Offaly manager Declan Kelly says it’s difficult to shield his players from the hype and excitement as they prepare to take on Roscommon in this Sunday’s All-Ireland U20 football championship final.

Having upset Dublin to claim the Leinster title, the Faithful lads ousted Cork last time out to book their final berth at Croke Park and the excitement around the county has been building every step of the way.

It’s a first underage final for Offaly football since 1989 and, speaking to The42.ie, Kelly described the job he has had to try and shield his players from the hype around the Faithful County at the moment.

“It’s probably hard to shield them from it to be honest,” he said. “There’s two sides to it. Obviously, all the lads that would have played would never have seen Offaly win a Leinster title, that’s the first thing.

“You win a Leinster title, [there is] a good bit of emotion with the few supporters that were there. And no doubt it’s given the county a brilliant lift. In fairness to the lads, they are grounded fellas and they know we’ve another game to play.”

On the novel pairing of Offaly and Roscommon in an All-Ireland final, he added: “I suppose it’s going to be a unique final. You would have got fair odds at the start of the year if someone said it would be an Offaly v Roscommon U20 All-Ireland final.

“In relation to the final, we’re just hoping the lads go up and put their best foot forward and if it’s good enough, it’s good enough.”

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