In the back of Offaly minds, they knew Tailteann Cup was their fate

"It's something I'd be acutely aware of, that the last Offaly man to lift one of those national trophies came from Edenderry."

Ross McGarry of Dublin and Lee Pearson of Offaly shake hands after the Leinster SFC semi-final. Picture: Shauna Clinton/Sportsfile

Crumbs of comfort? Lee Pearson and his Offaly colleagues hoovered up whatever they could after their 20-point Leinster championship defeat to Dublin.

They actually outscored the holders and All-Ireland champions over a relatively long period between the 41st and 66th minutes that day at Croke Park. Keith O'Neill kicked two of the best scores of the entire game too, off the outside of his right boot in the first-half.