Donal Óg Cusack has labelled "influencers" in Offaly as "voices of regression" following the county's relegation to Division 2 of the Allianz Hurling League.

In questioning the Faithful County's status as a traditional hurling power on RTE's League Sunday, the former Cork goalkeeper suggested that the county's demise had a lot to do with influential figures not being prepared to move with the times.

"Some of the loudest voices, and what you might consider the biggest influencers in Offaly over the last number of years, when it comes to tactical innovations they always seem to be the voices of regression," he said.

"If there's been tactical innovations, some of the loudest voices in Offaly were always resisting those tactical innovations. I think those voices of regression, if they were given another brain, they'd be twice the voice of regression."

Cusack, whose comments have caused quite a stir on Twitter, also noted how Offaly haven't had a winning tradition outside of the glory years of the 1980s and 1990s.  

"Every game for Offaly seems to carry the 'make or break' headline," he added.

 A lot of it is based on them being a 'traditional county'. But what is the tradition of Offaly? 

"Outside of the two decades of the 1980s and 90s, Offaly have only one Leinster U21 title. They've achieved zero in every other decade.

"It gives me no pleasure - I always associate Offaly with great hurling and that lovely, unique style - but I could be argued that Offaly have gone back to their mean and what has been their tradition over the last hundred years. 

"The second thing I'd say is, the pool is very small. I'd say Imokilly, who won the Cork title last year, have a bigger pick than Offaly."

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