'Offalyness That You Can't Buy': Roger Ryan's Poignant Interview After Leinster Minor Win
Offaly's minor footballers claimed their first Leinster title at that grade in 36 years last night. They stopped Louth's attempt at a clean sweep of Leinster titles in the most dramatic of fashions.
Goalkeeper Jack Ryan kicked four long-range two point frees to help secure a monumental win in the Electric Ireland Leinster minor football final.
Offaly's visibly emotional manager Roger Ryan spoke to TG4 afterwards and he encompassed everything that you would associate with an occasion like this.
Speaking to TG4 Ryan let the nation in on their secret term used to describe their mindset. Offalyness.
I said before the game if we took it to ten minutes to go we'd win. I knew even when Louth got the penalty. I knew these boys have character and Offalyness that you can't buy. I'm so proud of them, I'm so proud of every one of them, I'm so proud of their parents, of their clubs. This is a massive day for Offaly.
Micheál Ó Domhnaill naturally came back to Offalyness and Ryan explained how it has been one of the pillars of the squad since the very start of the season.
Social Media reacts to Offaly Minor WinOffalyness is a word, it's one that is in our dressing room. It was wrote down on a piece of paper at the start of the year. We met as a management team on the 1st of September and I wrote a word called Offalyness on it and the boys looked at me and they knew what it meant. That's what we want to try instil in these young men and I think we did alright at that this evening.
One of Offaly GAA's biggest supporters Shane Lowry took to Instagram to celebrate the historic win.
Selector with the team and former Offaly senior footballer Nigel Dunne posted proudly from the dressing room of the Leinster champions. Dunne retired from the Offaly senior football team in April due to injury but is doing his bit to try bring Offaly back to the top tier.
We just won the leinster championship. Offaly lads showing 'Offalyness'
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