup triumph was very definitely won on the sideline.

Perfect tactics, inspirational substitutions and the calming presence of Robbie Horgan on the sideline were the key components of Trim Celtic's win over Rock Celtic - the captain James Goggins referenced the brilliance of his manager in his post-match speech.

Horgan, a legend of the Drogheda United club that hosted Saturday's Challenge Cup final, was delighted to maintain winning form on familiar soil.

"It's always special for me to win here, we won here last year as well. As soon as I know the game is on here I get a buzz because this feels like home to me," said Horgan after Saturday's win.

"I tell the lads that there are a few black and white photos of me in that clubhouse in there somewhere, so this place means so much to me.

"For these lads to do what they do here and to bring the trophy back home to Trim from a place that was a big part of my life it is fantastic."

Despite the near perfect coaching performance of Horgan and his management team of assistant Craig Dempsey, goalkeeping coach Kevin Connick, video analyst Robbie Connell and physios Dave Burke and Stephen Weafer, the manager was quick to deflect the praise onto his warrior players who have been on a hugely successful journey for almost three years and there's no end in sight.

"We have Peamount next Sunday in the FAI Junior Cup and I know I have used that cliche a hundred times about taking it one game at a time, but that is hugely important," said Horgan.

"These guys are history makers. I've never seen a team play so phenomenally or be so hungry for trophies over such a long period of time.

"That could have got away from us today, as it could have in all the other finals too when there was only one goal in it in all the other finals.

"We never stop. We haven't stopped for nearly three years now and that is a sign of success we have had. If we are playing in our off-season of November, December and January it is because we are getting into finals of Junior competitions as well as everything else, it is a great sign of success.

"It probably is starting to take its toll a little bit, but when we get a few more squad members back we will be able to mix it up.

"The lads are loving it. Recovery sessions are nearly more important than training sessions for us at the moment."

Last Saturday's cup final success was Trim Celtic's third successive victory and they remain on course to complete the league and cup double for the third successive year.

However, Horgan was a relieved man after Saturday's final whistle as his side claimed the spoils ina five-goal extra-time thriller.

"I'm very relieved because I thought Rock were absolutely excellent, especially in the first-half when they played us off the park.

"It took a big penalty save from our goalkeeper, who is renowned for that, to keep us in it.

"Rock were dominant, on top and already 1-0 up at that stage, if it had gone 2-0 then and the way they were playing it would have been difficult to comeback.

"That penalty save gave us a little bit of energy and we got back into it before the break.

"The equaliser gave us even more energy and then we started to settle down and play a little bit of ball.

"We had prepared for Rock ever since we knew the result of their semi-final, so we knew what we were going to get and they did exactly what it says on the tin.

"They are a lovely football team, they're a young team. In the years ahead that game will stand to them, because we have all been there in situations like that. I look forward to seeing them in the coming seasons.

"However, despite how good Rock were, my lads don't know how to lie down. We weren't at our best today, we had to go through the bodies substitutions-wise and we knew those substitutions might make the difference.

"The last minute is the best time to score a winner, although we did almost score one in the last minute of normal time too, so I'm absolutely delighted."

Horgan admitted that he and his management team had done a lot of homework on Rock.

He identified areas to exploit, but there was no accounting for the brilliance of Rock's goals.

Horgan also admitted that he was resigned to the thoughts of a penalty shootout before Sam Murray came up with the late winner.

"I said to my assistant Craig (Dempsey) to start picking the names for penalties. Our goalkeeping coach had done a bit of work on Rock because they won their last game on penalties, so we were preparing for penalties," said Horgan.

"No one wanted to make a mistake at that stage of the game, but both teams were tired. There were a lot of lads going down with cramp, so when we did make substitutions I thought they were very effective in terms of fresh legs.

"Because Rock like to play out from the back I thought if we could put them under pressure at the back and nick something in that final third that we would have a great opportunity of getting a goal.

"In fairness to them they didn't give much away, but our fresh legs certainly helped us.

"We are probably a taller side, and we had a lot of physicality in those areas when it comes to scoring and also defending. "We had plans, but you never know on the day how an opposition will defend those type of scenarios.

"We practice those set-piece situations a lot. You could practice those type of situations a hundred times in training, but to get one of those opportunities in a match and thankfully today we did.

"The Rock goals were two fantastic strikes. If ever there was a goalkeeper who might get on the end of strikes like those it would be our fella, but he didn't even get a sniff of them. They were so purely hit.

"As a team we feel we maybe gave them too much room to get the strike in, but that's what Rock do. They pick your pockets, play good football and if they tik-tak you around midfield they will open it up for the players up front and that's what happened today," said Horgan. Despite being up against a solid Rock side Trim Celtic and Horgan found a way to win - again.