Adam Screeney is carrying the Faithful hopes of Kilcormac-Killoughey and Offaly

The manner in which he captivated hurling supporters with his incredible performance in Carlow in the Leinster U-20 final took the relationship to his popularity to a whole new level.

EYES ON THE BALL: Adam Screeney of Offaly during the Hurling All-Ireland U20 Championship Final. Photo by Michael P Ryan/Sportsfile

They’re not the broadest of shoulders, and yet they carry so much.

For the first 20 years of the new millenium, the story of Offaly hurling was one of decline. After reaching the 2000 All-Ireland final by unseating Cork in a memorable semi-final, a game that proved to be the last big win for a lot of the county’s heroes of the 1990s, the Faithful County seemed to hit one rock bottom after another – and every time, they’d get out the pick and shovel to go a little deeper.