Offaly’s Niall McNamee looking forward to Westmeath test

One more defeat and Niall McNamee would have needed both hands to count the number of years without a win in the Leinster football championship. As one of only two survivors from Offaly’s last win, nine years previously, no wonder McNamee looked relieved more than pleased after Sunday’s first round win over Longford.

Still, McNamee also had much to be pleased about; four points from play and a string of big plays contributed handsomely to Offaly’s victory, which meant that along with midfielder Niall Smyth, he’d finally bridged that nine-year gap since Offaly’s 2007 win over Carlow.

Other players and managers have come and gone since, although for McNamee, it wasn’t so much about those nine lost years but the productive last 18 months since Pat Flanagan had come back in to take charge of his native county.

“I think people are starting to see that there’s a lot of work going on behind the scenes to try and get us back to where we should be,” he says. “There’s something definitely building here and the supporters see that as well. We’re just delighted we could put on a show, get over the line. It’s been a long time coming.

Work done

“But over the last number of months there’s been no real talk about the losses over the last number of years. We knew that we’ve the work done over the last 18 months to compete at this level. I think we’re finally at a stage where we can start pushing on. It’s just a really brilliant feeling, not just for the team and for the panel, but for the supporters as well.”

Not that Offaly made it easy on themselves, gifting Longford a goal after just six minutes may have created some doubts although for McNamee that “gives them something to work on” ahead of their quarter-final date with Westmeath on June 12th. Being on the opposite side of the draw means both counties have plenty to aim for.

“There were a couple of games over the last number of years, Kildare and Longford here last year, that we should have won. I just think it’s that bit of experience, that lads are starting to get to a level now where they’re competing.

“If it had come to a stage that there was another loss on Sunday I think it would have been very, very difficult for lads to face into the next few weeks. From that point of view it’s brilliant. I’ve been involved in Offaly teams over the years that once we get one win in the championship, the thing can take on a life of its own.

“Obviously we’ll enjoy this, it’s great for the supporters that we can give them that kind of a lift but from our point of view, from now on, it’s down to business again, getting ready for the quarter-final.