Offaly chairman: we must expect success
December 20, 2013
Paschal Guinan, Ballycumber won €20,000 in the Offaly GAA lotto draw and he was presented with his cheque in the Club Faithful Supporters Zone during the announcement of Carroll's Ham sponsorship renewal of Offaly GAA. Pictured l to r is; John Comerford (Managing Director Carroll's Ham), Andy Gallagher (Offaly GAA Assistant Treasurer), Paschal Guinan and Padraig Boland (Offaly GAA Chairperson).
Picture: Jeff Harvey/HR Photo
Since the heady days of the 1980s and 1990s, Offaly's GAA fortunes have nosedived, but Boland is convinced the Faithful County can regain its former glory.
In his address to annual convention, he asked: "Can we realistically expect to return to the steps of the Hogan Stand on All-Ireland final day?
"Of course we can. And we must expect that! We owe it to men like Liam O'Connor (who passed away recently) who took on huge odds and through commitment and hard work lessened those odds annually - from first round defeat to All-Ireland glory once more step each year.
"We owe it to them - and to ourselves - not to eternally remain in memory mode, to think of our future, to invest in our future.
"There are young Offaly men - some still only children - in our midst with the potential skill of a Tony McTague, a Matt Connor or a Vinny Claffey / of a Brian Whelahan, a Johnny Dooley or a John Troy and others out there with the character of a Horan, a Fleury or a Hanamy / a Furlong, a Mick Ryan or a Paddy McCormack.
"Our task is to build on that innate character, a character that is part of the Offaly DNA." Tweet
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