Enthusiastic welcome home for Offaly under 20s after disappointment of final loss

THE Offaly under 20 hurlers received an enthusiastic welcome from a large crowd at St Brendan's Park, Birr on Sunday night when they returned home after the disappointment of their loss to Cork in the All-Ireland final earlier that day.

Both Offaly County Chairman Michael Duignan and team manager Leo O'Connor were loud in their praise for the efforts of the team and the joy and entertainment they had brought to so many and they pledged to the crowd that Offaly would be back within the next couple of years with an All-Ireland title to celebrate.

Michael Duignan thanked everyone for turning out in such great numbers. “The lads, management and players wanted to thank our supporters. On behalf of Offaly GAA, the players, management and backroom team, I just want to thank the Offaly supporters from the bottom of our hearts for the unbelieveable support you have given this team, not just today but throughout the year. To see the number of Offaly people in Thurles today, you outnumbered every other county by about five or six to one, so thanks so much to everyone.”

Michael paid tribute to the management team. “Leo O'Connor came up here from Limerick I think it was five years ago. I said in the dressing room after the game he is now an Offaly man fully. He has given huge commitment to this county, he is an absolute gentleman to deal with. He never comes with any bad ideas. It's always what can we do to get the extra inch or extra yard. Leo you have been a brilliant leader of this group, a brilliant man since you came to Offaly and on behalf of everyone in Offaly, thank you very much.”

The chairman also thanked the extend dedicated backroom team for all their work too.

“I want to talk about our players. We were here last year with the minors and we were very, very disappointed, probably with the way the result went. We were disappointed today but for a different reason. We were beaten by a better team but I have to say in front of our own supporters, we were very unhappy with the refereeing in the first half and that is not good enough. If they want to get respect they have to give respect and we want our players looked after out of the field and they weren't looked after today. It's not sour grapes, the best team won the game but you have to call a spade a spade. Cork in the first half should have had a red card, should have had a yellow for the first tackle of the game, and it's not good enough that our players aren't protected on the field,” he said.

“The players are at the centre of everything we try to do in Offaly GAA, in both hurling and football, and that's from National Schools, development squads, through our clubs, through our secondary schools, and I want to thank each and every person who helped in any way. I know there are many people that are getting no credit, they are not looking for it, coaching our kids in the clubs, in the schools and making sure the standard is improving all the time.”

To the players he said “You are an absolute inspiration. The reason we are following you in huge numbers is because of the way you play the game of hurling. Your skill levels, your attitude, your never say die and you are a brilliant bunch of young men, and are a credit to your families. I want to thank the families who have been bringing them since they were small kids to The Faithful Fields, to development squads, underage and are now supporting them as young men. Next year we will be back and we will be behind you 100% again. We look forward to bringing a cup back here. Two years in a row we have come back without a cup but I guarantee you that in the next couple of years, we will be back here with an All-Ireland.”

The County Chairman also thanked their sponsors “who have made such a huge difference to Offaly GAA over the last number of years. Glenisk have come on board as our main partner and they have been unbelievable to all our teams, all our development squads, all our young people, they are going above and beyond, a great Offaly company.

“I'd like to thank Shane Lowry and all our other sponsors, who have helped out over the last number of years which made sure that we can look after our players as well as any other team in the country and that is the least that these lads deserve.”

“We have a full management team who work so hard day in, day out. I'd like to thank Carina (Carroll), our coaching officer, who looks after the young people so well, and is also in our office in Tullamore for the last while. Christy Todd in The Faithful Fields, what a facility we have there and to everyone else involved in the County Board, thanks a million.

He also thanked Birr GAA for hosting the reception and welcomed “Grant Heating as our main sponsor here as well, another company which does so much for GAA communities around Birr - and we look forward to being back here in October for the County Final.”

Manager Leo O'Connor said that “on behalf of the players, on behalf of their families, we would like to thank everyone who has turned out here tonight. I'm going to keep this short and sweet as I might have said too much after the match today.

“We'll be back. This time last year, nearly 11 months on after being beaten in an All-Ireland Minor Final, we are back after being beaten in an All-Ireland under 20 final. Some people might say that we are a year or two ahead of our time but the simple fact of the matter is this group of players and Offaly GAA is on an upward trajectory and long may that continue.

“The most pleasing aspect that I can see here is the all the kids here tonight. It is so important that this generation know what it is like to be getting to All-Ireland finals and the atmosphere and the buzz that is around the place, I drive up and down here three or four times a week, and it has been absolutely incredible.

“Thanks for the way that I have been adopted into this county because it is heart warming and I really appreciate it.

“We were beaten by a Cork team today, that I have no doubt were physically stronger than us, but we will get there and we will deliver an All-Ireland to this county within the next few years, I can guarantee you that. Every one of us know that today was not our day, we take it on the chin and we get out and we go again.”

He extended thanks to County Board and all the management team - “I can't thank people enough.”

“We have 38 players on the panel. It is not very easy when you have to tell players they are not part of the 24 or they haven't made what we call a warming up panel at this stage, so in terms of that, their parents we really do appreciate the time that goes in bringing these lads to training. Thank you to each and every one of you. I hope we didn't cause you too much discomfort, I know the expectation levels go through the roof, but that is part and parcel of inter county hurling.

“I said to the lads before they went out, we have an Offaly army out there and when you come out the tunnel and look out, there is nothing out there only green, white and gold supporting Offaly. I can't thank you enough for the way you've got behind the team. You have invested your own money going up and down to Carlow, I'll never forget it, O'Moore Park in Portlaoise last year, they are landmark occasions in these young lads lives. I'll turn around and say it, we have got to bring in five or six more young lads next year to along with the 27 guys who were there this year. It's the most important period that these guys can get and further develop.”

Team captain Charlie Mitchell said that “On behalf of all the lads I would like to thank the mangement team, without you we wouldn't be here. Thanks for all you've done for us throughout the year and the last few years.

“I would like to thank the Offaly supporters who have followed us all year, you have come in your thousands and it just gave us all a huge lift when you see the green white and gold and we hope we have inspired the younger generation in the county to want to play for the county team.”

Charlie then introduced all the members of the panel to cheers from the crowd.