Mickey Harte accepts the odds are against Offaly playing in the Sam Maguire this summer, despite their Allianz Football League Division 3 success.

The Faithful have been rejuvenated since Harte and Declan Kelly became joint-managers this year, blazing a path to a surprise League triumph which, unfortunately for them, doesn’t come with the guarantee of top-tier football owing to Down being the reigning Tailteann Cup champions. Instead, they would have to reach the Leinster final which is a tall order with Dublin on the same side of the draw as them.

"It's a very unlikely event, put it like that,” the Tyrone man admitted to reporters after Offaly’s impressive Croke Park victory over neighbours Kildare.

"What we have to play to get there, it seems very unlikely that we'll get that route so it seems like we won't be there. Look, that's a pity, it would have been great to be there.

"But the rules are the rules. As they transpire, it doesn't favour us at the minute. But look, we have to go where we find ourselves and whatever level we're playing at there's going to be no easy games.

"Everybody is out to win whatever competition they're in, whatever cup they're in, so I don't think it makes a lot of difference at this point in time.

"If we want to continue to win silverware, we have to really keep focused and keep working hard and get the rub of the green and all of that stuff."

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