“We were five up with 10 to go and we should have closed it out a bit better, but we had to dig hard in the last couple of minutes. We did that very well I thought. We’re in the pot.”

Following their one-point win over Armagh, James Horan and Mayo will have to dig hard again in next weekend’s mouth-watering all-Connacht qualifier clash against Galway.

“There were at least 10 head injuries in that second-half and nobody was taken off. It’s very hard to take. We have played in games this year with six or seven minutes added with no head injuries.”

Referee Maurice Deegan’s time-keeping was put under the microscope by Kieran McGeeney.

“We had to look at ourselves, we didn’t play well as a unit or individually. As a team, we just didn’t perform so we looked at what we did that day and we had to change it.”

Tyrone learned valuable lessons in their Ulster SFC semi-final defeat to Donegal, according to All-Star Colm Cavanagh.

“You just want to spend a bit of time with the players and backroom team now.”

Cian O’Neill refused to be drawn on his future as Kildare manager.

“I’m afraid those two gentleman have a lot more win that I have!”

Clare manager Colm Collins’ response when it was pointed out that he is the third longest serving gaelic football manager behind Mickey Harte and Jim Gavin.

“If I was to sum it up in one word, the team showed great character in the face of adversity.”

Westmeath struggled to cope with the losses of John Heslin (black card) and Ger Egan (injury) but Jack Cooney was proud of his team’s effort against the Banner County.

“No more than ourselves, Offaly were a Division 3 team this season, next weekend we step in with one of the big boys.”

It’s defeated Munster finalists Cork next up for John Sugrue and the O’Moore County.

“As regards their development, you can see they’re streets ahead of where Offaly are right now. We’ve an awful lot of work to do in the physicality of our boys as regards our development.”

It’s has been year of progress for Offaly football under John Maughan.

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