Veteran Claffey back and eager for magic of championship

OF all the familiar faces that Offaly will field against Laois on Sunday, the most familiar will be pacing around at corner forward.

Back for another year’s service with his county, Vinny Claffey still finds the same tingle when the first day of the championship beckons.

“I am still enjoying it,” affirmed the veteran forward, an inspirational figure during Offaly’s 1997 Leinster success. “Yeah, there is more and more commitment these days, but as long as you are enjoying it, you don’t mind. When it gets to the stage that you find training a chore and you are dreading each session, that’s the time to give it up. I haven’t reached that stage yet.”