Player of the match Charlie Mitchell could not hide his satisfaction after all the "hard work" involved in delivering Joe McDonagh Cup success for Offaly.
Mitchell, from the Kilcormac-Killoughey club, chipped in with four points as the Faithful edged out neighbours Laois in Saturday's final at Croke Park. It means that Offaly will be back playing Liam MacCarthy hurling in 2025. Before that they have a date with Cork in next weekend's All-Ireland preliminary quarter-final.
Speaking to RTÉ Sport, Mitchell reflected on the victory as the county atoned for last year's final loss against Carlow.
"It's just unreal, we were here this time last year, went down to 14 men but still got to extra-time. We said to ourselves 'we'll get back here again this year and make sure we get over the line'. It's unreal for that bunch of lads and the work we're after doing; thank God it's after paying off.
Player of the match Charlie Mitchell hailed the hard work that has gone in in the last four or five years that has now led to @Offaly_GAA finally getting over the line in the Joe McDonagh Cup #rtegaa #joemcdonaghcupfinal #hurling pic.twitter.com/Ayes4aqXaZ
— The Sunday Game (@TheSundayGame) June 8, 2024
In further praising the collective, Mitchell added: "The work by everyone, from one to 20, everybody played their part. We had to fight for every ball against a great Laois team. The dogging it out and all the workrate."
Under the stewardship of Offaly chairperson Michael Duignan, hurling is thriving again in the county and the Joe McDonagh win comes a week after All-Ireland U-20 success.
Mitchell has played his part in bringing the good day's back, all the planning and targets set is now finally paying off.
"It was brilliant to see the crowd down in Nowlan Park," Mitchell said. "Big crowd here today following us, driving us on. This is four or five years hard work gone into it. It all came together there today and the last few years with the minors and 20s."
