Interim Offaly manager Martin Murphy believes all the pressure is on Meath in Sunday’s Leinster SFC quarter-final at Glenisk O’Connor Park.

After making an encouraging start to life under Colm O’Rourke, the Royals lost four and drew one of their seven games in Division 2 of the National League to finish just above the drop zone. Like Offaly, they will only avoid the Tailteann Cup if they reach the Leinster final following fellow-Division 2 side Cork’s surprise Munster SFC quarter-final loss to Clare. And for many Meath supporters, this is an unpalatable prospect.

“Our two targets at the start of the year were to maintain our Division 3 status and to win the first round of the Leinster SFC. Having ticked both of those boxes, we now have a free shot at a Division 2 team,” Murphy tells this week's Offaly Topic.

“Every game is a final for Meath now. We’re probably the team on our side of the draw (the winners meet either Louth or Westmeath in the semi-final) that is least expected to reach a Leinster final. Having said that, we’ll enjoy the occasion and look forward to playing Meath.

“It’s our first time playing them in the Leinster SFC in Tullamore which is hard to believe. The last three times we played them, the games were all in Navan. But it makes no odds to us where the game is played. It’s about attitude and turning up on the day.”

Tweet

Most Read Stories