Whelahan happy to survive by rules

Offaly 3-19 Kerry 0-14

But, as Offaly manager Brian Whelahan said, he “didn’t make the rules” and their ability to respond to the threat of relegation, after trailing by seven points and playing the last 20 minutes with 14 men means they deserved to survive.

Having no automatic promotion for the Division 2A champions surely sticks in the craw of some Kerry hurlers and supporters, but their manager, Eamonn Kelly, said his side have already eclipsed their own expectations for the league.