GAA legend says Offaly could be 'a force' in football again - on one condition

One All-Ireland-winning forward from Kerry has predicted Offaly GAA becoming "a force" in football once more after their win over Kildare in the Division 3 football league on Sunday.

Offaly played some stunning football in their 2-17 to 1-18 win over their near neighbours at HQ, giving co-manager Mickey Harte a clean sweep of league titles at the four levels. 

Kerry legend James O'Donoghue was speaking on Off The Ball on Monday as they discussed the weekend action, including Kerry's own win in Division 1 over Mayo.

O'Donoghue spent a couple of minutes waxing lyrical about the young Offaly outfit, pointing out the freedom with which they played compared to their opponents who he said often looked like they were "trying to manufacture a score."

He said: "They have an unbelievably natural way of taking the ball. On the other hand with Kildare and Mayo, everything is so learned and so robotic. Whereas the Offaly lads are taking it, putting it on their toe, swivelling the hips, maybe the odd dummy, and next thing they're up the field and out at pace.

BIG PICTURE SPECIAL: Amazing scenes in Croke Park as Offaly beat Kildare in League Final

He also praised their energy, adding, "as comfortable as they are on the ball, they are sprinting up the field."

Picking Cormac Egan out for particular praise, O'Donoghue said the Tullamore man "does not hang around...you just see him on the edge of the shot going up the wing and there's two fellas chasing him; he's making space for them. The Offaly lads are constantly moving, making space."

He also picked out Jack Bryant and said the quality is "just oozing out" of the Shamrocks man and U20 All-Ireland winner. He said, "the appointment of Mickey Harte might just have brought those fellas on another little bit."

Going further on the style the Offaly lads shows, he said "it was so natural to them and so easy," while pointing out that there are seven lads from the team on Sunday aged 22 or under. 

"Let them stay up in Division 2 for a couple of years, see where they are then. They could be a force for a long time," he added, one the condition "they keep all those fellas around."

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