GAA: KAROL LIKES CLEAN SLATT.

Byline: BRENDAN O'BRIEN 

OFFALY'S return to Croke Park is a sign that the county is back in the big time, says defender Karol Slattery.

It's three years since the Faithful side graced Jones' Road for a senior fixture, when they went down to Dublin in the Leinster championship.

That might not seem like a long absence, especially compared to Down who have not been to HQ in 10 years.

However, with most of Leinster's top games taking place at Croker, three years is a significant wait for the 1998 Division 1 champions.

"We're back in Croke Park, back in the big time," Slattery said, almost joking.

"It was a slow start to the league but we gradually built up the momentum with wins over Roscommon and Monaghan and Clare.

"That generated a lot of momentum, especially coming up to the championship, which is very important."

At 24 Slattery is a senior member of a very young panel.

Sean Grennan, Vinny Claffey and Finbar Cullen were all veteran players who called time on their inter-county careers in the off-season leaving the likes of Slattery and Ciaran McManus to step into leadership.

But Offaly have swept their way back to Division 1 and within touching distance of their first silverware in six years.

"Sean, Vinny and Finbar were three big losses and a lot of people would have thought Gerry (Fahy) would take two years to build a team but he's got a good panel together and he's very professional."

CAPTION(S):

SLATTERY: Leadership