Offaly have spent many a year in the GAA doldrums over the last couple of decades, but there is a sense that they are on the up.
The senior hurlers will return to Division One of the National Hurling League in 2022, while the senior footballers will be in Division Two for the first time in many years.
That is not even to mention the underage success. Their results have improved rapidly at the various age grades in recent times, capped off by a stunning victory for their u20 footballers this afternoon.
Offaly have been crowned U20 All-Ireland champions after a three-point victory over Roscommon at Croke Park.
It was a result they full deserved, being the dominant team for the vast majority of the contest even if the scoreline was a little bit closer than they would have liked.
In the end, it was Jack Bryant's goal that made the difference.
#ROSvOFF 49 nóim
Ros Comáin 0-09
Uíbh Fhailí 1-13
CÚL den chéad scoth ag Jack Bryant 😱😵
What a goal !! 😱😱😱 @Offaly_GAA @EirGrid @GAA_BEO #GAA #GAABEO
BEO/LIVE AR @TG4TV pic.twitter.com/5ZZvpdY4Gb— Spórt TG4 (@SportTG4) August 15, 2021
The sizeable Offaly crowd at the fixture certainly got their money's worth, with one man in particular certainly enjoying himself.
Shane Lowry is suited and booted at GAA HQ to see his beloved Offaly take on Roscommon in the U20 All-Ireland final this afternoon 🙌 pic.twitter.com/ZFrfP5c37H
— Balls.ie (@ballsdotie) August 15, 2021
This was Offaly's first triumph in this grade since 1988.
Speaking to TG4 after the game, man-of-the-match Cathal Donoghue was in shock at what he and his teammates had just achieved.
#ROSvOFF Lán Ama
“Its not a team of 15- it's the 24 that win you the game” 👌👊
Is é Cathal Donoghue @Offaly_GAA Laoch na hImeartha inniu!
Comhghairdeas ó chroí leat 👏👏👏 @EirGrid @GAA_BEO #GAA #GAABEO pic.twitter.com/zDRlrwdRlM— Spórt TG4 (@SportTG4) August 15, 2021
It's unbelievable, I can't believe we are All-Ireland champions.
At the start of the year we set up one goal and that was to get to a Leinster final. We achieved that and we drove it on, we can't believe it.
We kept our feet on the ground and drove it on all the way to an All-Ireland...
The pace of today was faster I reckon (than semi-final). Roscommon brought great intensity and put so much pressure on the ball, it was tough to get scores out there. We changed it up and managed to pop off a few points...
Same as out subs, the Roscommon subs came on and started firing away a few points. With our subs, Keith O'Neill came on and got a score, brought great intensity straight away.
It's not a team of 15, it's the 24 that win the game...
The goal is something we have been working on, we have been trying to be more clinical with them. We got a chance there today and we took it.
It definitely drove us on and changed the game in our favour...
It's unbelievable to bring silverware back to Offaly and the pride we brought to it was class.
A well deserved win for a county who have gone through some tough times.
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