ON a day when an uncompromising Loughrea defence only coughed up eight points from play, two of its key members were more than content with how Sunday’s All-Ireland Club hurling semi-final panned out.

29-year-old Joe Mooney said there was no question of Loughrea under-estimating the Slaughtneil challenge. “I think they have been in five semi-finals previously to this and we have only been in one.

“We did a lot of work on them the second week after we won the county final. We had downed tools for a few days and then got back on this. We were looking at the Ulster championship, and we always had an idea that it would be Slaughtneil who would come through.”

Mooney said the pitch was a bit dead. “I’d imagine if you watch the match back there would be a lot of rucks and breaks in play. It was hard to get the ball up into the hand the first time.

“I though we hurled well. Once we started to move the ball that bit faster, we got some joy out of it. We always knew pitches were going to be heavy at this time of year as well.”

Mooney is already looking forward to a January All-Ireland showdown against Ballygunner of Waterford. “2007 is a long time ago now [only previous occasion Loughrea were in a final]  and I remember going up on the train as a young lad. We didn’t get what we wanted that day as a club, but hopefully we can go one step further this time.”

The long-serving defender said  Loughrea had learned a lot from last year’s defeat to Na Fianna, even from a logistics point of view of an All-Ireland semi-final. “It’s a different kind of environment than going to Athenry or Ballinasloe – that’s only 20 minutes down the road. Whereas you have to plan ahead and what time you’re eating and all that.”

Fellow defender Kieran Hanrahan was feeling the effects of battle despite winning by 13 points. “They were extremely fit, and they hit so hard. It was up and down, and you are out on your feet, but you have to keep going. They are a savage side.

“I was happy with the performance and though the game petered towards the end, it had been one hell of a battle. It was never a question that we wouldn’t treat them with the utmost respect as they are back-to-back Ulster champions.

“I think it was one of the toughest games we have played as a group and we are just delighted that we came through,” said the 22-year-old who agreed with Mooney that they took “a lot of learnings” from last year’s semi-final.

“It stood to us, and you bring the hurt with you. Luckily enough, we learned from that game even managing the seven-week break from the county final. There were a couple of weeks in that block where we were dogging the lives out of each other and then winding down for a little bit. It’s mental as well, you have to get yourself riled-up.”

Hanrahan wasn’t perturbed about the impact of Loughrea’s win on their Christmas festivities. “People complain about howe close it is but what else would you be rather doing at this time of year.”

Pictured: Loughrea’s Joe Mooney secures possession against Eamon Cassidy of Slaughtneil during Sunday’s All-Ireland Club Senior Hurling semi-final at Parnell Park. Photo: Ramsey Cardy/Sportsfile.