Joachim Kelly Sad to miss out on the big day, but very confident of an Offaly win. Joachim Kelly. If ever there was a name synonymous with hurling, this is it. Joachim played his last game for Offaly in the Championship against Kilkenny in the '93 season, after 19 years of active service, which saw him garner seven Leinster medals and two Celtic crosses. He still lines out for his club Lusmagh and one gets the feeling that he would give anything to be performing in the Croke Park sward next Sunday. "It was time to call it a day, although I'd still be very fit but I'll be 39 on the first of December. All of the old lads were gone and the young crowd were new. It just seemed to be the right time". The former Westmeath coach fancied Offaly to beat Kilkenny. "We came very close the last two years and we should have beaten them. Instead they went on and won two All-Irelands but they always dread playing us. I thought that Wexford would win the Leinster final though. They hammered Dublin after a replay and then Laois. I thought that they would come out with a great burst but it wasn't the case at all". Offaly had a fairly comfortable victory in that game to set up a duel with the Tribesmen, who looked to have an abundance of talent. The Faithful County proved too good on the day however. "Galway always have the problem of not knowing how good they are, what their best 15 is. Offaly had two games behind them. Galway like to play the ball into the square and around the 21 and pick off points from there but the Offaly backs closed them down magnificently and didn't allow them the space". Joachim informs the Hogan Stand that Eamonn Cregan has a 25 strong panel which was training every second night in the lead up to this tie. There are lads on the bench who would be plenty good enough if required such as Michael Duignan, Michael Conneely and Pat O'Connor. That is a strength but the real one lies in the defence. They won't give the Limerick sharpshooters the space to score points. Brian Whelehan and Hubert Rigney are hurling particularly well. They close a set of forwards down and then move the ball fast out of defence to the forwards. Now they might hold one or two of our forwards but I can't see them stopping all of them. I'd be looking to John and Billy Dooley, John Troy and John Pikington to produce the goods" The Lusmagh stalwart saw Limerick on "The Sunday Game" and feels that they are very strong and skilful in certain areas. "I wouldn't say that they are as skilful as Offaly though. They are very fit and showed great character against Cork. They have a particularly strong half forward line. I actually hope that Mike Galligan is playing because it will only make them more determined. It'll be a "win it for him" type situation like Kerry who were always winning for someone". It was no surprise to Joachim that it has taken Offaly so long to come this far. "It takes a while for a team to mature. As it is the average age of the team would be 25/26 and I wouldn't think that a guy is fully mature until he's 28. You need a bit of experience as the like of Kevin Morgan and Paul McGrath have shown, although obviously you couldn't have 11 Paul McGraths. You need balance". "As it gets closer to the day, I think Offaly will do it. It will be close but I think we'll shade it by two or three points. They are in fine fettle. If it's a fine day, it will be a good game. If it's raining, the more skilful side will win and that's Offaly. I think we'll win". Written by the Hogan Stand Magazine 2nd Sept 1994 Tweet

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