Offaly’s focus now on Westmeath

CIARAN McMANUS is desperate to avoid a repeat of six years ago, when league success for Offaly was soured a few short weeks later by a premature and traumatic Leinster SFC exit.

The Faithful’s only Division One title came under current Dublin manager Tommy Lyons in 1998, and with a provincial title under their belts from the previous year, great things were expected.

However, a matter of weeks after their NFL triumph, they were bundled out of the championship by Meath, 3-10 to 0-7, in a Leinster quarter-final. With Westmeath in the championship less than three weeks away, the Tubber midfielder insists the focus must not waver.

“Meath wiped us off the deck six years ago after we won the league,” McManus pointed out. “Westmeath will be very fresh, but then again we won’t use that as any kind of an excuse. It’s three weeks and that’s loads of time for any team to prepare mentally or physically. We can learn from our own experience last year.

“We should have beaten Laois the first day last year and we’re in the same boat as them this year. We’re there to be taken down. It’s just a case of getting our feet on the ground and we have to get all this Croke Park stuff out of our heads now. We’ve played here and we can just focus on 15 against 15.”

The ‘Croke Park stuff’ McManus referred to is the fact that Sunday’s game was the first time most of the Offaly players had played at the Dublin venue, and that was apparent in their stuttering performance against an equally nervous young Down side.

“They were bound to be nervous. People will say it was only the warm-up for the big final but for these lads that was the most important game this year and we came through it. Let’s be honest, we were lucky to get through. Down had a few great chances to level the match and who knows what would have happened then?

“Five or six of the lads would have played here before but that was in the old Croke Park,” he said. “I’m the only one who would have played in the new place and the whole thing about just arriving in the ground and getting on with it doesn’t apply here. This is a big, big day for Offaly supporters and players. All week their parishes have been talking about nothing else and of course they’re going to be nervous. That’ll stand to them now for the championship.”

The focus from now on may well be all on Westmeath but McManus wasn’t about to make light of the county’s first trophy in six years. The midfielder was there for the success in ‘97 and ‘98 but Sunday’s win was arguably his greatest day out in the Offaly jersey.

“For me, it’s one of the most important moments. It’s probably one of the most special moments to be captain,” he admitted. “I dreamed all my life of winning a cup for Offaly, whether that’s an O’Byrne Cup or a Leinster cup, or whatever, but I’m a very proud man to be captain of this team. They gave everything.”

The only problem league success brings now is a raised profile. After half a decade of playing the plucky underdog, the county are again up there to be shot down. Westmeath will be the first to attempt that in three weeks and one trophy isn’t going to make Offaly any more relaxed as the day approaches.

“Believe me, we’ll still be nervous. If we don’t beat Westmeath we’ll be going through the back door. I’d love a Leinster title. That’s the next thing now. We can’t get that unless we beat Westmeath,” said McManus .

“They’re sitting at home now like we were last year watching Laois so we’re well aware of the position they’re in. They’re analysing our weak spots and probably feel very confident about getting at us.We have to be conscious of it.”