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Offaly Hurling currently sinking down the nostalgia route

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just following Offaly hurlers as always..not looking too good this year again in the lower division 1..the lads available are the best we have available, no point giving out about lads not committing, every other county I am sure have players who wont or cannot commit for whatever reason, I know a county like Offaly will feel that more than the bigger counties who have almost identical replacements waiting to take a place on the panel. As hard as it sounds, maybe if, and it looks very very likely Offaly wont be promoted this year, Offaly might benefit from falling down a division, getting a few games (wins surely) under their belts and build up again from scratch..this "clinging on to the tail coats" of the teams around them, thats where they appear to be after Laois beating them, and getting hammered by the big teams is absolutely getting them nowhere, they appear stuck in the middle of middle teams and the lower leagues..maybe a clean slate in a division where at least they will and should get a few comprehensive wins would be no harm..there are no easy answers. I hate saying this but one or two senior players in the team are there for some reason, but it isnt leadership thats for sure, most good club teams now have excellent free takers etc. so every player should be viewed on over all contribution to the team and not just frees etc..I see the the 1982 team is going on a 35th anniversary trip, again who cares now, remember it certainly every 10, 20, 25 and 40 and 50 years time but lets leave it there, its a bygone era..Offaly need to move on..the hurling is slowly sinking down the "nostalgia "route as well...the young lads today need the mentoring and encouragement of the present, not reminders and comparisons of the past...two totally different era's etc...

Fairplayalways (Offaly) - Posts: 1037 - 19/02/2017 14:45:08    1958222

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Replying To Fairplayalways:  "just following Offaly hurlers as always..not looking too good this year again in the lower division 1..the lads available are the best we have available, no point giving out about lads not committing, every other county I am sure have players who wont or cannot commit for whatever reason, I know a county like Offaly will feel that more than the bigger counties who have almost identical replacements waiting to take a place on the panel. As hard as it sounds, maybe if, and it looks very very likely Offaly wont be promoted this year, Offaly might benefit from falling down a division, getting a few games (wins surely) under their belts and build up again from scratch..this "clinging on to the tail coats" of the teams around them, thats where they appear to be after Laois beating them, and getting hammered by the big teams is absolutely getting them nowhere, they appear stuck in the middle of middle teams and the lower leagues..maybe a clean slate in a division where at least they will and should get a few comprehensive wins would be no harm..there are no easy answers. I hate saying this but one or two senior players in the team are there for some reason, but it isnt leadership thats for sure, most good club teams now have excellent free takers etc. so every player should be viewed on over all contribution to the team and not just frees etc..I see the the 1982 team is going on a 35th anniversary trip, again who cares now, remember it certainly every 10, 20, 25 and 40 and 50 years time but lets leave it there, its a bygone era..Offaly need to move on..the hurling is slowly sinking down the "nostalgia "route as well...the young lads today need the mentoring and encouragement of the present, not reminders and comparisons of the past...two totally different era's etc..."
Offaly hurling will have fallen behind christy ring standards in a few years.

daytona11 (Kildare) - Posts: 4012 - 19/02/2017 16:35:09    1958268

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It's so sad. Just thinking of the Likes of the Dooleys, Whelehan, John Troy etc. who spoiled hurling fans with their skill and style as I write this.

Killarney.87 (Tipperary) - Posts: 2513 - 19/02/2017 17:17:45    1958285

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Replying To Killarney.87:  "It's so sad. Just thinking of the Likes of the Dooleys, Whelehan, John Troy etc. who spoiled hurling fans with their skill and style as I write this."
yeah its sad...even going back to the early to mid 1980's team...I remember Offaly hurling League matches against the likes of Limerick and Wexford in Birr and they had a championship atmosphere to them almost..a far cry now...

Fairplayalways (Offaly) - Posts: 1037 - 20/02/2017 00:07:13    1958473

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It's sad , but their living and thinking of the past to much. Great to have memories but the players from great teams left a great legacy for themselves but it didn't do Offaly any good in the long term. You get the jersey and it should be taken by someone just as good as the Troys and Dooleys when they finished. Remember the past but live for the future, primary schools in the whole county should be where it starts not just in a few clubs.

ke40 (Kildare) - Posts: 214 - 20/02/2017 10:20:56    1958559

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Replying To Fairplayalways:  "just following Offaly hurlers as always..not looking too good this year again in the lower division 1..the lads available are the best we have available, no point giving out about lads not committing, every other county I am sure have players who wont or cannot commit for whatever reason, I know a county like Offaly will feel that more than the bigger counties who have almost identical replacements waiting to take a place on the panel. As hard as it sounds, maybe if, and it looks very very likely Offaly wont be promoted this year, Offaly might benefit from falling down a division, getting a few games (wins surely) under their belts and build up again from scratch..this "clinging on to the tail coats" of the teams around them, thats where they appear to be after Laois beating them, and getting hammered by the big teams is absolutely getting them nowhere, they appear stuck in the middle of middle teams and the lower leagues..maybe a clean slate in a division where at least they will and should get a few comprehensive wins would be no harm..there are no easy answers. I hate saying this but one or two senior players in the team are there for some reason, but it isnt leadership thats for sure, most good club teams now have excellent free takers etc. so every player should be viewed on over all contribution to the team and not just frees etc..I see the the 1982 team is going on a 35th anniversary trip, again who cares now, remember it certainly every 10, 20, 25 and 40 and 50 years time but lets leave it there, its a bygone era..Offaly need to move on..the hurling is slowly sinking down the "nostalgia "route as well...the young lads today need the mentoring and encouragement of the present, not reminders and comparisons of the past...two totally different era's etc..."
Offaly will not be promoted this year, a battle against relegation is more likely. If Offaly are relegated, there is no guarantee that we will come straight back, Westmeath, Carlow, Kildare, will be difficult opponents.

We have to stop looking back to the 80'sand90's that period is over, the notion that If we get the right manager, whoever that is, all will be right is an illusion. We will not get a high profile manager, and certainly not if we are relegated.

There are people complaining about Kevin Ryan, but he can only work with the players he has, and we don't have the players to compete at the higher levels. I do think he and his selectors and players are giving their best, and supporters should acknowledge that. Offaly down the years have had a high turnover of managers, even in the good times. Dropping the manager if things go badly won't solve the playing resources problem.

I would give him 2 to 3 years to get Offaly sorted that we can be competitive. The other factor is that underage teams must be developed to compete and win, at the highest level, and those players would feed into tne senior panel.

That was neglected in the good years, as a former great admitted to me. For the present the focus will be on avoiding the drop, and there are no easy games ahead.
I hope things will improve.

thelongridge (Offaly) - Posts: 1879 - 20/02/2017 11:41:37    1958606

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Replying To Fairplayalways:  "yeah its sad...even going back to the early to mid 1980's team...I remember Offaly hurling League matches against the likes of Limerick and Wexford in Birr and they had a championship atmosphere to them almost..a far cry now..."
As i have said before, except for the big three, all the other counties in hurling have only three or four, at most, really good teams to look back on.

Oldtourman (Limerick) - Posts: 4490 - 20/02/2017 11:47:13    1958609

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Replying To thelongridge:  "Offaly will not be promoted this year, a battle against relegation is more likely. If Offaly are relegated, there is no guarantee that we will come straight back, Westmeath, Carlow, Kildare, will be difficult opponents.

We have to stop looking back to the 80'sand90's that period is over, the notion that If we get the right manager, whoever that is, all will be right is an illusion. We will not get a high profile manager, and certainly not if we are relegated.

There are people complaining about Kevin Ryan, but he can only work with the players he has, and we don't have the players to compete at the higher levels. I do think he and his selectors and players are giving their best, and supporters should acknowledge that. Offaly down the years have had a high turnover of managers, even in the good times. Dropping the manager if things go badly won't solve the playing resources problem.

I would give him 2 to 3 years to get Offaly sorted that we can be competitive. The other factor is that underage teams must be developed to compete and win, at the highest level, and those players would feed into tne senior panel.

That was neglected in the good years, as a former great admitted to me. For the present the focus will be on avoiding the drop, and there are no easy games ahead.
I hope things will improve."
yeah and still when you look at the majority of players on the Offaly panel now, they are all players who shone at underage with club, not every player is going to make it either, its not for everyone..some players (and we have had them too) were some of the best in Ireland when they did make Senior for Offaly and fell by the wayside through no fault of Offaly GAA..dont want to go mentioning names but we know a few...no guarantee of beating Kildare of Carlow or Westmeath but no point Wexford, Limerick and other counties who will probably not win the All Ireland most years beating us by a cricket score either for the sake of staying in Div 1.. no lessons are learned by that..and thats Div 1B now not Div 1A where God knows what would happen if we faced Waterford or Tipp...let alone Kilkenny who are going poorly by their standards...its going to be a long climb..if we ever get to or near the top at all that is....

Fairplayalways (Offaly) - Posts: 1037 - 20/02/2017 12:50:30    1958643

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My favourite team growing up and my first ever trip to thurles was the Offally Clare 3rd game in 1998. I plagued my father to bring me....and I asked for very little as a child!
That team and that era of offaly hurlers were by far the most skilful team of all time and for me the greatest team of all time. Sad to see them continuing to slip

tiobraid (Tipperary) - Posts: 4119 - 20/02/2017 13:56:46    1958675

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Hate to say it, but if some of the money given to Dublin for their underage coaching program was redirected to Offaly, Westmeath, Laois then there might be a decent hurling championship in Leinster

manfromdelmonte (UK) - Posts: 541 - 20/02/2017 18:03:59    1958815

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Replying To tiobraid:  "My favourite team growing up and my first ever trip to thurles was the Offally Clare 3rd game in 1998. I plagued my father to bring me....and I asked for very little as a child!
That team and that era of offaly hurlers were by far the most skilful team of all time and for me the greatest team of all time. Sad to see them continuing to slip"
Did you shout for Offaly that day?

thelongridge (Offaly) - Posts: 1879 - 20/02/2017 19:36:37    1958862

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Replying To manfromdelmonte:  "Hate to say it, but if some of the money given to Dublin for their underage coaching program was redirected to Offaly, Westmeath, Laois then there might be a decent hurling championship in Leinster"
Hurling is about the big three, outside of them the gaa does not really care bout hurling and league structure clearly defines that logic.
Has to be two up and two down to keep things fresh.
Only hope is that cats are relegated and then all structures will change to suit, some fun next year with possible galway limerick and killkenny looking for one promotion spot.. gaa won't allow it !!!!!
Offaly left to rot in 1b for years and wexford so lucky same has not happened to them,
Dublin the money spinner for the gaa, offaly wexford Westmeath and laois only rural backwaters in their eyes and Antrim a thorn in the gaa side..

tonydoranfan (Wexford) - Posts: 550 - 20/02/2017 21:33:57    1958906

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I disagree with you tonydoranfan, to be fair to the GAA they gave Wexford good support over the past few years, Paudie Butler was constantly going around the county.
The problem in Offaly in my view is they seem to have a bunch of ex players with lots to say about the problems rather than offering solutions.
Remember in Wexford when we were beaten by Carlow in the league? A load of All-Ireland winners put their shoulder to the wheel and took over every team at underage. I think it is now starting to bear fruit.
Meanwhile in Offaly, Michael Duignan is busy writing in the mail that the commitments are too much. While he may have a point, the reality is that those teams might have got away with it, unless they start at under 8 and accept that the next 10-20 years are very unlikely to yield anything, Offaly hurling will just die away.
There is no point complaining that the commitment levels are too high, you have to just join them in that commitment.
Having said that, I do also feel that players don't have much down time any longer and aren't able to enjoy themselves like they used to, that is a problem which needs to be addressed.

Pinkie (Wexford) - Posts: 4100 - 21/02/2017 08:35:09    1958998

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Replying To thelongridge:  "Did you shout for Offaly that day?"
I did indeed. I was fascinated by that team at a young age. Watched the 94 final about 100 times before I was 10 years old! When I first started taking interesting in hurling Tipp were getting knocked out early every year

tiobraid (Tipperary) - Posts: 4119 - 21/02/2017 09:05:12    1959005

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Replying To Pinkie:  "I disagree with you tonydoranfan, to be fair to the GAA they gave Wexford good support over the past few years, Paudie Butler was constantly going around the county.
The problem in Offaly in my view is they seem to have a bunch of ex players with lots to say about the problems rather than offering solutions.
Remember in Wexford when we were beaten by Carlow in the league? A load of All-Ireland winners put their shoulder to the wheel and took over every team at underage. I think it is now starting to bear fruit.
Meanwhile in Offaly, Michael Duignan is busy writing in the mail that the commitments are too much. While he may have a point, the reality is that those teams might have got away with it, unless they start at under 8 and accept that the next 10-20 years are very unlikely to yield anything, Offaly hurling will just die away.
There is no point complaining that the commitment levels are too high, you have to just join them in that commitment.
Having said that, I do also feel that players don't have much down time any longer and aren't able to enjoy themselves like they used to, that is a problem which needs to be addressed."
Paudie Butler was in Laois too and at the time they didnt exactly set the world on fire..I do know he is a very highly regarded coach etc..perhaps one can say he laid the groundwork, as Laois were in utter turmoil back around the time he came in and before that..one has to focus on commitment too I think, counties like Wexford have litterally a motor way to Dublin, and many in the southeast can commute to Dublin to better jobs etc. than from places like Offaly where you have to drive for 30 minutes or more to either get a train or get onto a good road that will take another half hour to get you to the motor way..as said in previous posts I know 2 or 3 young lads in Offaly working in the West etc. and they say they just dont have the commitment to drive up and back to training...every county has their non committers I know and Offaly are no different, except they are missed accutely in counties like Offaly..its all money money money in Offaly, Carroll Meats are long serving Sponsors and are pumping big money into Sponsorship but I think it may not be enough through no fault of theirs...I notice in Offaly now when a fellah reaches 16 or 17 and plays minor he is automatically "nabbed" by the county board to be coach at the GAA summer camps..I doubt if they are being paid much if anything..other counties advertise their summer camps and it is the county Senior Stars who are doing the coaching..in Offaly the county senior stars are held back to stand into presentations to the county board etc...apparently O'Connor park is our GAA HQ yet the faithful fields project is located in Kilcormac (nothing wrong with Kilcormac)..it probably is centre for most teams all over the county...

Fairplayalways (Offaly) - Posts: 1037 - 21/02/2017 13:45:47    1959146

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so is the likes of kilkenny handier to dublin too?wexford often train in enniscorthy,if you have to work till 5.30 in dublin it is definitely not an hour to get to training.
i hate to say it,but all i am hearing out of offaly is "everything else is wrong".too much commitment,playing county games in the wrong place,county board this and that.
unfortunately,it all comes back to what is going on at club level.
brian carroll has one hell of a job ahead of him in that role unfortunately.

perfect10 (Wexford) - Posts: 3929 - 21/02/2017 14:10:24    1959160

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Replying To perfect10:  "so is the likes of kilkenny handier to dublin too?wexford often train in enniscorthy,if you have to work till 5.30 in dublin it is definitely not an hour to get to training.
i hate to say it,but all i am hearing out of offaly is "everything else is wrong".too much commitment,playing county games in the wrong place,county board this and that.
unfortunately,it all comes back to what is going on at club level.
brian carroll has one hell of a job ahead of him in that role unfortunately."
Listen it's not easy for Offaly but more of a 'can do' attitude is needed. Every county big and small has challenges. For Limerick hurling rugby has and is a serious competitor and weve a county board who struggle to pull together. Where there's a will there's a way. Pay one good administrator good money and have a clear focus and then standards will rise.

bloodyban (Limerick) - Posts: 1710 - 21/02/2017 14:27:10    1959169

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Every county needs a full time hurling coach with part time hurling coaches and a plan in place like Wexford have or even Cavan or Mayo had to develop the game.

For most counties hurling development is like trying to throw muck at a wall and hope it sticks.
In a lot of counties they don't even bother throwing the muck for fear it might take hold!

valley84 (Westmeath) - Posts: 1903 - 21/02/2017 17:12:29    1959263

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one has to focus on commitment too I think, counties like Wexford have litterally a motor way to Dublin, and many in the southeast can commute to Dublin to better jobs etc. than from places like Offaly where you have to drive for 30 minutes or more to either get a train or get onto a good road that will take another half hour to get you to the motor way..as said in previous posts I know 2 or 3 young lads in Offaly working in the West etc. and they say they just dont have the commitment to drive up and back to training...every county has their non committers I know and Offaly are no different, except they are missed accutely in counties like Offaly..its all money money money in Offaly, Carroll Meats are long serving Sponsors and are pumping big money into Sponsorship but I think it may not be enough through no fault of theirs...I notice in Offaly now when a fellah reaches 16 or 17 and plays minor he is automatically "nabbed" by the county board to be coach at the GAA summer camps..I doubt if they are being paid much if anything..other counties advertise their summer camps and it is the county Senior Stars who are doing the coaching..in Offaly the county senior stars are held back to stand into presentations to the county board etc...apparently O'Connor park is our GAA HQ yet the faithful fields project is located in Kilcormac (nothing wrong with Kilcormac)..it probably is centre for most teams all over the county...

Fairplayalways (Offaly) - Posts:33 - 21/02/2017 13:45:47   

I'd agree with most of what you're saying, but as regards what I highlighted in your comment, here is some information from Google maps, with some of the most distant areas from Dublín, in both counties Offaly and Wexford.
(All times and distances mentioned are to Croke Park)

Offaly
Lusmagh GAA Club 146 Kms 2hrs1min
Moneygall 147kms 1hr54mins
Shannonbridge 148kms 1hr54mins

Wexford
Fethard-on-Sea 196kms 2hrs34mins

I've heard this mentioned before from a few friends in the midlands, "ahh sure Wexford is only down the road from Dublín...."
Well, unless you live in Gorey, its really not!

extranjero (Wexford) - Posts: 375 - 21/02/2017 18:57:47    1959309

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Replying To extranjero:  "one has to focus on commitment too I think, counties like Wexford have litterally a motor way to Dublin, and many in the southeast can commute to Dublin to better jobs etc. than from places like Offaly where you have to drive for 30 minutes or more to either get a train or get onto a good road that will take another half hour to get you to the motor way..as said in previous posts I know 2 or 3 young lads in Offaly working in the West etc. and they say they just dont have the commitment to drive up and back to training...every county has their non committers I know and Offaly are no different, except they are missed accutely in counties like Offaly..its all money money money in Offaly, Carroll Meats are long serving Sponsors and are pumping big money into Sponsorship but I think it may not be enough through no fault of theirs...I notice in Offaly now when a fellah reaches 16 or 17 and plays minor he is automatically "nabbed" by the county board to be coach at the GAA summer camps..I doubt if they are being paid much if anything..other counties advertise their summer camps and it is the county Senior Stars who are doing the coaching..in Offaly the county senior stars are held back to stand into presentations to the county board etc...apparently O'Connor park is our GAA HQ yet the faithful fields project is located in Kilcormac (nothing wrong with Kilcormac)..it probably is centre for most teams all over the county...

Fairplayalways (Offaly) - Posts:33 - 21/02/2017 13:45:47   

I'd agree with most of what you're saying, but as regards what I highlighted in your comment, here is some information from Google maps, with some of the most distant areas from Dublín, in both counties Offaly and Wexford.
(All times and distances mentioned are to Croke Park)

Offaly
Lusmagh GAA Club 146 Kms 2hrs1min
Moneygall 147kms 1hr54mins
Shannonbridge 148kms 1hr54mins

Wexford
Fethard-on-Sea 196kms 2hrs34mins

I've heard this mentioned before from a few friends in the midlands, "ahh sure Wexford is only down the road from Dublín...."
Well, unless you live in Gorey, its really not!"
point taken,,,I still maintain people will travel from South East to Dublin alot quicker/easier than leaving Shannonbridge Lusmagh(Offaly) to hit for Dublin..I know people do it..but going up and down for county training is a different matter...anyway..I think our ails go deeper than that in Offaly..

Fairplayalways (Offaly) - Posts: 1037 - 22/02/2017 11:05:24    1959499

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