Full credit to westmeath for their win and maybe it's a case of westmeath improving a lot and offaly going the other direction but it's tough to understand how a county can fall from grace so spectacularly in such a short space of time. We the 80s and 90s just an exception and now offaly hurling is back at its normal standard or has something happened? Should they have kept their games in Birr? Is there any hope at underage? Must be depressing for people who remember the glory days.

hurlinspuds (Cork) - Posts: 1494 - 01/05/2016 19:26:32    1851185

The last time Offaly played Westmeath in the championship was 1976 in Croke Park. Westmeath won four years later Offaly won their first Leinster twelve months after their first All Ireland. This is a derby game and sure Westmeath have improved and Offaly gone back but there was never that big a difference

jobber (Westmeath) - Posts: 1445 - 01/05/2016 20:14:17    1851193

Fair play to Westmeath but it is a travesty what has happened to Offaly. Hurling needs more teams and to see the decline of Offaly is very disheartening. They have little talent coming through so these days are likely to continue for the foreseeable future. Sad times.

LohansRedHelmet (Clare) - Posts: 2475 - 02/05/2016 08:41:25    1851206

It is sad to see Offaly's decline but Offaly were never a strong hurling county until they won their first Leinster title in 1980.It took them 96 years to land that trophy and Offaly went on to enjoy 20 fruitful years winning four All Irelands and numerous Leinster titles.Unfortunately they have disappeared off the radar and it doesn't look like those heady days are coming back.

cuederocket (Dublin) - Posts: 5084 - 02/05/2016 10:25:32    1851229

Given what has happened in Wexford in the past 10 years I cant exactly sing from the pulpit on this one, and our minors play there in 2 weeks time which is a mighty banana skin. But overall I think we have arrested our slide in a way Offaly have not, at least we are competing at least at most grades of underage with some success at U21 in particular.
But nothing in the GAA saddens me more than the decline of a great hurling county like Offaly. We had great games with them over the years, they had a team of players unlike no other in terms of heart, natural ability and go through a brick wall mentality.
Surely the names like the Pilkingtons, The Dooleys, The Whelehan's have enough about them to at least try to arrest the slide? I mean, in Wexford when we hit rock bottom everybody got their shoulder to the wheel, from the hero's of 96 to local clubmen to help get us back on track. I know we are only starting to recover from years of neglect at underage and it is still only starting to bear fruit at senior level.
I dont know enough about what is going on inside but you always hear the likes of Duignan on whinging about the county board, etc. Is it the usual "I am an All-Ireland medal winner, listen to me", or is he doing anything other than complaining on the radio? Because my impression of the man is a man with more to say than he actually does on the ground. I hope I am wrong and will gladly hear otherwise.
But also, it would be wrong not to credit Westmeath. They are doing everything right at present, they deservedly beat our minors last year. It is great to see a county like them coming through and I hope they can keep doing it now.

Pinkie (Wexford) - Posts: 4100 - 02/05/2016 10:57:15    1851239

Full credit to westmeath for their win and maybe it's a case of westmeath improving a lot and offaly going the other direction but it's tough to understand how a county can fall from grace so spectacularly in such a short space of time. We the 80s and 90s just an exception and now offaly hurling is back at its normal standard or has something happened? Should they have kept their games in Birr? Is there any hope at underage? Must be depressing for people who remember the glory days.
hurlinspuds (Cork) - Posts:1372 - 01/05/2016 19:26:32

Offaly lost to Kerry this year in Birr so that makes no difference.

The real problem is that Offaly is a small county and had been terrible at both codes for most of it's existence but seemed to get lucky whereby almost every top class player the county produced were all born within 20 years of each other and thus in both codes we had 20 years of success 1960-1982 in Football and 1980 - 2000 in hurling and outside of those 2 periods we have been in the main quiet poor in both codes.

uibhfhaili1986 (Offaly) - Posts: 1296 - 02/05/2016 13:17:54    1851308

Pinkie,

In fairness to Duignan, he's doing a lot of good work with his adopted club, Ballinamere.

keeper7 (Longford) - Posts: 4088 - 02/05/2016 14:54:42    1851339

http://www.irishexaminer.com/sport/gaa/hurling/interview-paudie-butler-former-national-hurling-coordinator-318391.html

Even a dual county like Offaly can neglect its hurling and coaching tradition, with Butler finding them the county that calls least.

One sentence.Tells it's own story.

roundball (Tipperary) - Posts: 2514 - 02/05/2016 15:29:01    1851355

Can anyone be really that surprised westmeath beat offaly. Offaly are on a downward spiral for 10 years now or more....its true what they say..the 99 semi final vs cork was the last hurrah of a great naturally gifted team. Westmeath on the other hand have been putting a lot of work into underage hurling, good consistent minor teams for the last 5 years or so and in that time coul

preddan (Kildare) - Posts: 734 - 02/05/2016 16:25:10    1851372

Can anyone be really that surprised westmeath beat offaly. Offaly are on a downward spiral for 10 years now or more....its true what they say..the 99 semi final vs cork was the last hurrah of a great naturally gifted team. Westmeath on the other hand have been putting a lot of work into underage hurling, good consistent minor teams for the last 5 years or so and in that time could count themselves unlucky not to get to a leinster final or two. The u21s are not far off either. I think offaly are at their lowest ebb ever and I think it will improve for them. They are too proud of a hurling county with 4 all irelands,to let it die. Westmeath will have a few good years, they must be coming into their peak in the next year or two and will be awkward opponents for anybody.

preddan (Kildare) - Posts: 734 - 02/05/2016 16:30:03    1851374

Preddan,

Westmeath beating Offaly by a point or two is one thing but winning by double scores is quite another thing.

keeper7 (Longford) - Posts: 4088 - 02/05/2016 16:34:12    1851376

Winning by double scores is not a big deal in hurling.If a team gets on top of another it doesn't take long to rack up a score.Westmeath beating Offaly is not a surprise.Kerry beating Offaly was not a surprise.The only surprise is some people are surprised.

cuederocket (Dublin) - Posts: 5084 - 02/05/2016 16:44:29    1851379

Keeper 7
Wasnt too surprised really at score. It was in mullingar and also the fact theres 6 or 7 of that team could walk into most teams. Looking at offalys team you couldnt say the same thing, shane Dooley their main man is suffering with injuries long term.

preddan (Kildare) - Posts: 734 - 02/05/2016 16:47:47    1851382

Get a grip, lads. Westmeath are a division below Offaly & have been for a few years. Don't pretend that the scoreline isn't shocking.

keeper7 (Longford) - Posts: 4088 - 02/05/2016 17:31:10    1851394

I think its true what Ger loughnane said they should get funding like the Dubs did a couple of years ago get somebody in to get the show on the road, Offaly were allways competing but .

johnwhite12 (Kilkenny) - Posts: 306 - 02/05/2016 17:43:53    1851400

Can anyone be really that surprised westmeath beat offaly. Offaly are on a downward spiral for 10 years now or more....its true what they say..the 99 semi final vs cork was the last hurrah of a great naturally gifted team. Westmeath on the other hand have been putting a lot of work into underage hurling, good consistent minor teams for the last 5 years or so and in that time could count themselves unlucky not to get to a leinster final or two. The u21s are not far off either. I think offaly are at their lowest ebb ever and I think it will improve for them. They are too proud of a hurling county with 4 all irelands,to let it die. Westmeath will have a few good years, they must be coming into their peak in the next year or two and will be awkward opponents for anybody.

preddan (Kildare) - Posts:202 - 02/05/2016 16:30:03

You're thinking of 2000 Preddan. We won in 99. Yes, that was probably their last hurrah. They were competitive enough some years. They drew with Galway a few years ago.

I think westmeath minors did actually get to a final in the past year or two?!

It is a shocking result due to the sheer scale of how they rolled over and died. It would be a shock if westmeath won alone but not seismic. Winning and having it all their own way is what is shocking. As is the general decline of offaly at all levels.

When I talk about having the home games in Birr I don't mean a one off game v kerry. I mean 10 years of not as many people going to games, lost gate receipts and lost interest.
Offaly just don't seem to have dug in and made the effort in the same way as Dublin, Limerick and Wexford seem to have over the past few years and the way my own county is trying to do at the minute. County boards should be answerable to the hurling committee if they produce shocking bad underage teams year on year.

hurlinspuds (Cork) - Posts: 1494 - 02/05/2016 17:48:46    1851402

The last great display I can remember of all the old skills of hurling ie overhead pulling ground hurling etc was Offaly in the 2000 ai semis final against Cork. I will never forget that fantastic display of every hurling skill. Since then ground hurling has been lost along with offaly hurling. What a pity on both counts.

ZUL10 (Clare) - Posts: 693 - 02/05/2016 19:01:53    1851420

Here's a crazy idea...

Less money for Dublin, more money for likes of Offaly, Westmeath, Carlow, Kildare, Meath etc to develop hurling.
Westmeath and Meath have always had a big area of hurling but they have never been developed or supported enough

manfromdelmonte (UK) - Posts: 541 - 02/05/2016 19:10:44    1851424

That's an excellent idea.The Meath hurling area is mostly bordering Westmeath.I wouldn't think the likes of Gerry Mcentee would be delighted.

jobber (Westmeath) - Posts: 1445 - 02/05/2016 20:40:33    1851447

I dont think anybody is surprised Offaly lost, but I think people are sad to see their decline.

Pinkie (Wexford) - Posts: 4100 - 03/05/2016 09:15:06    1851475