Offaly and Tipp deliver a match in the spirit and image of Liam Kearns

Matchday itself was also one big tribute to Kearns, full of little gestures and nods to the man.

REMEMBERING LIAM: A view of the minute's silence in memory of former Offaly Manager Liam Kearns who passed away recently

Allianz FL Division 3Offaly 2-14 Tipperary 0-13 

From the moment the teams came onto the field to the final score of the game, everything about Thurles on Saturday was about the one man who couldn’t make it – though it felt to his stand-in that he had.