Offaly interim football manager Martin Murphy says Liam Kearns' spirit continues to burn brightly.

After their National League Division 3 promotion hopes ended with a heavy home defeat to Down a fortnight ago, Murphy – who replaced the Tralee man following his sudden passing last month – was delighted to get back to winning ways with a first Leinster SFC away victory over Longford in 30 years.

“He was the last person we mentioned as we left the dressing room," the Gracefield clubman told Midlands 103. 

"His targets for the year were to maintain our status in Division 3 which we achieved and to win the first round of the Championship which we also achieved. It’s all bonus territory for us now. Liam is always in our thoughts and always gets a mention when we go out to play our games.”

The Faithful County can now look forward to hosting Meath in the Leinster SFC for the first time on Sunday week. That game is expected to be played as part of a quarter-final double-header with Westmeath v Louth.

“There’s a great incentive for these lads to move on and to play Meath in a Leinster quarter-final in front of a home crowd. There’s great spirit in the camp," he continued. 

"We’re no world beaters, but they’re hard-working lads who are trying to improve Offaly football which I think they have done slowly but surely over the last four or five months.”

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