Vinny Claffey rests against the bench, mop of black hair soaking, a broad smile meeting the world. The Dorian Gray of Gaelic football.

"Heading for 35 at this stage - it's getting a bit embarrassing," he roars.

"That was brilliant, it ranks with the Leinster final and the league final, definitely. We were hit so badly with injuries over the past few weeks and to overcome that was fantastic. "But we won't allow ourselves to be overcome with this. I'm sure the rest of the teams in Leinster will fancy their chances now that they see Meath gone."

Meath gone. Players like Finbarr Cullen have waited in the shadows for this.

"We showed great character and brought a lot back to the Offaly jersey today. The lads had to dig really deep and they did that. Last two years, we came up against Meath and were expected to do well. This year, we weren't and pulled it out of the first. "I don't think they begrudge it to us, talking to them afterwards, they wished us well and they were genuine about it. We owed them one, you know."

Across the room, Colm Quinn is reliving the final act, when his long free confirmed that the champions had been toppled.

"Asked the ref how long there was and he said about 20 seconds, so I just told myself to kill the ball anyway," he says.

"No, I'm delighted to get this win. This is the game we have had in our heads since the start of the year. You have to look at it when you are playing Meath. It was just a matter of getting in there and hoping the ball would break our way. Thankfully it did."

"I don't think they begrudge it to us, talking to them afterwards, they wished us well and they were genuine about it. We owed them one, you know."

- Finbarr Cullen

In the corridors he has strode so often as a victor, Sean Boylan delivers his only oration of this summer.

"Offaly played like champions and we have no excuses in the world. They seemed to have better knowhow and more hunger than we had. There was a real honesty about their game and they were very well prepared by Pauric (Nolan). So if we have to be defeated, it's nice to be defeated by a great team."

As ever, Boylan saw the virtues of the day.

"The thing is we had chances and weren't able to take those chances. There was a tiredness there, but again, if you get a few scores it can all lift.

"That's the difference between winning and losing. There are a lot of young men in there and it's important that they learn what defeat is like as well. It'll prove how good they are if they are able to come back again, and I hope to God they do."

A twinkling smile, a handshake or two and he bowed out. No hints about whether we'll see him again.

"The feelings I would have regarding whether or not I'll give it a go again or if the delegates would want me too, that's for another day. It's the exact same as it was the very first day I came in."

Leinster Junior Football

Dublin: 1-7, Louth: 1-6

DUBLIN: A Durnian; P Carey, P Grey, C O'Sullivan; P Condron (0-1), T White, S Cunningham; J O'Connor (0-1), D Noonan; C McGuinness (0-1), Myles Doran, D Byrne; A Briody (0-4, 2 frees), D Madden, P Clifford (1-0). Subs: T Gorman for Cunningham (half-time), Morgan Doran for Byrne (44 mins), N McGrath for Myles Doran (52).

LOUTH: S Quigley; S Callinan, D Reilly, D Shevlin; D Malone, J McGrane, R Rooney; P O'Kane (0-1), M Crosbie; K Callaghan (1-2), A Rooney, B Clarke (0-1); N Flynn, J Levins (0-1), G Sheridan. Subs: N Sharkey (0-1) for Sheridan (46 mins), D Bailey for Levins (52), A Brennan for Callinan (56).

Referee: S Doyle (Wexford).