Flanagan: Time we knuckled down as unit

New Offaly football manager Pat Flanagan says they need to stop looking for excuses if hisnative county is to move forward in 2015.

The Faithful County has been plagued by controversy in recent years with regular bust-ups between players and management. Ross Brady, Sean Pender and Richie Dalton are all unavailable; they were axed from the panel in 2013 after a disagreement with then manager Emmett McDonnell.

Meanwhile, Michael Brazil has emigrated to America and David Hanlon has opted instead to play soccer. Star player Niall McNamee has also spoke of his “embarrassment” at the lack of facilities in the county but Flanagan believes excuse time is over.