KEEPER RYAN MINOR HERO FOR FAITHFUL

Offaly 2-20 Louth 3-14 Leinster MFC Final

- BY PAUL KEANE

GOALKEEPER Jack Ryan was the unlikely Offaly hero with back-to-back stoppage time two-pointers to secure a dramatic Leinster MFC title success.

The Faithful were underdogs beforehand and trailed by four points with three minutes of normal time remaining.

It looked at that stage like Louth would remarkably secure all three of Leinster football's flagship titles having already taken the senior and U-20 crowns.

But an Offaly side beaten by nine points by Louth in their group last month produced a thrilling final few minutes to secure a first title since 1989.

Offaly outscored Louth by 0-8 to 0-1 in the closing minutes, with Ryan's first two-pointer, in the 62nd minute, putting them a point ahead and his second, in the 65th minute, stretching the gap to three.