Offaly defeat difficult to take

OH, to follow the misfortunes of Offaly footballers.

There has been no heavier cross to bear over the past few summers. Not in Leinster, anyway. The wistful smiles of Offaly supporters at the final whistle in Croke Park yesterday indicates they are gone from visitors to residents of Heartbreak Hotel.

Perhaps the gods are poking fun at Offaly supporters in some sort of bizarre karmic pay-back for Seamus Darby's moment in the sun all those years ago. But you have to feel for them.