OFFALY manager Emmet McDonnell, says he was happy with how his young team delivered against Kildare on Saturday, fighting back late on to close the margin of defeat to four points.
McDonnell, at 33 the youngest manager in the Senior Football Championship, is 10 months into his job and drew a lot of encouragement from the Leinster SFC effort.
"To see the Offaly people standing, clapping the lads off at the end, shows that they know how far these guys have come in a short space of time. We are making progress," he said.
"The biggest positive we can take is that we can compete at this level.
"While we are not happy with a moral victory, we know we are on the road. It was 19 points to six last year.
"So, so we're making big progress."