'What a story', 'magic moments', 'great show', - Glowing praise for Offaly-Kerry documentary

‘Players of the Faithful’ captured the incredible story of Offaly’s victory over Kerry in the 1982 All-Ireland SFC final.

pjimage (24) 'Players of the Faithful' was a hit with GAA viewers. RTÉ Player / Photojoiner.net RTÉ Player / Photojoiner.net / Photojoiner.net

THE RTÉ DOCUMENTARY about one of the most famous moments in GAA history aired on Friday night, and it proved to be a hit with viewers.

‘Players of the Faithful’ recounts the story of how Offaly defeated Kerry in the 1982 All-Ireland SFC final and stopped one of the greatest ever football teams from winning an unprecedented five-in-a-row.

Interviews with various players from that Offaly team are featured in the programme, along with the manager who masterminded that incredible feat, Eugene McGee.

It also includes archive footage from the game and other events surrounding Offaly’s triumph.

Various GAA figures including Tomás Ó Sé and Carlow football manager Turlough O’Brien were impressed by how the story was told.

You can watch ‘Players of the Faithful’ on the RTÉ Player here.

Turlough O’Brien

Matt Connor was a footballing God. What a sublime footballer. #PlayersoftheFaithful
— Turlough O Brien (@TurloughCarlow) December 28, 2018

Turlough O Brien / Twitter

Tomás Ó Sé

Hate watching that goal still think Charlie might save it😫😫 No one was close to Kerry after four in a row yet Offaly were sniffing and they went at Kerry and believed!! Interesting stat Kerry forwards not scoring goals in 81...”every empire eventually crumbles”.Great show #1982
— Tomás Ó Sé (@tomas5ky) December 28, 2018

Tomás Ó Sé / Twitter

Nigel Dunne

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Anton Sullivan

Anton Sullivan / Twitter Anton Sullivan / Twitter / Twitter

Ciaran Mullooly

My old boss Eugene McGee from the halcyon days of @gaaoffaly and @Longford_Leader telling it like it was AS USUAL tonight Magic moments #PlayersoftheFaithful
— Ciaran Mullooly MEP (@ciaranmullooly) December 28, 2018

Ciaran Mullooly / Twitter

Dara Ó Briain

Well, that RTE documentary on the Offaly 1982 All-Ireland win was just lovely. #1982
— Dara Ó Briain (@daraobriain) December 28, 2018

Dara Ó Briain / Twitter

Des Cahill

As a young reporter in #Kerry, I was sent to Offaly by The Kerryman newspaper to do the pre-Match interviews. #Offaly weren’t cocky, but they weren’t afraid either! It was some achievement! #1982 #PlayersoftheFaithful
— Des Cahill (@sportsdes) December 28, 2018

Des Cahill / Twitter

Jamie Wall

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Thomas Niblock

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Murray Kinsella, Gavan Casey and Andy Dunne look back on a memorable year for Irish rugby.

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Tony Mcgrath 10y

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Dec 29th 2018, 3:10 PM

Great show
What a sporting county offaly is

John O Reilly 7y

Mute John O Reilly

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Dec 30th 2018, 1:16 AM

@Tony Mcgrath: was

James 7y

Mute James

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Dec 30th 2018, 1:51 PM

@John O Reilly: always looking to stir things up aren’t you ..

Francie Keane 12y

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Dec 29th 2018, 3:31 PM

Matt Connor was one of the best forwards ever..Brilliant documentary..well done to RTE.

Jack Ryan 10y

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Dec 29th 2018, 4:24 PM

@Francie Keane: THE BEST

Eoin Murphy 6y

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Dec 29th 2018, 3:35 PM

I think it’s well possible they’ll repeat the feat with dublin in 2019

Jonathon Carroll 9y

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Dec 29th 2018, 3:55 PM

@Eoin Murphy: ya and I’m dying to find out who will play the roll of Seamus Darby in the reboot.

John Brosnan 6y

Mute John Brosnan

Favourite John Brosnan

Dec 29th 2018, 7:46 PM

I wonder are RTE giving the Dubs a wake-up call that Kerry never got. The Dubs are on the cusp of greatness and will take some stopping especially with the format of the championship

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