By Cian O'Connell

Saturday evening ended in defeat for Offaly, but manager Kevin Martin is keeping the faith.

A spirited performance from the home team against the All Ireland champions, Galway, in Tullamore offered further hope that Offaly can develop under Martin's stewardship.

Offaly didn't employ a sweeper system for the game and it is a policy that Martin hopes to continue for the rest of the Leinster Senior Hurling Championship. "Yeah we're trying to promote attacking hurling if we can," Martin says.

"It's grand, people might say you could have put a sweeper at the back and maybe cut out Galway forwards cutting through, but what's the point in sitting back and let him come at you either?

"I'm a positive man and I want positive hurling and players to be positive, to push forward if they can. Then get back when they have to get back. Because you have to enjoy the game as well, and you don't enjoy the game if you're sitting back just waiting for an onslaught."

Another demanding assignment looms for Offaly, who face Kilkenny at Nowlan Park on Sunday and Martin admits the depth of his panel will be examined in the coming weeks.

"If we pick up injuries then we're in trouble," Martin states. "We have a decent enough bench, but would it be as good as Galway's, probably not. "There's lads training every bit as hard as the lads starting and we have to put a bit of trust in them as well.

"Listen we're trying to build and trying to get a certain type of game going. While this is a setback, we just have to put it aside and look forward to next weekend."

Martin believes that Offaly are beginning to make strides following a competitive spring in Division 1B of the Allianz Hurling League.

"The League is grand, you develop players in the League, but now the ground is changing, it’s getting harder, the ball is moving and they have to step up another gear," Martin says.

"But in fairness to them they are willing to learn and willing to train hard."