Former Antrim star Neil McManus has described the rise of Offaly’s hurlers over these last couple of years as “remarkable”.

This past weekend saw John Kelly’s men securing a landmark victory over Dublin at Croke Park, where Dan Ravenhill’s monster free from all of 80 metres proved the difference between the sides.

Speaking on RTE’s Allianz League Sunday programme, McManus praised the work that Kelly and his players have put in as they remain unbeaten in Division 1B after four games.

"When you think they were beaten semi-finalists in the Christy Ring in 2020,” he said. “They then won it in 2021 and then won the Joe McDonagh last year and now they are going to be one of the top seven teams in the country next year.

"It looks like they have one foot in the final here. Full credit to them and the job that they've done as a county, you have to credit this group of players and Johnny Kelly because they went to Croke Park and played a Dublin team who were favourites.

"They won it right at the death and they fought hard for it in the last ten minutes, winning the exchanges that needed to be won. Big scores from very young men got them over the line and it's really encouraging."

Offaly are on the cusp of a return to hurling's top flight after beating Dublin, a 'remarkable' achievement says @Neilmcmanus88, with @JoeyCan88 adding that Dublin's Conor Burke will be disappointed at seeing red
📺 Watch Allianz League Sunday on @RTE2 and @RTEplayer #rtegaa pic.twitter.com/GszAUJBDFz

— The Sunday Game (@TheSundayGame) February 23, 2025

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