CARRICK RFC head coach Andrew Gamble says his side's National Shield triumph was "unreal".
The Maybole boss also hailed the incredible support the team received as they took down Haddington at The Hive on Silver Saturday.
It was a thrilling ten-try contest which saw Carrick come from behind to earn a 35-29 victory.
The South Ayrshire outfit struck first as Louis Fraser went over and Nicky Davidson slotted the conversion.
Though the east of Scotland side bounced back with three quickfire tries of their own to race 17-7 ahead in the contest.
Carrick were fast to respond themselves, however, with Euan Hutchison bringing the score back to 17-14 once Davidson had added the extras.
Momentum stayed with the Maybole men after the restart as Kieran McCurdie pushed Gamble's side back ahead before a Michael Kirk double saw Carrick race further in front at 35-17 as Davidson remained perfect from the tee.
Haddington responded with a pair of tries of their own, cutting the score to 35-29 but Carrick remained resolute to claim the title for a fourth time in their history.
Gamble said: “The boys have shown that all year, they’ve been down and they’ve shown tenacity and belief in each other – they don’t know when they’re beaten.
“That last six minutes, as much as it was nervy I knew deep down that the boys would see it through because of what they’ve shown all season.
“The defence has been absolutely class and that togetherness within the group has been unreal.”
The head coach feels there may be more to come from the young first team squad at Carrick.
He added: “Twenty-one of our 22 squad had come through the youth ranks and I started as a youth coach, it was absolutely fantastic to see them come through the ranks and go there.
“It’s a big accomplishment for the boys and a big accomplishment for the town as well.
“I walked in and we just finished mid-table in West Division Two and it was a lot of young boys I had previously worked with at under 18s with a mix of experience.
“It was about bringing them together, trying to build them up, and the boys have excelled and done absolutely brilliant. They’re starting to reach their potential.
“They’re still a really young team and that experienced bunch has been a great mixture which has just taken us onto that next level.”
While Gamble hailed the hundreds of supporters who pushed Carrick on as they secured glory.
He continued: “The support was absolutely class. We had all our youth teams there and Carrick is not just Maybole – it’s all your villages.
“I think we’ve rounded together and made it a community, having that support there was absolutely massive, it was loud and it was proud.
“We can’t thank the supporters and local business enough. They’ve come in and just pushed the club forward.
“In Maybole and down in Girvan, there’s not a lot of youth. We are trying to be that outlet and be that community club.
“The boys, the young teams, committee and funders have all just been absolutely amazing.”
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