Declan Kelly says he has no doubt that Offaly’s U20 stars “will be given space and time to progress” after having tasted All-Ireland success this past weekend.

Kelly’s team captured the Faithful County’s first All-Ireland U20/U21 football title since 1988 on Sunday after scoring a 1-14 to 1-11 victory over Roscommon at Croke Park.

Speaking on 2fm’s Game On, Kelly said he has no fears over his players being rushed in their development and promotion to the senior ranks.

"We have been very lucky over the last three years with John Maughan being over the senior squad," he said.

"John had a couple of the lads in there this year, three of them were in the senior panel, but he’s always been very clear from day one, they are U20 players and that’s where they need to cut their teeth.

"We’re very lucky that way and we’ll see if they go into the senior set-up, the lads are grounded enough to know they’re not going to be able to go into a senior set-up straight away and get straight on the team.

"It’s going to take time and that’s really what they need now. They need to serve a couple of years there and obviously with the strength and conditioning and game-planning, it does move up a level from where they are.

"I’ve no doubt they will be given space and time to progress."

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