By Cian O'Connell

Offaly manager Kevin Martin is adamant that the Faithful County are beginning to show signs of progress.

The Allianz Hurling League Division 1B victories over Dublin and Laois were followed by a gutsy Quarter-Final display against Kilkenny.

That ended in a narrow defeat, but Martin feels Offaly are developing ahead of Saturday's Leinster Championship clash with Galway at Bord Na Mona O'Connor Park.

"We are improving," Martin says. "There’s no doubt about it. The lads have bought into it. We are a long way off the top, we have to get up there. It’s not going to happen all in one season. While we are optimistic we know we have to be realistic as well. We have to keep our feet on the ground. 

"This summer is going to tell a tale. We know what they are capable of doing on the big day, whether they are capable of doing it that’s the next question that has to be answered."

What is a realistic aim for Offaly this summer? "I say it to guys you go out to win every game," Martin replies. "We’ve Galway in the first game and no one gives us a chance, but we’ll be going out to beat them, do our best to beat them to see where it takes us.

"You can't be looking to come third or fourth, it’s not the way to approach it. If you reach for the top you might get there some time."

How Offaly competed during the spring, though, offered some hope according to Martin. "It’s confidence with the players," Martin adds. "If they feel like they are able to beat teams - we got up there and we pushed Kilkenny into injury time and they got a couple of points to win it. 

"The boys took a lot of confidence out of that game and they came back into training and there was a bit of a bounce out of them. They are after being down for so long when they put a few good performances together it beefs them up a bit and they get going.

"We are optimistic, we still haven’t the quality of the players of the Galway's or the Kilkenny’s so we’re working with them to see what’s the best we can get out of them."