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In the wake of his side’s heartbreaking defeat to Corofin in the All-Ireland Club Final, experienced Dr Crokes forward Brian Looney has spoken of his admiration for the Galway champions and the style of football that they play.

Last Sunday’s decider in Croke Park had been billed as a dream final between two heavyweights of club football but Corofin completely dominated their Kerry counterparts en route to a 2-16 to 0-10 win.

Speaking exclusively to the Killarney Advertiser this week, Looney told of his frustration and disappointment that he and his teammates hadn’t played to their potential, but above all else he was full of praise for Corofin.

“It’s very difficult when you’re chasing a team who are playing really well and at the peak of their performance,” he said. “You can’t but be impressed with the type of football they play and the way they go about it.

“I knew myself that they were a good side but they proved that the last day. They played really, really well. They just didn’t allow us to get involved at all. I was saying it to someone there over the past couple of days: Croke Park is a lonely place when you feel like you’re chasing shadows.”

Crokes won’t have much time to lick their wounds. They’re back in action this and next weekend in the County League and then it’s the Club Championship in April. For Looney, that’s a good thing.

“Look, (the club schedule) is difficult. But it’ll be good to get back into it fairly soon rather than dwelling on what happened last Sunday. I think there has been a lot of talk about the All-Ireland Club Finals and when they’re on... In an ideal world they might be brought forward to give teams an opportunity to have a break after.

“I think the county set-up as it was last year, with the Club Championship being run off all in one month and the County League being played every couple of weeks, was a good format and it certainly helped. I suppose we had the dilemma of the fixtures because we were successful.

“But it won’t be a bad thing to be playing a bit of ball as soon as possible and get rid of the cobwebs from the performance last weekend.”

Looney is one of the veterans in this Dr Crokes squad - he played in his first County Final as an 18-year-old back in 2005 – and he’s one of a number of players with a lot of mileage on the clock. Do they ever find it hard to stay motivated, particularly after a defeat like this?

“I don’t think so,” Looney says. “At times you might feel like it’s hard but when you get a chance to reflect, you start to realise that we have a great group around us. Fellas are good to rally each other when we need to and there’s plenty at stake with the Club Championship and the league coming up, and then County Championship later in the year.

“I’m sure it’ll take a bit of time to get over the way the Corofin defeat happened, but we’ll regroup. Your career doesn’t go on forever. We just want to make the most of the successful spell that we’re having at the moment.”

One player who will not be lining out for the Crokes this weekend is Eoin Brosnan. The 38-year-old former Kerry senior, who was a second half substitute against Corofin on Sunday, has announced his retirement from club football with immediate effect. Looney wished his teammate well.

“To have Brossy around the dressing room and to play with him and learn from him... He has been a huge influence on all of us, myself included.

“I’m delighted for the man. He’s had a fantastic career and he owes nothing to the club or to the county after everything he’s given over the past number of years.”

For full reaction to the All-Ireland Club Final as well all the latest sporting news, pick up a copy of today's Killarney Advertiser.

Pic: Eamonn Keogh.