Offaly county board chairman Michael Duignan says there’s “pride back in the jersey” after the county’s recent All-Ireland U20 football championship success.

Declan Kelly’s side triumphed over Roscommon last Sunday at Croke Park with a 1-14 to 1-11 victory to record Offaly’s first All-Ireland success in the U20/21 grade since 1988.

It also saw the Faithful County landing its first national title at any level since the 1998 hurling championship and, speaking to Off The Ball, Duignan expressed his delight at the “great spirit in the county”.

"It's great. It's great to be back competing,” stated the Offaly chairman. “The biggest thing I see is that there is pride back in the jersey, and that all these great young men want to play for their county and they're totally committed.

"We've great management teams, we've a load of people in the background - volunteers - in the county board and management, stewards, volunteers all over our clubs, and just the sense out there is that everybody is working together for the betterment of Offaly.

"There's a great spirit in the county, a great buzz and excitement coming up to the All-Ireland, but even before that there were a lot of people putting their shoulder to the wheel.”

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