McNamara: to win a big match like a Leinster title, the ball has to hop for you

MIKE McNAMARA says he may be looking for a bed and breakfast “somewhere this side of Offaly” over the next fortnight as he prepares for the Guinness hurling qualifier game with his native Clare.

The date with the Banner follows Offaly’s defeat in yesterday’s Leinster final - which he attributed solely to the failure to capitalise on early goal-scoring chances. The Scarriff publican praised his players for a supreme effort and was very gracious towards Wexford and to the heroics of goalkeeper Damien Fitzhenry in particular.

“If you come to Croke Park and create the chances we did out there without finishing, you are always going to pay the price. The price is a big one, and we paid it,” he commented.