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Replying To johnocarroll17: "And Wexford had a 33% win ratio ......." And a 0% loss ratio.
Viking66 (Wexford) - Posts: 11818 - 22/02/2021 00:21:56
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Replying To johnocarroll17: "And Wexford had a 33% win ratio ......." Well a 20% loss ratio. Loss to Tipp was the only Championship loss in 2019.
Viking66 (Wexford) - Posts: 11818 - 22/02/2021 08:08:55
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Replying To johnocarroll17: "And Wexford had a 33% win ratio ......." Sorry lost 1 out of 6 so a 16.66% loss ratio.
Viking66 (Wexford) - Posts: 11818 - 22/02/2021 08:10:12
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I see the post gone a bit off topic slightly, for what its worth, people say from 2000 onwards Offaly went into decline..Offaly were well beaten in 1998 Leister final 3-10 to 1-11 (but Kilkenny were well on top)
1999: Kilkenny 5-14 to Offalys 1-16
2000: Kilkenny 2-21 to Offalys 1-13
2000: All Ireland final: Kilkenny 5-15 to Offalys 1-14
Kikenny not only destroyed Offaly in some of them games, but other counties in other rounds of them championships...and we thought then that those Kilkenny teams were "ruthless" and while they were not as sucessful titles wise as the 4 in a row team from 2006-2009, they were an exceptional good team, with Phlly Larkin, Eamon Kennedy, Peter Barry, Brian McEvoy, Charie Carter and DJ and Andy Comrerford just to name a few of the players around those teams...Offaly were in decline yes, but the writing was on the wall for me after the 1998 Leinster final (we were a beaten docket in all fairness, and the Gods intervened to get us an All Irleand, but to be fair we did hurl well in the second half of that final, but we must remember things didnt appear to be good in Kilkenny prior to Cody coming in 1999, and in 98 they just fell away (DJ putting a penalty over the bar in that final was very very strange) Offaly fans might choose not to remember these things but we were fortunate in 1998, yes we took it with both hands, fortune hasnt been around Offaly since...23 years since our last All Ireland and we can win it this year....1999 Kilkenny had Cody at the helm, and revenge was ruthless and personally I think destroyed Offaly hurling...not his fault I know, but some of those hidings ended with the full time whistle, they just couldnt beat you by enough...
Fairplayalways (Offaly) - Posts: 1034 - 22/02/2021 21:29:23
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Replying To Fairplayalways: "I see the post gone a bit off topic slightly, for what its worth, people say from 2000 onwards Offaly went into decline..Offaly were well beaten in 1998 Leister final 3-10 to 1-11 (but Kilkenny were well on top)
1999: Kilkenny 5-14 to Offalys 1-16
2000: Kilkenny 2-21 to Offalys 1-13
2000: All Ireland final: Kilkenny 5-15 to Offalys 1-14
Kikenny not only destroyed Offaly in some of them games, but other counties in other rounds of them championships...and we thought then that those Kilkenny teams were "ruthless" and while they were not as sucessful titles wise as the 4 in a row team from 2006-2009, they were an exceptional good team, with Phlly Larkin, Eamon Kennedy, Peter Barry, Brian McEvoy, Charie Carter and DJ and Andy Comrerford just to name a few of the players around those teams...Offaly were in decline yes, but the writing was on the wall for me after the 1998 Leinster final (we were a beaten docket in all fairness, and the Gods intervened to get us an All Irleand, but to be fair we did hurl well in the second half of that final, but we must remember things didnt appear to be good in Kilkenny prior to Cody coming in 1999, and in 98 they just fell away (DJ putting a penalty over the bar in that final was very very strange) Offaly fans might choose not to remember these things but we were fortunate in 1998, yes we took it with both hands, fortune hasnt been around Offaly since...23 years since our last All Ireland and we can win it this year....1999 Kilkenny had Cody at the helm, and revenge was ruthless and personally I think destroyed Offaly hurling...not his fault I know, but some of those hidings ended with the full time whistle, they just couldnt beat you by enough..." I remember listening to 1 of Brian Carroll's podcasts ( might have been with Brian Whelahan) and Carroll was speculating that maybe the fact Offaly had a 2nd chance if they lost maybe was a factor in those poor leinster final showings, they were known for poor league form too and saved their best for knockout, don't know if that summary would be completely accurate.
bostonredsox (Wexford) - Posts: 4368 - 22/02/2021 23:41:50
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Replying To Fairplayalways: "I see the post gone a bit off topic slightly, for what its worth, people say from 2000 onwards Offaly went into decline..Offaly were well beaten in 1998 Leister final 3-10 to 1-11 (but Kilkenny were well on top)
1999: Kilkenny 5-14 to Offalys 1-16
2000: Kilkenny 2-21 to Offalys 1-13
2000: All Ireland final: Kilkenny 5-15 to Offalys 1-14
Kikenny not only destroyed Offaly in some of them games, but other counties in other rounds of them championships...and we thought then that those Kilkenny teams were "ruthless" and while they were not as sucessful titles wise as the 4 in a row team from 2006-2009, they were an exceptional good team, with Phlly Larkin, Eamon Kennedy, Peter Barry, Brian McEvoy, Charie Carter and DJ and Andy Comrerford just to name a few of the players around those teams...Offaly were in decline yes, but the writing was on the wall for me after the 1998 Leinster final (we were a beaten docket in all fairness, and the Gods intervened to get us an All Irleand, but to be fair we did hurl well in the second half of that final, but we must remember things didnt appear to be good in Kilkenny prior to Cody coming in 1999, and in 98 they just fell away (DJ putting a penalty over the bar in that final was very very strange) Offaly fans might choose not to remember these things but we were fortunate in 1998, yes we took it with both hands, fortune hasnt been around Offaly since...23 years since our last All Ireland and we can win it this year....1999 Kilkenny had Cody at the helm, and revenge was ruthless and personally I think destroyed Offaly hurling...not his fault I know, but some of those hidings ended with the full time whistle, they just couldnt beat you by enough..." Yeah the General consensus at the time was that kilkennys greatness was good for hurling as they would drag teams up to their level, but in reality it wasn't until those players retired, especially the players from the mid 2000s to the mid 2010s, that the championship became more competitive.
In the meantime i could never see how those hidings could have a beneficial effect on any county, least of all offaly who the cats seemed to particularly enjoy beating.
Galway9801 (Galway) - Posts: 1705 - 23/02/2021 00:10:51
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Replying To Galway9801: "Yeah the General consensus at the time was that kilkennys greatness was good for hurling as they would drag teams up to their level, but in reality it wasn't until those players retired, especially the players from the mid 2000s to the mid 2010s, that the championship became more competitive.
In the meantime i could never see how those hidings could have a beneficial effect on any county, least of all offaly who the cats seemed to particularly enjoy beating." We took some pretty bad beatings in the late noughties too. I remember 1 trip to Croker where nearly all the Wexford fans around me including the friends I was with left at halftime from a Leinster final.
Viking66 (Wexford) - Posts: 11818 - 23/02/2021 10:18:39
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Replying To Viking66: "We took some pretty bad beatings in the late noughties too. I remember 1 trip to Croker where nearly all the Wexford fans around me including the friends I was with left at halftime from a Leinster final." It may sound like a bitter supporter, but I never actually coul like Kilkenny after some of the hidings they gave not only Offaly, but other counties too, I worked with a Laois man back in the early 2000's and he was on the Laois panel of around 1998 or 1999, Laois were playing Kilkenny and were winning the game an pushing Kilkenny out, of course they got one late goal, then went for another and got that, and I think another and won by maybe 6 or 7 points maybe..., basically the panelist told me that if the game went on they would have beaten them out the gate and down the road...they couldnt beat them by half enough...the wallopped Offaly with some savage scores, destroyed Waterford in 2009 final, were absolutely nasty taking Limericks Seamus Hickey (having the season of his life) out of it with an Eddie Brenan elbow (not a tough clash or anything now but an an elblow if you dont mind) they blitzed LImerick with 2-03 or 2-04 in the first 10 or 15 mins or so, but alot of people think Kiikenny won the game easily in the end, but Limerick actuall outscored them with a below par Seamus Hickey for the remainder of the game, and Limerick certainly only for their ill gained lead would not have beaten Limerick that day...the Tommy Walsh story of when he kicked Eoin Larkin into the face while scuffling on the ground with Tommys Brother Padraig Walsh, if you dont mind at training, and Cody let the game continue, and Larkin had to pick himself up off the ground and make his way off the pitch with Cody eventually calling after him but he rightly stayed walking...thats detailed in Eon Larkins book and uncontested by Tommy Walsh...he was one of the best hurlers I ever seen but he dropped in my ratings as an individual after that, I dont care how good a hurler he was or is, a trait like that in anyone over a scuffle which he wasnt even involved in, and a player called out to him as he was pulling the boot "Tommy dont" and he continued...sorry but no thanks...out the gate and never come back is where he should have been sent. I heard people over the years too commending Cody on his modesty when Kilkenny lost, if that type of carry on went on at training, it wasnt sport then but military training almost...Cody could be nasy enough on the sideline when they were loosing or lost too..and people say they hurled on the edge etc..they hurled over the edge I would say, and our own Bria Gavin let them away with murder for whatever reason..interestingly the GAA did ask referee's to up their ante in relation to interference with the helmet/face shield etc. and over zealous tackling and Kilkenny soon were not invincible anymore, they were getting players sent off, for what they deemed soft tackles etc. and for some supporters (even some in Offaly for some reason who had their kids wearing Kilkenny jersies during the 4 in a row years from 06 to 09!!!!) thought that some sendings off were wrong etc..When your winning a game by 10 or 15 points and time is almost up, there is no need to keep scoring goals, I suppose the players were terrifed of what might be said at training the following week if they didnt..thats not sport to me..
Fairplayalways (Offaly) - Posts: 1034 - 23/02/2021 19:05:09
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Replying To Fairplayalways: "It may sound like a bitter supporter, but I never actually coul like Kilkenny after some of the hidings they gave not only Offaly, but other counties too, I worked with a Laois man back in the early 2000's and he was on the Laois panel of around 1998 or 1999, Laois were playing Kilkenny and were winning the game an pushing Kilkenny out, of course they got one late goal, then went for another and got that, and I think another and won by maybe 6 or 7 points maybe..., basically the panelist told me that if the game went on they would have beaten them out the gate and down the road...they couldnt beat them by half enough...the wallopped Offaly with some savage scores, destroyed Waterford in 2009 final, were absolutely nasty taking Limericks Seamus Hickey (having the season of his life) out of it with an Eddie Brenan elbow (not a tough clash or anything now but an an elblow if you dont mind) they blitzed LImerick with 2-03 or 2-04 in the first 10 or 15 mins or so, but alot of people think Kiikenny won the game easily in the end, but Limerick actuall outscored them with a below par Seamus Hickey for the remainder of the game, and Limerick certainly only for their ill gained lead would not have beaten Limerick that day...the Tommy Walsh story of when he kicked Eoin Larkin into the face while scuffling on the ground with Tommys Brother Padraig Walsh, if you dont mind at training, and Cody let the game continue, and Larkin had to pick himself up off the ground and make his way off the pitch with Cody eventually calling after him but he rightly stayed walking...thats detailed in Eon Larkins book and uncontested by Tommy Walsh...he was one of the best hurlers I ever seen but he dropped in my ratings as an individual after that, I dont care how good a hurler he was or is, a trait like that in anyone over a scuffle which he wasnt even involved in, and a player called out to him as he was pulling the boot "Tommy dont" and he continued...sorry but no thanks...out the gate and never come back is where he should have been sent. I heard people over the years too commending Cody on his modesty when Kilkenny lost, if that type of carry on went on at training, it wasnt sport then but military training almost...Cody could be nasy enough on the sideline when they were loosing or lost too..and people say they hurled on the edge etc..they hurled over the edge I would say, and our own Bria Gavin let them away with murder for whatever reason..interestingly the GAA did ask referee's to up their ante in relation to interference with the helmet/face shield etc. and over zealous tackling and Kilkenny soon were not invincible anymore, they were getting players sent off, for what they deemed soft tackles etc. and for some supporters (even some in Offaly for some reason who had their kids wearing Kilkenny jersies during the 4 in a row years from 06 to 09!!!!) thought that some sendings off were wrong etc..When your winning a game by 10 or 15 points and time is almost up, there is no need to keep scoring goals, I suppose the players were terrifed of what might be said at training the following week if they didnt..thats not sport to me.." Hmmmmm, interesting one.
Kilkennys desire to not just beat, but crush the opposition was arguably a sporting virtue. I never really had a huge issue with that, or their roughness. In fact, at a time when the horror of soccer style diving and feigning injury crept into football, I though the cats were brilliant never to have gone down that road,, (compare Tommy Walshes reaction to benny Dunnes belt in the 2009 final to Tiernan McCann against Monaghan on 2013)
I just always felt that those beatings left many hurling fans and players feeling a bit disheartened and disillusioned with the sport, at least for a while after, and never agreed with the idea that hurling benefited from the cats dominance.
It's one of those occasions where it's not really anyones fault.
Galway9801 (Galway) - Posts: 1705 - 23/02/2021 19:35:27
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Replying To Fairplayalways: "It may sound like a bitter supporter, but I never actually coul like Kilkenny after some of the hidings they gave not only Offaly, but other counties too, I worked with a Laois man back in the early 2000's and he was on the Laois panel of around 1998 or 1999, Laois were playing Kilkenny and were winning the game an pushing Kilkenny out, of course they got one late goal, then went for another and got that, and I think another and won by maybe 6 or 7 points maybe..., basically the panelist told me that if the game went on they would have beaten them out the gate and down the road...they couldnt beat them by half enough...the wallopped Offaly with some savage scores, destroyed Waterford in 2009 final, were absolutely nasty taking Limericks Seamus Hickey (having the season of his life) out of it with an Eddie Brenan elbow (not a tough clash or anything now but an an elblow if you dont mind) they blitzed LImerick with 2-03 or 2-04 in the first 10 or 15 mins or so, but alot of people think Kiikenny won the game easily in the end, but Limerick actuall outscored them with a below par Seamus Hickey for the remainder of the game, and Limerick certainly only for their ill gained lead would not have beaten Limerick that day...the Tommy Walsh story of when he kicked Eoin Larkin into the face while scuffling on the ground with Tommys Brother Padraig Walsh, if you dont mind at training, and Cody let the game continue, and Larkin had to pick himself up off the ground and make his way off the pitch with Cody eventually calling after him but he rightly stayed walking...thats detailed in Eon Larkins book and uncontested by Tommy Walsh...he was one of the best hurlers I ever seen but he dropped in my ratings as an individual after that, I dont care how good a hurler he was or is, a trait like that in anyone over a scuffle which he wasnt even involved in, and a player called out to him as he was pulling the boot "Tommy dont" and he continued...sorry but no thanks...out the gate and never come back is where he should have been sent. I heard people over the years too commending Cody on his modesty when Kilkenny lost, if that type of carry on went on at training, it wasnt sport then but military training almost...Cody could be nasy enough on the sideline when they were loosing or lost too..and people say they hurled on the edge etc..they hurled over the edge I would say, and our own Bria Gavin let them away with murder for whatever reason..interestingly the GAA did ask referee's to up their ante in relation to interference with the helmet/face shield etc. and over zealous tackling and Kilkenny soon were not invincible anymore, they were getting players sent off, for what they deemed soft tackles etc. and for some supporters (even some in Offaly for some reason who had their kids wearing Kilkenny jersies during the 4 in a row years from 06 to 09!!!!) thought that some sendings off were wrong etc..When your winning a game by 10 or 15 points and time is almost up, there is no need to keep scoring goals, I suppose the players were terrifed of what might be said at training the following week if they didnt..thats not sport to me.." Whether people like it or not, it was that savage ruthlessness that made them so successful.
To be fair id say they were all half afraid they'd be dropped if they eased off in a match.
Bon (Kildare) - Posts: 1908 - 23/02/2021 20:13:30
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Replying To Bon: "Whether people like it or not, it was that savage ruthlessness that made them so successful.
To be fair id say they were all half afraid they'd be dropped if they eased off in a match." They were a great team. And all the little boxes ticked- hardness, never say die attitude, competition for places, playing on or over the edge, mixed with not a little flair and skill, made them so. And more importantly any county that won it, and especially teams that won it more than once, had the same characteristics the years they won it. What set Cody's, maybe 3, different teams apart was the way they brought all that every year. Hopefully we never see the like of them again in yellow and black; )
Viking66 (Wexford) - Posts: 11818 - 24/02/2021 08:30:22
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Replying To Bon: "Whether people like it or not, it was that savage ruthlessness that made them so successful.
To be fair id say they were all half afraid they'd be dropped if they eased off in a match." I dont care how ruthless you need to be, beating a team by 30 points and continuing to score goals is not sporting or in the spirit of sport, Stephen Cluxton is one of the best keepers we ever seen, but Jim Gavin didnt make him stay on the pitch to celebrate while the opposition team were crest fallen after their years work ending in defeat..If that fear was in the Kilkenny player sure was it a sport at all...most would walk away if was like that..great for them (Kilkenny) but they destroyed hurling, Leinster hurling almost only for the odd buckle from Wexford and Dublin, and remember Galway had to be brought into "save" Leinster hurling as the authorities called it at the time...while Cody is involved I hope a few teams get to repay even half the deficitis they handed out to other teams..there was no player on the oppostion beeing paid half a million a week or anything...
Fairplayalways (Offaly) - Posts: 1034 - 24/02/2021 08:57:36
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Replying To Fairplayalways: "I dont care how ruthless you need to be, beating a team by 30 points and continuing to score goals is not sporting or in the spirit of sport, Stephen Cluxton is one of the best keepers we ever seen, but Jim Gavin didnt make him stay on the pitch to celebrate while the opposition team were crest fallen after their years work ending in defeat..If that fear was in the Kilkenny player sure was it a sport at all...most would walk away if was like that..great for them (Kilkenny) but they destroyed hurling, Leinster hurling almost only for the odd buckle from Wexford and Dublin, and remember Galway had to be brought into "save" Leinster hurling as the authorities called it at the time...while Cody is involved I hope a few teams get to repay even half the deficitis they handed out to other teams..there was no player on the oppostion beeing paid half a million a week or anything..." While I'm no fan of Kilkenny either that post is a little strong. None of their players were getting half million a week either!!!!
Viking66 (Wexford) - Posts: 11818 - 24/02/2021 11:33:44
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Replying To Fairplayalways: "I dont care how ruthless you need to be, beating a team by 30 points and continuing to score goals is not sporting or in the spirit of sport, Stephen Cluxton is one of the best keepers we ever seen, but Jim Gavin didnt make him stay on the pitch to celebrate while the opposition team were crest fallen after their years work ending in defeat..If that fear was in the Kilkenny player sure was it a sport at all...most would walk away if was like that..great for them (Kilkenny) but they destroyed hurling, Leinster hurling almost only for the odd buckle from Wexford and Dublin, and remember Galway had to be brought into "save" Leinster hurling as the authorities called it at the time...while Cody is involved I hope a few teams get to repay even half the deficitis they handed out to other teams..there was no player on the oppostion beeing paid half a million a week or anything..." i must say im very interested in your comments about Kilkeeny and Cody.I cant say i agree to all of it but it has me thinking.On Kilkenny s big victories tbh all the big teams do it when they get the chance.You mention Dublin well they have given some teams in Leinster some terrible beatings over the last few years .Kerry did it in the past .In their defense you have players fighting for places so they want to take their chance when they get it. Also an all Ireland final is special so i don't think any player in his right mind would throw away the chance to score a goal in a final no matter how far ahead his team were.Now in Cody s defense many years ago Kilkenny were playing Westmeath in a championship match and Kilkenny man told me before the match that he was at kilkenny training session afew days prior to game and Cody told the players not to go for goals.he wanted points only and sure enough Kilkenny scored a big points total but no goals so he must have been telling the truth.
CiarraiMick (Dublin) - Posts: 3675 - 24/02/2021 13:09:53
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Replying To Fairplayalways: "I dont care how ruthless you need to be, beating a team by 30 points and continuing to score goals is not sporting or in the spirit of sport, Stephen Cluxton is one of the best keepers we ever seen, but Jim Gavin didnt make him stay on the pitch to celebrate while the opposition team were crest fallen after their years work ending in defeat..If that fear was in the Kilkenny player sure was it a sport at all...most would walk away if was like that..great for them (Kilkenny) but they destroyed hurling, Leinster hurling almost only for the odd buckle from Wexford and Dublin, and remember Galway had to be brought into "save" Leinster hurling as the authorities called it at the time...while Cody is involved I hope a few teams get to repay even half the deficitis they handed out to other teams..there was no player on the oppostion beeing paid half a million a week or anything..." What's worse getting beaten by 30pts or 15 and play their B team. There would be people all over complaining that it was an insult.
However that is the why the strong get stronger and its very difficult for weaker countries to become top counties, success drives success. Offaly/Wexford had their glory in the 90s and didn't capitalise on it.
zinny (Wexford) - Posts: 1804 - 24/02/2021 13:37:41
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I'm new to the forum and have been reading this thread with interest.
I work in North offaly and have been following developments here with interest.
My main observations are the following.
1. The draw of playing for Offaly has been lost somewhat. Kids need to be coaxed/motivated by coaches to train and play for Offaly development squads in both codes. Not all kids but too many which makes it a problem.
I can only conclude that it is no longer cool to play for the county.
2. This in turn has a knock on effect to the club game and quality of teams etc it produces. However the Offaly SHCA is a pretty decent standard of hurling.
3. The County Board(current) and Offaly GAA people are a resourceful bunch. They have built a stadium in Tullamore, centre of excellence in Kilcormac and even a second stadium in Birr that are of the highest quality and largely debt free to the best of my knowledge. Thats some feat.
4. The structure of the Hurling Championship (pre covid) means that there is no luck involved anymore. This is as it should be. However it means that there is no quick fix. A team that wants to play in the mc carthy Cup leinster championship group needs 25 plus players of the required standard. That will take years of development. In the meantime I think that they will win the Christy Ring Cup in 2021 and the McDonagh Cup by 2023. They will be a yoyo county for a number of years after that though until they start to produce enough players to sustain a presence in the Leinster Championship.
Imo thats a good thing. You should have to earn everything you get in Sport and Hurling. The Leinster championship isn't a development league or province and the Leinster Council shouldn't allow it to become one.
A good career for this bunch of Offaly Players will be a Christy Ring Cup medal and a few Joe McDonagh Cup medals. Thats nothing to be sneezed at in its own right.
Tadhg2020 (Limerick) - Posts: 15 - 24/02/2021 14:02:51
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Replying To zinny: "What's worse getting beaten by 30pts or 15 and play their B team. There would be people all over complaining that it was an insult.
However that is the why the strong get stronger and its very difficult for weaker countries to become top counties, success drives success. Offaly/Wexford had their glory in the 90s and didn't capitalise on it." Offaly or Wexford never beat anybody by 30 points in championship game, not many counties have beaten anyone by that, and if they did surge ahead they might leave a strong team on the field but would "keep the scoreboard ticking over" but would not be going for "goals" at every juncture...
Fairplayalways (Offaly) - Posts: 1034 - 24/02/2021 14:47:17
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While I grew up admiring the excellent Offaly hurlers of the late 80s and 90s, I'm a bit puzzled by threads like this (and articles that appear in other media too) that single out Offaly hurling for saving. Where are the similar threads, seeking to "save" Down hurling, or Roscommon hurling, or any other of the lower tier counties for that matter? I'd also be interested in seeing a thread or two entitled "what can be done to save Kilkenny football", for example!!
football first (None) - Posts: 1259 - 24/02/2021 14:51:46
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Replying To Tadhg2020: "I'm new to the forum and have been reading this thread with interest.
I work in North offaly and have been following developments here with interest.
My main observations are the following.
1. The draw of playing for Offaly has been lost somewhat. Kids need to be coaxed/motivated by coaches to train and play for Offaly development squads in both codes. Not all kids but too many which makes it a problem.
I can only conclude that it is no longer cool to play for the county.
2. This in turn has a knock on effect to the club game and quality of teams etc it produces. However the Offaly SHCA is a pretty decent standard of hurling.
3. The County Board(current) and Offaly GAA people are a resourceful bunch. They have built a stadium in Tullamore, centre of excellence in Kilcormac and even a second stadium in Birr that are of the highest quality and largely debt free to the best of my knowledge. Thats some feat.
4. The structure of the Hurling Championship (pre covid) means that there is no luck involved anymore. This is as it should be. However it means that there is no quick fix. A team that wants to play in the mc carthy Cup leinster championship group needs 25 plus players of the required standard. That will take years of development. In the meantime I think that they will win the Christy Ring Cup in 2021 and the McDonagh Cup by 2023. They will be a yoyo county for a number of years after that though until they start to produce enough players to sustain a presence in the Leinster Championship.
Imo thats a good thing. You should have to earn everything you get in Sport and Hurling. The Leinster championship isn't a development league or province and the Leinster Council shouldn't allow it to become one.
A good career for this bunch of Offaly Players will be a Christy Ring Cup medal and a few Joe McDonagh Cup medals. Thats nothing to be sneezed at in its own right." Good man, an excellent post, the Christy RIng is a must this year but to be honest its not guaranteed, and the Joe McDonagh is a tier higher we would be competitive at the most in that, I see all these other counties now playing this attacking "drive at you" type and have the hurlers to do it, Offaly have a few excellent hurlers who play like that, but too many (including some of the so called stars, get the ball and its like time is expected to stand still for them to get a pass (which it always seems to be) to get rid of the ball, no carrying it into the oppostion defence, and if they do, well its "thats it" let someone else try and win it back further out the field (my job is done type attitude)...there just is no buzz or theath, lovely scores from over near the sideline now and again, the rest mainly frees, the odd long point but intensity in the main, I dont see that in Offaly hurling outside maybe Cillian Kiely (taking a year out in 2021) and Ben Coneely..good skillful players further up but no drive or intensity like the two lads mentioned..games seem padestrian to the them and it appears to be pre programmed..Galway should either be put back into Connaught or enter the championsip like before in latter stages OR worse case rotate year about between Leinster and Munster, let Antrim back into Ulster and play off a propper championship be it only 3 teams or whatever in Ulster, having the Ulster final of a Saturday afternoon at 1pm, and showing 90 seconds of it the following night on the Sunday Game is an insult the likes of Antrim, Down and Derry whom in fairness have carried Ulster hurling along, if it isnt upto the standard of Munster or Leinster so be it, let them improve each other and maybe give them Qtr final against the qualifier winners with the winners then facing the provincial champions in the AI semi finals..will they win agains the Provincial champions, probably not, but they will learn, and will have som silverware at end of the season, they dont even have a provincial title now I think (I stand corrected)...Galway is in Connaught, if they are the only team in Connaught, thats a matter for GAA and Connaught council to address, its not Leinsters job to "after school them" while they championship plays out..no doubt the GAA would aggree as hosting Kilkenny and Galway in BnaM OCP of a Saturday night is all they are interested in...with some complicated scenario after spending so much on OCP, apparently the county board are only renting it from Tullamore GAA club..I cannot get my head around that set up at all...if only things were straight forward in Offaly might be a help..every thing is "revenue" related at the expense of a decent intercounty set up...
Fairplayalways (Offaly) - Posts: 1034 - 24/02/2021 15:05:31
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Replying To football first: "While I grew up admiring the excellent Offaly hurlers of the late 80s and 90s, I'm a bit puzzled by threads like this (and articles that appear in other media too) that single out Offaly hurling for saving. Where are the similar threads, seeking to "save" Down hurling, or Roscommon hurling, or any other of the lower tier counties for that matter? I'd also be interested in seeing a thread or two entitled "what can be done to save Kilkenny football", for example!!" I think people think about Down or Roscommon hurling the see dead horse.
I am not old enough to remember Offaly's glory years, in fact I can't remember 1 win of note from them, bar that Dublin league win.
But there is no doubting that an older cohort, my fathers age, look back fondly on Offaly and lament their loss. Hurling is a hard game to get up and running and yet the foundations of the game are there in Offaly.
On the Kilkenny point, I was brought to many's the hammering by KK in the 00's - I always remember the discussion on the way home being "until we start matching them at underage, we'll never beat them at senior". And it took years of near misses at underage and only about 4-5 years ago did we finally start beating them at underage. And then 2019 we took them in both senior and minor. But to say "beating them by 30 points is no good" is a facile argument - if they are good enough to beat by 30 pts, they should not give anything less or beat them by any less. Because if not, when the chips are down in a big match, they will then. And in addition, it shows where your team REALLY needs to get to. No point hiding behind pity or "take it easy on them" nonsense.
StoreysTash (Wexford) - Posts: 1732 - 24/02/2021 15:09:39
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