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Very impressed with Offaly yesterday evening. 2-25 is a serious score no matter who you're up against & to do it under lights in Croker all the more pleasing. As for Dublin, despite all the talk of who's back, the team closely resembled a Ger Cunningham selection.

keeper7 (Longford) - Posts: 4088 - 28/01/2018 10:42:27    2071277

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Replying To keeper7:  "Very impressed with Offaly yesterday evening. 2-25 is a serious score no matter who you're up against & to do it under lights in Croker all the more pleasing. As for Dublin, despite all the talk of who's back, the team closely resembled a Ger Cunningham selection."
How did it closely resemble a cunningham selection, there were about 8 debutants...

Naive from Gilroy I would say but nothing like Cunningham.

hurlinspuds (Cork) - Posts: 1494 - 28/01/2018 16:20:12    2071358

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KK might already be a good bet for relegation given the Clare result - I would have expected clare to be relegated. What a tough division!

hurlinspuds (Cork) - Posts: 1494 - 28/01/2018 16:21:47    2071360

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impossible to say who could be relegated,but wins for clare and wexford would not have been expected.

perfect10 (Wexford) - Posts: 3929 - 28/01/2018 19:03:51    2071492

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Replying To hurlinspuds:  "How did it closely resemble a cunningham selection, there were about 8 debutants...

Naive from Gilroy I would say but nothing like Cunningham."
So Ger Cunningham didn't have a penchant for debutants?

keeper7 (Longford) - Posts: 4088 - 28/01/2018 19:12:57    2071510

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Replying To keeper7:  "So Ger Cunningham didn't have a penchant for debutants?"
So your point was that both managers gave debuts to a good few players?
Thanks for the insight. Didn't need to see the game to post that.

hurlinspuds (Cork) - Posts: 1494 - 28/01/2018 20:43:19    2071603

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My point was that for all the old guard who are supposed to be back in the squad Gilroy still picked a young inexperienced team alá Ger Cunningham? Comprendez?

keeper7 (Longford) - Posts: 4088 - 28/01/2018 21:22:15    2071632

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Replying To bennybunny:  "Well done Offaly. They can take confidence from the result. Little more unfortunately. The hurling season is farcical now. Dublin put out a shadow team. Don't want to ruin their buzz but I still think Offaly will lose all of their championship games. However, if they get some wins against other shadow teams in the league."
OFFALY WENT TO CROKE PARK AND HAMMERED WHAT WAS PUT IN FRONT OF THEM.I WOULD SAY DUBLIN ARE HARDLY IN THE PLACE OF PUTTING OUT SHADOW TEAMS BUT TIME WILL TELL WHO IS RIGHT.

jobber (Westmeath) - Posts: 1445 - 28/01/2018 22:03:49    2071659

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Replying To keeper7:  "Very impressed with Offaly yesterday evening. 2-25 is a serious score no matter who you're up against & to do it under lights in Croker all the more pleasing. As for Dublin, despite all the talk of who's back, the team closely resembled a Ger Cunningham selection."
First win at Croke Park since 2005 and first there in the league since 1991 so it was a massive result for Offaly but It's early days yet as they say and Dublin will be a different kettle of fish come championship.

PortInFaithful (Offaly) - Posts: 472 - 29/01/2018 15:45:10    2072019

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Replying To PortInFaithful:  "First win at Croke Park since 2005 and first there in the league since 1991 so it was a massive result for Offaly but It's early days yet as they say and Dublin will be a different kettle of fish come championship."
You cannot say that with any sort of confidence really though. For me, having Conal Keaney back in the squad, at 35, is not a good sign.
Yes they were missing the Cuala contingent, but for me, Offaly were streets ahead of Dublin on Saturday and I am not convinced, unless some of the footballers commit to the hurling, they will beat them come championship.
For me, the biggest thing about Offaly on Saturday night was the conditioning. They looked fit, conditioned, I remember when Liam Dunne took over Wexford the very first thing he focused on was s&c. The hurling followed, but if you haven't got the physical attributes, you aren't at the races.
I hope they can keep it up now.

Pinkie (Wexford) - Posts: 4100 - 29/01/2018 15:56:01    2072025

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Replying To Pinkie:  "You cannot say that with any sort of confidence really though. For me, having Conal Keaney back in the squad, at 35, is not a good sign.
Yes they were missing the Cuala contingent, but for me, Offaly were streets ahead of Dublin on Saturday and I am not convinced, unless some of the footballers commit to the hurling, they will beat them come championship.
For me, the biggest thing about Offaly on Saturday night was the conditioning. They looked fit, conditioned, I remember when Liam Dunne took over Wexford the very first thing he focused on was s&c. The hurling followed, but if you haven't got the physical attributes, you aren't at the races.
I hope they can keep it up now."
No you can't be sure but by taking into account of the lads they are missing I'm expecting a different Dublin animal this summer. Danny Sutcliffe, Liam Rushe and Peter Kelly - there's three All Stars to come back in yet and then the Cuala lads like Cian O'Callaghan and David Treacy and so on. Is Ryan O'Dwyer finished? Eoghan O'Donnell and Eamonn Dillon weren't playing the other night either. All these players can make a hell of a difference. It doesn't taking anything away from our victory though. Saturday night was a great boost for Offaly hurling and yes the biggest thing that stood out for me was the conditioning and work rate. I seen it for the first time this year against Kilkenny and I was blown away by their physicality and workrate. Damien Martin deserves tremendous credit but we've a long way to go yet.

PortInFaithful (Offaly) - Posts: 472 - 29/01/2018 16:37:09    2072052

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Replying To PortInFaithful:  "No you can't be sure but by taking into account of the lads they are missing I'm expecting a different Dublin animal this summer. Danny Sutcliffe, Liam Rushe and Peter Kelly - there's three All Stars to come back in yet and then the Cuala lads like Cian O'Callaghan and David Treacy and so on. Is Ryan O'Dwyer finished? Eoghan O'Donnell and Eamonn Dillon weren't playing the other night either. All these players can make a hell of a difference. It doesn't taking anything away from our victory though. Saturday night was a great boost for Offaly hurling and yes the biggest thing that stood out for me was the conditioning and work rate. I seen it for the first time this year against Kilkenny and I was blown away by their physicality and workrate. Damien Martin deserves tremendous credit but we've a long way to go yet."
Damien Martin?!?!

keeper7 (Longford) - Posts: 4088 - 29/01/2018 18:17:44    2072104

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Any idea why Sutcliffe wasn't playing? If I was Pat Gilroy I'd have him, Kelly & Joey Boland in a Dublin jersey again ASAP.

keeper7 (Longford) - Posts: 4088 - 29/01/2018 18:21:00    2072105

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Replying To keeper7:  "Damien Martin?!?!"
Sorry I mean the boss Kevin Martin. I mixed Kevin with Damien Fox and got another Offaly legend!!!

PortInFaithful (Offaly) - Posts: 472 - 29/01/2018 18:54:35    2072127

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Replying To PortInFaithful:  "No you can't be sure but by taking into account of the lads they are missing I'm expecting a different Dublin animal this summer. Danny Sutcliffe, Liam Rushe and Peter Kelly - there's three All Stars to come back in yet and then the Cuala lads like Cian O'Callaghan and David Treacy and so on. Is Ryan O'Dwyer finished? Eoghan O'Donnell and Eamonn Dillon weren't playing the other night either. All these players can make a hell of a difference. It doesn't taking anything away from our victory though. Saturday night was a great boost for Offaly hurling and yes the biggest thing that stood out for me was the conditioning and work rate. I seen it for the first time this year against Kilkenny and I was blown away by their physicality and workrate. Damien Martin deserves tremendous credit but we've a long way to go yet."
there is still no guarantees that they are still all-stars though.i am delighted for offaly,but they need to keep it up versus limerick on sunday,this is a golden opportunity for offaly to be the surprise package of 1b.limerick will be without their na piarsiagh contingent.
if the wheels come off at some stage,well so be it keep the heads up and keep going.believe me,it is what i always say our footballers need to do and what our hurlers had to do when they were at their lowest ebb.
the team on saturday,while i didnt see all the match,went a long way to debunk the "off the beer since tuesday" famous quote from the past,i dont know who said it but i know it was an offaly hurler!

perfect10 (Wexford) - Posts: 3929 - 29/01/2018 19:18:42    2072138

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Replying To PortInFaithful:  "Sorry I mean the boss Kevin Martin. I mixed Kevin with Damien Fox and got another Offaly legend!!!"
We had the good fortune to have Damien Fox involved with our county minors & U21s about 29 years ago.

keeper7 (Longford) - Posts: 4088 - 29/01/2018 19:48:18    2072151

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Replying To perfect10:  "there is still no guarantees that they are still all-stars though.i am delighted for offaly,but they need to keep it up versus limerick on sunday,this is a golden opportunity for offaly to be the surprise package of 1b.limerick will be without their na piarsiagh contingent.
if the wheels come off at some stage,well so be it keep the heads up and keep going.believe me,it is what i always say our footballers need to do and what our hurlers had to do when they were at their lowest ebb.
the team on saturday,while i didnt see all the match,went a long way to debunk the "off the beer since tuesday" famous quote from the past,i dont know who said it but i know it was an offaly hurler!"
Well Limerick will also be missing their center back, Declan Hannon, and Kyle Hayes, probably the best young prospect in the county, and star of the recent successful Under 21 Team, so Offaly have agreat chance.

Oldtourman (Limerick) - Posts: 4317 - 29/01/2018 20:05:10    2072157

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Replying To perfect10:  "there is still no guarantees that they are still all-stars though.i am delighted for offaly,but they need to keep it up versus limerick on sunday,this is a golden opportunity for offaly to be the surprise package of 1b.limerick will be without their na piarsiagh contingent.
if the wheels come off at some stage,well so be it keep the heads up and keep going.believe me,it is what i always say our footballers need to do and what our hurlers had to do when they were at their lowest ebb.
the team on saturday,while i didnt see all the match,went a long way to debunk the "off the beer since tuesday" famous quote from the past,i dont know who said it but i know it was an offaly hurler!"
It's not known who the Offaly hurler was that said that quote. It's meant to be from before a Leinster hurling final against Kilkenny-possibly 1995.

PortInFaithful (Offaly) - Posts: 472 - 30/01/2018 09:49:39    2072285

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Replying To Oldtourman:  "Well Limerick will also be missing their center back, Declan Hannon, and Kyle Hayes, probably the best young prospect in the county, and star of the recent successful Under 21 Team, so Offaly have agreat chance."
Hannon and Hayes are big losses but you still have strong half backs in Byrnes and Morrissey. Limerick will have a much more potent forward line than Dublin had out on Saturday. So will be a whole new challenge for a rejuvenated Offaly defence. I wouldn't be surprised if Martin makes a few changes. Players that didn't play at the weekend out 2017 captain Sean Ryan, Enda Grogan who was probably out best defender last year, Derek Morkan has still got something to offer and young lads like Conor Molloy, Conor Doughan, James Gorman and Padraic Guinan.

PortInFaithful (Offaly) - Posts: 472 - 30/01/2018 09:59:09    2072289

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Replying To keeper7:  "We had the good fortune to have Damien Fox involved with our county minors & U21s about 29 years ago."
They call him the Gift.

PortInFaithful (Offaly) - Posts: 472 - 30/01/2018 10:07:04    2072294

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