Johnny Kelly admits underage teams may suffer as consolidation becomes aim for Offaly

Offaly bowed out of the All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship with defeat to Cork in Glenisk O'Connor Park and already manager Johnny Kelly is looking ahead to next season and "consolidation" in the Leinster Championship.

Kelly’s side gave a good account of themselves, asking some big questions of Cork and while the Rebels came up with all the answers Offaly still managed to find two late goals as the game finished 4-25 to 3-19.

It was a short turnaround for Offaly who had just a week to prepare after beating Laois in the final of the Joe McDonagh Cup. That victory over Laois crowned a golden fortnight for Offaly after their Under-20 side beat Tipperary at the start of the month for their first ever All-Ireland title.

However with promotion back to the Leinster Championship secured by their exploits in the Joe McDonagh Cup, Kelly is eager to see that his side stay there and he insisted that is his top priority for next season.

The Offaly boss admitted that underage hurling will have to take a back seat, given just how punishing relegation back down to the Joe McDonagh Cup can be.

Speaking to RTÉ Sport, he said: "The reality is we're in the Leinster Championship now, so the focus in Offaly has to be to stay in the Leinster Championship.

"There's no point in going after underage titles again. Obviously if they happen, great, but the Leinster Championship is where it's at now.

"We saw with Carlow, who were a magnificent team this year, who drew with Kilkenny, and then subsequently are going back down again. I don't think that's right.

"But what I do think is; if it's that way again next year, we really consolidate."

Reflecting on the defeat to Cork, Kelly admitted that the short turnaround between the McDonagh Cup final and