OFFAL LOT OF WORK NEEDED TO CLOSE GAP

HARD as it is to believe now, but Offaly once held Kilkenny to 2-5 in a Leinster semi-final.

- BY GARRY DOYLE

On Saturday in Nowlan Park, they struggled to restrict TJ Reid, who got 2-8.

That's where we are now.

This ceased to be a rivalry 27 years ago.

All it is now is the kid who hands over his lunch money to the bully, 15 points separating the teams on Saturday, gaps of 9 points, 26, 5, 18, 14, 31, 9, 12,13, 11 and 10 between the sides in their previous 11 meetings.

A degree of hope about a better tomorrow does exist as there's a lot to like about Oisin Kelly, scorer of 2-2 from play on Saturday.