Offaly Under-20 manager Declan Kelly has no fears about his All-Ireland winning squad being rushed in their development and promoted to the senior squad too early.
Kelly's side claimed a famous victory at the weekend, beating Roscommon 1-14 to 1-11 for their first U20 football title since 1988.
Underage triumph has sparked hope of a big days to come for Offaly football, with the likes of Cathal Donoghue, Jack Bryant and Cormac Egan already being marked out as stars of the future.
However, speaking on 2fm’s Game On, Kelly insisted that his squad will be give time and space to develop fully and won’t be rushed.
"We have been very lucky over the last three years with John Maughan being over the senior squad," Kelly said.
"John had a couple of the lads in there this year, three of them were in the senior panel, but he’s always been very clear from day one, they are U20 players and that’s where they need to cut their teeth.
"We’re very lucky that way and we’ll see if they go into the senior set-up, the lads are grounded enough to know they’re not going to be able to go into a senior set-up straight away and get straight on the team.
"It’s going to take time and that’s really what they need now. They need to serve a couple of years there and obviously with the strength and conditioning and game-planning, it does move up a level from where they are.
"I’ve no doubt they will be given space and time to progress."
One of the notable aspects of Offaly's final victory and their celebrations was the presence of European and PGA Tour star Shane Lowry.
Lowry is a avid supporter of Offaly GAA and has even stepped up as a sponsor, but as Kelly revealed, the Open Championship winner was happy to just share in the celebrations.
"In fairness to Shane he decided to contact [Offaly chairman] Michael Duignan and he wanted to put a bit of finance in around the whole area and with Covid and that, it was a godsend.
"I know he spoke to the minors before the two minor finals and he called into us on Sunday night. The lads were just over the moon to see him.
"He did say a couple of small words and he’s very down to earth, he has no airs or graces.
"He’s never forgotten his roots and that’s the one thing about him, he’s a really, really proud Offaly man."
