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for once I luckily I opted to stay at home...it sounded a woeful performance in the 2nd half...what is it with Offaly footballers..surely to God a team can manage more than 10 points..most other teams top scorers now kick that (10 points) including frees..consistently we are not scoring much in these league games..often we are the lowest scorers each round of the league...some will say ah sure Clare only got 1-8 against Derry or what ever..but Clare will come out against any weaker team in their group and score 1-15 or similar..Offaly will beat the weak team 0-12 to 0-08 and we be saying "a win is a win" etc...one thing not having the players to compete with the top teams, but the players we have dont appear to be even competitive at Division 3 (or 4) level... Fairplayalways (Offaly) - Posts: 1034 - 06/02/2017 22:34:40 1953080 Link 0 |
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It was a poor game. Offaly were bad & the referee was worse (for both teams). Offaly kicked so many scoring chances into the Longford 'keeper. keeper7 (Longford) - Posts: 4088 - 07/02/2017 02:07:50 1953127 Link 0 |
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would you not get more reaction on the offaly or longford page?i doubt many neutrals travelled to the game.......... perfect10 (Wexford) - Posts: 3929 - 07/02/2017 11:37:28 1953219 Link 0 |
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well if Roscommon or Galway and other counties who have won nothing since Offaly won who are not exactly setting the world on fire in recent times can create a post in the mainstream posts..why not Offaly (or Longford for that matter)..
Fairplayalways (Offaly) - Posts: 1034 - 07/02/2017 13:46:21 1953275 Link 1 |
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Offaly were awful in the second half, no fitness, sharpness or gameplan. Longford should have won by more. Still don't know what O'Connor did to be sent off but the game was over by then. I think we should be ok as we have 4 home games left but drastic improvements are needed The state of GAA in the county is worrying. Soccer and rugby are overtaking it and the dropout of guys in their mid to late 20s is worrying. Looking at the local papers you can see plenty of guys of that age playing soccer and rugby but fewer and fewer playing GAA. The county board need to change their opinion of what is important and start concentrating on developing games. Development squads in hurling with no managers, despite having success last year. The general public have little to no interest in the county teams. We have a double header this weekend and I can guarantee there will be less than 1,000 Offaly people at it. Offaly GAA is dying and I'm not sure if it can be revived tonorio (Offaly) - Posts: 608 - 07/02/2017 16:30:29 1953338 Link 0 |
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your spot on...I over heard two county players (u21's at least this year not sure if they will be Senior..doubt it) but they were talking constantly about the bets they won on the rugby Saturday on first Irish player to score and what have you...I dont know..we have slipped so far back..I mean it is worrying...to be honest, while I know I am bucking the trend saying this, I dont agree with all this gym training and weights etc either..its MEANT to be an amateur sport for heavens sake..is 3 or 4 nights a week training not commitment enough??..without going to the gym in between and eating this that and the other...I mean its gone to hell if you ask me..I know thats the bar that set, but I know 2 or 3 who have opted out as they dont have the time/commitment at county level, and I have to say I admire their honesty..2 of them are working away from Offaly etc...it really isnt for everyone either..Ime sure Dublin have these "opt outs" to except they have a que waiting to replace those players..Offaly dont...I think our golden era was a bit lucky in that by beating Kerry was the pinacle of the early 80's team..Kerry only lost in 82 & 83 as well and came back in 84,85 & 86 and won 3 more so Kerry would have probably beaten that 82 team later mid 80's as Dublin beat Offaly and still coulndt beat Kerry..the hurlers got a good squad but bare in mind it was Wexford in alot of the games beat Kilkenny and then we beat Wexford..so with the exception of 94, 95 and 98(which was freakish to be honest..thanks Babs) Kilkenny were in big decline after 82 and 83 and Wexford were an old team so Offaly filled that void...Cork marked our card in 1984 I always say...most lower counties now have the big name managers in and are doing the same as Offaly if not more...thats how the are competing with Offaly...the rest are streets ahead..whether by right means or not, thats the way it is...
Fairplayalways (Offaly) - Posts: 1034 - 08/02/2017 10:37:24 1953551 Link 1 |
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I don't recall a fixture at that location before. Would need to avoid hitting the woodwork down there, I'd imagine.
Pope_Benedict (Galway) - Posts: 3422 - 08/02/2017 10:51:39 1953559 Link 0 |
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Offaly county teams have fallen away alarmingly alright. I think Brian Cody had a role in the hurling bit of it. From '99 onwards, Cody built his monster, and Offaly died away in the same stretch. KK inflicted a number of unmerciful hammerings on Offaly & Wexford in the early to mid noughties, and discouraged both of those counties in the process. It's a bit similar for Galway hurling since entering the Leinster championship, as the KK challenge is usually a bridge too far, but at least we often keep it pucked out to them, which perhaps helps to avoid the level of hopelessness that Offaly & Wexford were visited with from Cody's regime.
Pope_Benedict (Galway) - Posts: 3422 - 08/02/2017 11:37:45 1953573 Link 0 |
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Interesting thread...the piece about fellows playing soccer could be used in a number of counties including my own , if fellows are near the hurling in limerick they will make the sacrifices and burst themselves for a number of years but in football there are a number of players that could well be playing with Limerick but wont give the commitment...its a lot easier have a few pints the weekend , play a bit of junior soccer Sunday as opposed to 3/4 nights a week training and you have no life...its gone mad the professionalism required . PS The standard of soccer in West Limerick at least is rubbish bar 2 or 3 teams and way off where it was 20 years ago , not alone could you drink a few pints the night before, you could probably drink a few pints before the match these days but fellows seem happy with this lack of commitment and dropping standards in skill levels . hurler32 (Limerick) - Posts: 867 - 08/02/2017 11:45:09 1953577 Link 0 |
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The standard of soccer and rugby in Tullamore in particular has increased an awful lot in the last 5 years and they are both playing good standards. Similar in Edenderry in soccer and Birr has produced 3 or 4 underage rugby international in that span too. I was involved with a football team last year. We played our last league game in April and had no championship game until the end of July by which time most of our lads were back playing soccer or rugby. How do you keep interest up? And we were only a junior team. GAA is falling further and further behind. For example if anyone was to name the top 20 hurlers in the county at least 10 aren't in with the county team. And that isn't to disrespect the players that do go in, I know for a fact they put in as much effort as the best in the country. I know county players that are training 7 nights a week whether that is on their own or with the county. They have terrible support structures behind them and a county board that wants them out of the championship as soon as possible to save costs tonorio (Offaly) - Posts: 608 - 08/02/2017 13:49:38 1953622 Link 0 |
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Its a long way from 1981 when Offaly beat Galway in the Hurling All Ireland, or seamus Darbys famous day in 82...not to mention Offalys victory in 1994, there was Offaly heads everywhere those days , where are they all gone?? hurler32 (Limerick) - Posts: 867 - 08/02/2017 14:12:37 1953629 Link 0 |
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another thing we need to move on from is this"hall of fame" lark etc..by times I think we dwell too much on the past...fair dues great ambassadors etc. but wheeling them out year after year after year...I dont hear any other county at it..i think the local championship should move on with or without the county players..thats what your panel if for...leave it up to the player if he wants to either play with club or county..year after year we see players dropping out as they wont get games while the whole thing is held up over one or two players..is it better win with players available than waiting for your "top brass" to return and win it that way....there is too much emphasis on winning at club level, most win then and thats it "ah we have won the county now we are not too pushed about the club championship"....we have all heard that from players up and down the country and county!.
Fairplayalways (Offaly) - Posts: 1034 - 08/02/2017 21:36:31 1953821 Link 0 |
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To be fair to the likes of Rhode , if there was a rugby type all Ireland club league would they be in division 1 with st Vincent's , crossmaglen , dr crokes etc hurler32 (Limerick) - Posts: 867 - 09/02/2017 09:45:30 1953890 Link 0 |
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there is no sadder story in the gaa than the demise of offaly,but are the former players living on past glories and yarns at the bar or are they really doing what is needed to get offaly back up there? perfect10 (Wexford) - Posts: 3929 - 09/02/2017 14:56:28 1954016 Link 0 |
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No they would not. Rhode are champions in Offaly, but the standard is not great at present. When Rhode eventually lose, there is not much underage talent coming up, so they might be down for a while. Ferbane could replace them, they have a good underage set up. Edenderry might also be in the reckoning if they got their act together. Offaly were poor in Longford, they had no threat up front. Unless they pick up a few wins, relegation is a possibility. . thelongridge (Offaly) - Posts: 1741 - 09/02/2017 15:09:34 1954026 Link 0 |
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They had no threat up front coz McNamee wasn't playing. Bernard Allen was lively too actually.
keeper7 (Longford) - Posts: 4088 - 09/02/2017 23:14:50 1954230 Link 0 |
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Bernard Allen and Ken Garry, in goal, were our best players. There were 5 other forwards playing, but Allen was up there on his own most of the time. What were the other forwards doing? It's a bit lazy, to think Niall Mac will solve our attacking problems on his own. thelongridge (Offaly) - Posts: 1741 - 10/02/2017 12:54:42 1954351 Link 0 |
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He is a top class forward though.
ziggy32001 (Meath) - Posts: 8354 - 10/02/2017 14:42:58 1954407 Link 0 |
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Offaly were playing with just two men in the forwards. Some good ball was kicked into them but they had very little support when they got possession there. keeper7 (Longford) - Posts: 4088 - 10/02/2017 16:29:50 1954454 Link 0 |
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as I wasnt at the game from what I am reading here is it any wonder they were beaten..2 forwards up front...sure thats a vote of confidence in the opposition straight away...one wonders where or what all these tactics represent...Brian Cody said one time you can have all the plans you want but when a game starts its 15 against 15 man to man and thats the way it should be...a simple rule to fix the swamping of defences with players would be at a rule to say at least 4 players must be in your offensive end of the pitch at all times..that allows two drop back with the midfielders to help out..I can hear it already "how are you going to police that"..very simple, bring in a free kick from half way if its not adhered to, it wont take teams long to learn how to operate it..this blanket defense and short kick outs are destroying the game...I often thought too that the kick out must be kicked in the direction of the half way line only (in otherwords no little tap out to your corner back to commence play)...
Fairplayalways (Offaly) - Posts: 1034 - 10/02/2017 23:47:55 1954573 Link 0 |