National Forum

Galway v Offaly (Hurling)

(Oldest Posts First) - Go To The Latest Post


Replying To Damothedub:  "Cocky , seriously no one knows much about Galway as always , off down to Portlaoise challenge match v Clare combined 17s and minors , 7 of our starting line up on Sunday in the 17s final have started for the minor team in championship this year .
Kilkenny big , strong and skilful as you'd expect this year having seen them , one son of a DJ Carey involved also"
Only messing Damo - just curious as to why/when they would be playing together again!

The_DOC (Galway) - Posts: 710 - 15/06/2017 13:59:49    1999944

Link

Replying To The_DOC:  "Only messing Damo - just curious as to why/when they would be playing together again!"
It was a weird year Dublin coaching staff noticed that lads born in 2000 were a strong bunch compared to 1999 , thus a devious plan was formed , one panel containing 25 u17 and 20 u18 , all training together and available for minor with the 25 the panel for u17 . Result has been a core of 7-9 u17s lads play on both panels

Damothedub (Dublin) - Posts: 5193 - 15/06/2017 15:18:47    1999979

Link

Replying To perfect10:  "tonorio,as we learned in wexford,you can give the top jobs to the top men but for maybe 5-10 years you have to get the top men in charge of the lower teams.
we had all ireland winners take over development squads,etc.
i take no joy in saying this but unless offaly get their act together soon,they will be in the christy ring cup.as i have seen at under age against wexford,there is nothing coming through either.but you have to start with u8 and u10 and work up."
Didn't Offaly win the U17 Celtic Challenge last year?

keeper7 (Longford) - Posts: 4088 - 15/06/2017 15:28:08    1999989

Link

Replying To keeper7:  "Didn't Offaly win the U17 Celtic Challenge last year?"
There's about 6 or 7 different leagues in the Celtic Challenge and the strong/big hurling counties will have regional teams in it e.g. our U17's beat Cork City there on Saturday in Div3, so Offaly may have won a division last year, but that in all likelihood would have been the whole of Offaly vrs a region or selection from some other county.

Never a truer word was spoken/written as you need to start with the U8's and U10's. That's where development really starts in earnest.

bricktop (Down) - Posts: 2503 - 15/06/2017 16:20:10    2000013

Link

Replying To bricktop:  "There's about 6 or 7 different leagues in the Celtic Challenge and the strong/big hurling counties will have regional teams in it e.g. our U17's beat Cork City there on Saturday in Div3, so Offaly may have won a division last year, but that in all likelihood would have been the whole of Offaly vrs a region or selection from some other county.

Never a truer word was spoken/written as you need to start with the U8's and U10's. That's where development really starts in earnest."
Corn Michael Hogan (Celtic Challenge Division 1 Final) Offaly 4-10 Kilkenny South 3-12. Kilkenny was split in two & Offaly beat their strongest team in the final played in Nowlan Park.

keeper7 (Longford) - Posts: 4088 - 15/06/2017 19:05:44    2000081

Link

celtic challenge,well wexford only send a 3rd rate team to that thing and 2 different teams

perfect10 (Wexford) - Posts: 3929 - 16/06/2017 08:12:21    2000202

Link

Replying To perfect10:  "celtic challenge,well wexford only send a 3rd rate team to that thing and 2 different teams"
Pathetic comment about a completion that encourages further participation for lads not quite at county level , it goes without saying that the lads are not the cream of the county at minor level as that's one of the criteria for actually making the squad , you should educate yourself on the concept of the completion before making disparaging remarks about 16-17 school kids

Damothedub (Dublin) - Posts: 5193 - 16/06/2017 08:54:15    2000212

Link

Replying To Damothedub:  "Pathetic comment about a completion that encourages further participation for lads not quite at county level , it goes without saying that the lads are not the cream of the county at minor level as that's one of the criteria for actually making the squad , you should educate yourself on the concept of the completion before making disparaging remarks about 16-17 school kids"
Good man Damo!

Ah surley its competitions like these that we've been crying out for for years. Anything that encourages kids to hurl and also develops those (outside of inter-county) can only be a good thing. It might just be the thing that drive one kid on to further things....

The_DOC (Galway) - Posts: 710 - 16/06/2017 09:20:55    2000217

Link

The 80s & 90s were a fluke, offaly hurling was nothing before then and it's gone back to nothing again.

Pretty astounded at this comment really.

In 1980 they won the Leinster championship, winning the final against Kilkenny 3-17 to 5-10. If any team put up that score today it would win many championship games. Unlike other counties (my own for example) they were not happy just winning Leinster & came back the year after to win the All-Ireland.

All Ireland wins over Galway in 81 & 85, Limerick in 94 & Kilkenny in 98. Beat Cork in the semi in 2000. The only thing missing from their record is a championship win over Tipp.

The team of the mid 90's was a class outfit. Cregan made them a machine. The Leinster finals of 94 & 95 they simply demolished Kilkenny. DJ Carey ran riot in the semi final of the NHL when he took Kevin Kinihan to the cleaners but a few weeks later Offaly kept Kilkenny at 2-5, a tiny score.

The game that started their decline in my opinion was the All-Ireland final in 2000. After 1998 when Kilkenny beat them in the Leinster final but they beat Kilkenny in the All-Ireland final, the same scenario was setup for 2000. Kilkenny were under massive pressure having lost the All-Ireland finals of 1998 and 1999 & Cody's job was on the line. That pressure resulted in a 13 point win for the Cats & Offaly's old guard began to retire. Since then their county side hasn't been the same.

I don't see them getting close to Galway, but their 80's & 90's were no fluke. It was the result of a lot of hard work and promotion of genuine hurling skills which so many of their players had in abundance.

slayer (Limerick) - Posts: 6480 - 16/06/2017 09:36:41    2000222

Link

Replying To Damothedub:  "Pathetic comment about a completion that encourages further participation for lads not quite at county level , it goes without saying that the lads are not the cream of the county at minor level as that's one of the criteria for actually making the squad , you should educate yourself on the concept of the completion before making disparaging remarks about 16-17 school kids"
i never said it wasnt,and you are dead right,but my point was i would not be pointing to it as a barometer of success,because that it definitely is not and you are codding yourself if you think it is.

perfect10 (Wexford) - Posts: 3929 - 16/06/2017 10:29:23    2000247

Link

Replying To perfect10:  "i never said it wasnt,and you are dead right,but my point was i would not be pointing to it as a barometer of success,because that it definitely is not and you are codding yourself if you think it is."
I know its not the barometer of success that measurement is confined to minor final and special under 17 tournament this year , it is however a barometer of strength in depth

Damothedub (Dublin) - Posts: 5193 - 16/06/2017 10:52:57    2000256

Link

Replying To Damothedub:  "I know its not the barometer of success that measurement is confined to minor final and special under 17 tournament this year , it is however a barometer of strength in depth"
its hardly much of a barometer of strength and depth if your minor team is being bet off the park!!

perfect10 (Wexford) - Posts: 3929 - 16/06/2017 11:23:39    2000265

Link

Replying To slayer:  "The 80s & 90s were a fluke, offaly hurling was nothing before then and it's gone back to nothing again.

Pretty astounded at this comment really.

In 1980 they won the Leinster championship, winning the final against Kilkenny 3-17 to 5-10. If any team put up that score today it would win many championship games. Unlike other counties (my own for example) they were not happy just winning Leinster & came back the year after to win the All-Ireland.

All Ireland wins over Galway in 81 & 85, Limerick in 94 & Kilkenny in 98. Beat Cork in the semi in 2000. The only thing missing from their record is a championship win over Tipp.

The team of the mid 90's was a class outfit. Cregan made them a machine. The Leinster finals of 94 & 95 they simply demolished Kilkenny. DJ Carey ran riot in the semi final of the NHL when he took Kevin Kinihan to the cleaners but a few weeks later Offaly kept Kilkenny at 2-5, a tiny score.

The game that started their decline in my opinion was the All-Ireland final in 2000. After 1998 when Kilkenny beat them in the Leinster final but they beat Kilkenny in the All-Ireland final, the same scenario was setup for 2000. Kilkenny were under massive pressure having lost the All-Ireland finals of 1998 and 1999 & Cody's job was on the line. That pressure resulted in a 13 point win for the Cats & Offaly's old guard began to retire. Since then their county side hasn't been the same.

I don't see them getting close to Galway, but their 80's & 90's were no fluke. It was the result of a lot of hard work and promotion of genuine hurling skills which so many of their players had in abundance."
Very good tribute to Offaly hurling. In 1980 Offaly came from nowhere to beat Kilkenny in the Leinster final, and 2 All Ireland's. Kilkenny native Dermot Healy played a key role with that Offaly team.
The team of the 1990s was based on 3 All Ireland minor winning teams producing some excellent hurlers.
While 2 titles were won, Offaly should have won more All Ireland's in that era.
The Presentation Brothers, Birr taught many of that side, their absence is missed in Offaly hurling today.
The problem is that while Offaly were successful in the '90s, the underage scene was not as fruitful apart from under 21 and minor provincial titles won in 2000. Nothing since.
Individually, excellent hurlers like Joe Bergin, Shane Dooley, Rory Hanniffy, and Brian Carroll played for Offaly on recent and current Offaly teams,


Galway are favourites on Sunday, I am hoping for a big performance from Offaly.

thelongridge (Offaly) - Posts: 1751 - 16/06/2017 12:21:34    2000299

Link

Replying To perfect10:  "its hardly much of a barometer of strength and depth if your minor team is being bet off the park!!"
Strength in depth is that tipp Galway , Kilkenny TWO sides this year are the strongest celtic challenge teams this year which bit ddo you not get ??????????
Or are you a Jack Russell who cant let go of the bone

Damothedub (Dublin) - Posts: 5193 - 16/06/2017 13:20:11    2000327

Link

Tipperary and Kilkenny have just 2 celtic teams whereas the likes of Galway, Limerick and Cork have three. Why is that?

bloodyban (Limerick) - Posts: 1710 - 16/06/2017 13:58:15    2000348

Link

It is probably unfair to ruin a thread about the match with a side discussion, but if people think Offaly winning the celtic challenge with a full strength team, up against teams consisting of players who aren't even part of the minor setups in their respective counties, is a sign of progress they are deluded.
Progress for Offaly can only be judged at first of all Tony Forristal, then minor (1st team), then U21 level. Making a minor final, or putting it up to Wexford, Kilkenny, Dublin in underage has to be their starting point in terms of a measure of progress. Not winning some mickey mouse tournament against diluted teams. That is not progress and is akin to Antrim winning the Ulster championship.
Slayer, my understanding is that the Celtic Challenge you can put as many teams as you want in it. In Wexford, we have 2 teams, Wexford Purple and Wexford Gold, made up of non-county players. It is a good idea overall, but not how I would be judging any team to be fair lads.

Pinkie (Wexford) - Posts: 4100 - 16/06/2017 14:09:05    2000354

Link

Replying To Pinkie:  "It is probably unfair to ruin a thread about the match with a side discussion, but if people think Offaly winning the celtic challenge with a full strength team, up against teams consisting of players who aren't even part of the minor setups in their respective counties, is a sign of progress they are deluded.
Progress for Offaly can only be judged at first of all Tony Forristal, then minor (1st team), then U21 level. Making a minor final, or putting it up to Wexford, Kilkenny, Dublin in underage has to be their starting point in terms of a measure of progress. Not winning some mickey mouse tournament against diluted teams. That is not progress and is akin to Antrim winning the Ulster championship.
Slayer, my understanding is that the Celtic Challenge you can put as many teams as you want in it. In Wexford, we have 2 teams, Wexford Purple and Wexford Gold, made up of non-county players. It is a good idea overall, but not how I would be judging any team to be fair lads."
As far as I understand for the Celtic Challenge you can't use players on the minor panel or doing state exams so to say it was a full strength offaly team is not true. I know Laois and Westmeath have only 1 team so I'd say it would have to do with numbers hurling at a good level more than anything else

tonorio (Offaly) - Posts: 609 - 16/06/2017 16:57:09    2000426

Link

Replying To Pinkie:  "It is probably unfair to ruin a thread about the match with a side discussion, but if people think Offaly winning the celtic challenge with a full strength team, up against teams consisting of players who aren't even part of the minor setups in their respective counties, is a sign of progress they are deluded.
Progress for Offaly can only be judged at first of all Tony Forristal, then minor (1st team), then U21 level. Making a minor final, or putting it up to Wexford, Kilkenny, Dublin in underage has to be their starting point in terms of a measure of progress. Not winning some mickey mouse tournament against diluted teams. That is not progress and is akin to Antrim winning the Ulster championship.
Slayer, my understanding is that the Celtic Challenge you can put as many teams as you want in it. In Wexford, we have 2 teams, Wexford Purple and Wexford Gold, made up of non-county players. It is a good idea overall, but not how I would be judging any team to be fair lads."
As far as I understand for the Celtic Challenge you can't use players on the minor panel or doing state exams so to say it was a full strength offaly team is not true. I know Laois and Westmeath have only 1 team so I'd say it would have to do with numbers hurling at a good level more than anything else

tonorio (Offaly) - Posts: 609 - 16/06/2017 16:59:20    2000427

Link

Replying To bloodyban:  "Tipperary and Kilkenny have just 2 celtic teams whereas the likes of Galway, Limerick and Cork have three. Why is that?"
Very interesting question.

What I have noticed with the Celtic Challenge teams is the counties with big populations like Cork, Galway, Limerick tends to go with a city team and a county team.

I am guessing Galway have a city team, an East Galway team and a West Galway team. If I am right I assume the rational would be to help promote hurling in West Galway where football is stronger. Also, there could be some really talented hurlers in West Galway who could go unnoticed otherwise.

Tipp is easy enough to split into North and South. Kilkenny goes with City and County. It is probably a demographics thing.

I'm only guessing with the above.

Killarney.87 (Tipperary) - Posts: 2513 - 16/06/2017 17:49:08    2000439

Link

the fortunes of offaly hurling were held back for many years by a very physical and bruising local club scene.the offaly senior hurlers were very close to beating kilkenny in 1969 losing 3.9 to 0.16 in the leinster final. several final appearances at underage level until finally offaly won the u21 in 1978.that team were the basis of the break through team of 1980. it can be argued that it needed the "neutral" face of dermot healy (aided ably by andy gallagher ) to gell the various factions together!! from there hurlng took off and birr school under brother denis won all irelands and the minors won 3 in a row minors. offaly were at or near the top then for 20 years culminating in that defeat to kilkenny in 2000.since then the graph has gone steadly downwards which brings no joy to any hurling people. lets hope theres another rich vein of talent coming through soon in offaly..the more competitive teams the better..

kavvie (Clare) - Posts: 505 - 16/06/2017 18:49:02    2000459

Link