One year ago, 11 of these players lost a Minor All-Ireland hurling final in UPMC Nowlan Park and on Saturday last, they beat St Kieran’s College by two points to claim a maiden Leinster title.
Offaly is a small county and as such decided to create a combined schools team to participate in the Post Primary Schools Senior hurling competition. There are only five or six teams in the A hurling competition compared to 20-plus teams in the football.
After the game, Martin Quilty caught up with Offaly chairman Michael Duignan who was delighted with the schools’ victory.
“There’s a lot of work going on over the last number of years. We were here last year against Tipperary in a Minor All-Ireland final and we had a heart-breaking defeat that day and I think there’s 11 of the lads from that team playing here today”, said Duignan.
“Five points up again today, same as Tipperary last year, down to a point. They’re only young lads [so it] had to be in the back of their heads what happened. Playing against the wind here in the second half and they just showed great character to get back up the field and score the last score and win by two. We’re very proud of them, they’re a great bunch of young lads and they’re ferociously dedicated.”
Duignan was under no illusion that St Kieran’s were hampered in their performance.
“St. Kieran’s are the aristocrats and they’re a great side. I know they’re missing a couple of key men as well today and we recognise that”, he continued, but he wasn’t taking away from a fabulous win for the Offaly side.
“It is great to come back to Nowlan Park, a great sporting game and we are thrilled. I’m a little bit emotional for some of the lads, I know a lot of them very well. The captain of the minor team last year is my next-door neighbour, it took a lot out of them losing last year so it’s great.”
Duignan also spoke about his ambition when he took up the role of Offaly chairman three years ago.
“When I came in as chairman, a huge part was to get the schools going, get the clubs going, get back to the basics, get back to our development squads. There are a whole lot of parts and at the same time keeping our senior team going as competitively as we can. We have slipped a lot but they’re working really hard as well. There’s a great buzz in the county. Our Under-20 footballers won an All-Ireland a couple of years ago, our minor’s beaten last year but in our minds, we’re the All-Ireland champions. Back here today and it’s all stepping stones and it’s going to take a number of years but I’ve no doubt. There’s a big panel there and they’re all the same, they’re all really interested.
“You’d be used to that in Kilkenny having it year-in-year-out so we have to build on that. Next year we need lads and the year after that. We’re trying to put the structures in place so that this will continue into the future.”
Duignan also paid special tribute to Liam Hoare who was the minor goalkeeper last year, joint captain of the team and who received some bad news about his health just before Christmas.
“It was a terrible shock for Liam and his family. He’s a fine young lad, he’s there you saw him, he’s part of the presentation of the cup, he’s been with the lads every step of the way. He never missed a training session since. He has a form of Lymphoma and started chemotherapy last Tuesday but has a smile on his face there that’s unbelievable, as wide as the mouth of the Shannon where we’re from down in Offaly and with a great attitude.”
“I asked him what was the prognosis – I meant for his treatment – and he said ‘I’ll be back in July’. He was talking about hurling, he wasn’t talking about anything else”.
