Goalkeeper Liam Hoare says Offaly victory was a long time coming

OFFALY goalkeeper Liam Hoare said their victory in the All-Ireland under 20 final was a long time coming, after defeats in the All-Ireland minor final in 2022 and the under 20 final last year.

“It's brilliant. It's a long time coming now. This is our third year and we are just so happy in there,” said Liam after emerging from a buzzing dressing room where singing and celebation had been going on for the best part of the previous hour.

“The last two years have been tough,” he said. “Losing an All-Ireland is never easy and we said if we lose three All-Irelands we are at nothing. We said this is the year and we wanted to go out and give the Offaly fans what they deserve.”

He said that while people may have said next year would be the year for the 2022 minor team to succeed at under 20 level, but he said they couldn't wait until next year.

“No this is as good a year as you are going to get. Next year all we can offer is go again and hopefully get another All-Ireland,” he said.

The goalkeeper said Offaly settled after a slow start. “The first 10 minutes were a bit shaky, even for me personally as I dropped a ball, but after that the game kind of relaxed down and the last 10 minutes the lads were super out the field and they just kept driving on and kept going.

“We were saying the first 10 minutes after half time were crucial as well, as that is what lost us the game last year against Cork, so we said we had to drive on. The goal really drove us on.”

He said that Offaly responded to Tipperary's second goal. “Tipp are a super team as well. You could see when we got the goal they came back up the field and Senan Butler stuck it in the back of the net, so we knew we had to be on high alert at all times of the game. Once the second goal went in we were just thrilled really and we just had to finish out the game.”

He said the sight of Ruairi Kelly going up the field and scoring a late point was wonderful. “We were slagging him the last couple of years that he should go up and score a point and now he did it today,” Liam laughed.

On a personal level Liam has been through a lot over the last couple of years after missing last year's campaign while receiving treatment for cancer. “Everyone who was there for me, this is for them,” he said. “There is always light at the end of the tunnel.”

From an Offaly point of view, he said this victory was an important step and now they look forward to the seniors contesting the Joe McDonagh Cup final next Saturday. “We'll all be there next week. That game is even more important than today. It's a game that will get us up to Liam McCarthy, up with the big dogs again. We just want them to win. I saw a few of the lads afterwards and they were thrilled for us and we just want to be running in to them next week and saying well done for getting over the line.”

The ambition then for this team will be to graduate to senior level. “Hopefully we will get call up in a few years time, but we'll enjoy today first,” he said.