Leo O'Connor recovers from minor setback to take Offaly Under-20 job

New Offaly Under-20 hurling manager Leo O'Connor says that while it took time to get over the blow of losing last year’s All-Ireland minor final, he is delighted to continue nurturing the development of the county’s young hurlers.

As a coach on his home turf, he previously guided the Limerick Under-21s to a Munster title in 2011 after they defeated Cork in extra-time in an epic encounter at the Gaelic Grounds.

The highly-regarded Limerick manager led the Offaly minor team to a Leinster title last season – their first in 22 years.

An All-Ireland final appearance followed and they only lost the decider to a controversial, last-gasp Tipperary goal.

But he is back at the helm, this time with the under-20s, alongside his trusted backroom team of Johnny Pilkington, Martin Cashen and Hughie Hannon.

"The club game is now like senior inter-county was years ago, everything has pushed on to a different level"

"For about a month after that final I wanted to hibernate, to be honest," O’Connor tells RTE Sport. "The way we lost the final was tough to take.

"So, for the next month I just kept to myself. But the game draws you back in. After that I really enjoyed going back to club matches. I enjoyed the tail-end of watching my own county win the All-Ireland senior final. I live in Tipp, so I caught club matches there too and in Limerick. I went to watch games in Offaly as well, all the time watching different things and learning different things.

"And you'd pick up lots. The club game is now like senior inter-county was years ago, everything has pushed on to a different level."

O’Connor’s appointment was officially ratified on Monday night by the Offaly board, with Johnny Kelly named as senior team manager, alongside a very impressive backroom