May Day could be very tasty.
The home side will not want for motivation when Offaly and Kerry meet in Tullamore for the opening fixture of the Leinster SHC qualifier round.
The Kingdom beat the Faithful County by 2-18 to 2-17 in Birr – undoubtedly a chastening defeat on their hosts.
It will have been a strange experience for Offaly boss Eamonn Kelly, who will have in some way been happy to see the team he managed for the past two seasons record such a tremendous result.
Leaving the field in St Brendan's Park, Birr pic.twitter.com/6xJUzuoz9u
— Kerry GAA (@Kerry_Official) March 20, 2016
Especially as it did not deny Offaly a place in the quarter-finals – even if they do have to face All-Ireland champions and menacing neighbours Kilkenny in the last eight.
The miraculous result was not enough to keep Kerry out of a relegation play-off with Laois, who threw away a late lead against Wexford in Portlaoise.
Kerry will host Laois on the first weekend in April.
Kelly’s successor as Kerry manager, Limierck legend Ciaran Carey, said his side were confident travelling to the Midlands, despite heavy defeats to Wexford and Clare.
“[The result] doesn’t flatter us,” he told Radio Kerry. “At the end of the day we would have targeted this one, outside of Laois. You target them all but you would fancy your chances against Offaly and Laois.”
John Egan scored 1-9 for Kerry, whose team featured several players, such as Jason Diggins and Jack Goulding, who were playing Minor B hurling last summer.
You couldn’t blame Kerry GAA fans for harking back to Offaly’s most famous day, in 1982.
https://twitter.com/HRHgearoid/status/711586644340695040
Offaly fans were confused and then angry. Then angrily confused.
Offaly 2-17 Kerry 2-18. In a hurling match? Say it ain't so.
— Barry Glendenning (@bglendenning) March 20, 2016
Not sure which is worse for Offaly hurlers – losing to Kerry or finding out they've drawn Kilkenny in the #AllianzLeagues quarter-finals
— Trevor Spillane (@TrevorSpillane) March 20, 2016
https://twitter.com/bourkej6/status/711590422053834752
In one sense, it may suit Offaly better to have lost than to have sneaked an undeserved win. No danger of complacency in May now.
— Kevin Egan (@lonesharkoy) March 20, 2016
@LawlorDamian congrats to Kerry but as for Offaly, they are a disgrace. I gave up on them a long time ago. A gutless disgrace.
— John (@JohnJohndel2) March 20, 2016
Offaly hurling in 7 days came back to life after beating Wexford in Wexford; died again today loosing at home to Kerry hurlers…. Sport eh
— John Cahill (@JonzerC) March 20, 2016
Some win by @Kerry_Official hurlers in Offaly today. Some great performances by them so far this year. Progress
— Shane O'Callaghan (@cloonteens) March 20, 2016
Some wanted to blame the venue.
Two worst results for Offaly hurlers in the league that I can remember: v Laois in 2004, v Kerry today. Both in Birr. #GAA
— Pat Nolan (@pat_nolan) March 20, 2016
@Delick14Pp Where the 'real hurling people' live…
— Pat Nolan (@pat_nolan) March 20, 2016
Heaven help anyone of sensitive nature within earshot of this man on that flight.
Watching the @markpollock documentary on my @AerLingus flight to Chicago. What an amazing man he is.
— Shane Lowry (@ShaneLowryGolf) March 20, 2016
