Offaly Senior Football Trials

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boomcha

Offaly Senior Football Trials

Post by boomcha »

Anyone see this? Not dissing it or anything but can ya just go for the craic or what, would ya not need an invite!?

Trials for the Offaly senior football team are due to be held for players in the north of the county at Rhode GAA Grounds at 2 O'Clock on Saturday October 6th and South Offaly GAA club players at Ferbane GAA Grounds at
11am on Sunday the 7th of October

All players planning to attend must confirm by contacting either of the following
in advance: Pat Costello at 086-1532148 or Michael McNamee at 087-6436611.

All players asked to be at the venue 30mins in advance of throw-in time.

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Bord na Mona man
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Re: Offaly Senior Football Trials

Post by Bord na Mona man »

Should I buy a pair of boots before I go to this, or could I borrow a pair off someone when I get there?

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Re: Offaly Senior Football Trials

Post by shovels »

67 full forwards against 14 backs

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joe bloggs
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Re: Offaly Senior Football Trials

Post by joe bloggs »

We should have an x-factor style of audition for next years panel.
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Re: Offaly Senior Football Trials

Post by Harps Man »

jaysus some lads are never happy.Yez come on here sneerin the way things are gona be done this year,but in a few weeks time if nothin was being done the very same lads would be giveing out that nothin was being done.
I know that the way the new manager goes about things is not gona make everyone happy,but jaysus lads give the man and the lads with him a chance at least.
I think its about time all the nay sayers,begrudgers and people full of negativity,either shut up or put up.Offaly football has been bad enough for the last few yrs so any change should be welcomed with open arms,not pri*ks sneering and laughing at the new guys before they have even had a chance to prove themselves.
All i can say is best of luck to every player that turns up for the trials,and hopefully in a few weeks time we'll have the core of a good Offaly panel to shout for next year.

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Re: Offaly Senior Football Trials

Post by jimbob17 »

Agree Harps man. Damned if you do and damned if you dont. I am fairly sure that lads have been contacted through the clubs with regard to participation. Seen management members at plenty of inter club games in the last few weeks so you would be hoping that they are doing their homework at least. If we only unearth 4 or 5 potential players from this process itll be worth it. The key is then to sort a panel of 35 or 36 lads that will go hammer and tongs from the start of November to lift the level. At least with these trials you will eke out the lads that arent bothered about playing for Offaly as they possibly mightnt show.....
jimbob

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Lone Shark
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Re: Offaly Senior Football Trials

Post by Lone Shark »

I don't think there's anything wrong with the concept, as long as people don't set too much store by it. I'd say the double header in OCP on Saturday will be a much higher standard and a much better guide, aside from the fact that I'd expect that as many as half of next year's squad should come from these four clubs, if not more.

Then you have players involved in various intermediate/junior/minor/hurling teams and it's clear that there might not be a lot of free bodies left. Critical also is the fact that certain players are not long after spending the entire summer training - for example if somebody from the losing semi-finalist clubs chooses to take part, they'll be match fit and ready to go, as would players from places like Bracknagh, Raheen, Daingean etc. In contrast players from clubs like Tubber, Doon, Walsh Island, Rynaghs and Kilclonfert would be out of action for a while now and would naturally be at a disadvantage. I know you'd expect guys to make the effort to keep up themselves, but it's never easy to train by yourself.

Secondly, there is a value to this as it allows players to get a reality check. There are a lot of guys out there who feel that they could be up to the standard, but they're as happy to sit back and complain about not getting chances, or maybe they suffer for playing with a weaker club and not being given the kind of central role that helps you stand out. A really good specialist corner back might not stand out in the IFC or JFC, but now they'll get a chance to mark themselves out against better players and to see how they go.


The acid test for a game like this will be how successful they are at getting players who have played senior county in the last few years to take part. I'll pick guys at random so this isn't meant as a commentary on their mentality, but for example footballers like Willie Mulhall, Stephen Lonergan, Padraig Sullivan, Graham Guilfoyle etc - all of these guys would have had real and meaningful exposure at senior level in the past few years and while many of them would be happy to take part, I really hope they don't take the attitude that a trial game is beneath them - a game like this needs guys who are above average to take part and to set a benchmark for everyone else.
Kevin Egan. Signed out of respect for players and all involved with Offaly.

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Re: Offaly Senior Football Trials

Post by timber »

In fairness one way of looking at it is that the management are offering everybody a chance if they want to make themselves available. No one can conplain saying well I did not get a call in.

The downside is of course there is some players who will attend who think they are alot better than they are. Yes that can be time wasting but they could be weeded out pretty easily.

The county squad needs a few players to start stepping up to the plate. The likes of Willie Mulhall, Lonergan, Sean Ryan, Ken Casey, Nigel Dunne, Guilfoyle to name a few have been talked about loads and given plenty of chances but have never showed any real consistency of being able to produce what is needed at the top level.

Mulhall has been around a good while now and was always seen as a great prospect but at county level and even in the more important club games he has been very quiet.

Lonergan has had a few decent games. His athleticism obviously is what got him to a county panel but football wise he has not been convincing.

Sean Ryan similarly has failed to produce the goods. Obviously hurling has played its part. His pace is excellent but his height has come against him as county football is now a place for 6 footers who can move.

Ken Casey has shown glimpses every now and again. Even at club level he is either superb or anonymous. That is worrying. He obviously has talent but he really has to step up now.

Dunne transferred away from his club but is still playing soccer with a Rahan based outfit and trained with Offaly. Does not add up. I think this has gone against him in the eyes of county management and has probably cost him nailing down a secure starting place.

Guilfoyle is a hard one. Some think he is a great talent, while others think he lacks too much. He is a big lads, plenty of pace, can carry the ball very well but still shows very little for his efforts. No defensive qualities and carrying the ball too much into trouble would be two areas that cause massive frustration when watching him.

These are just a few of the players that have to step up this coming season. They have had plenty of chances. Its time for them to produce the goods or bye bye. I am sure there are many more that could be added to this list

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Re: Offaly Senior Football Trials

Post by llkj »

I assume that the trials are not the only method that this going to be used to select this years panel from. If he gets one or two people that he wouldn't have thought of, then I would deem them a success. It also helps him cover his bases, as nobody can say now that he didn't offer people a chance.

One point about the format of the trials (I mean the way that it is up to the inidividual to make contact to come in), I would say that there will be a lot of lads that would prob be worth a shot, but may not come in for various reasons. You might get some talented young fella (or maybe not so young) that would be a good fit, but may not have the self confidence to come in of their own accord (not every potential county player is naturally full of confidence). In situations like that, I think it is where the management team need to reach out and make the contact with the players that are on their radar.

boomcha

Re: Offaly Senior Football Trials

Post by boomcha »

llkj wrote:One point about the format of the trials (I mean the way that it is up to the inidividual to make contact to come in), I would say that there will be a lot of lads that would prob be worth a shot, but may not come in for various reasons. You might get some talented young fella (or maybe not so young) that would be a good fit, but may not have the self confidence to come in of their own accord (not every potential county player is naturally full of confidence). In situations like that, I think it is where the management team need to reach out and make the contact with the players that are on their radar.
I agree with the above statement (but then there always the other extreme too!). I would not feel comfortable myself tuning up of my own accord. On the other hand, for lads lacking confidence maybe this is the first challenge they need to overcome if they really want it.

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Re: Offaly Senior Football Trials

Post by manfromdelmonte »

remember where Kieran Donaghy was first spotted
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Re: Offaly Senior Football Trials

Post by kingscounty »

manfromdelmonte wrote:remember where Kieran Donaghy was first spotted
prob playing basketball :D ah no i think its a great idea if a lad thinks he has something to offer he can give it a go, i remember years ago going for underage trials and if a lad was on it the year before he was automatically on it the next year(if he was underage again) and didnt have to trial which i found a bizarre, at least it will fresh things up and who knows we might get a donaghy out of it . its not as if the players that have been playing for the past few years for offaly were setting the world on fire with their displays.

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Re: Offaly Senior Football Trials

Post by manfromdelmonte »

Well by rights if a player attends on the day and is deemed to be lacking in a certain area - eg kicking with one foot or lack of strength then surely the management should tell them to go off and improve that aspect of their game as there will be further trials either in the new year or next year?

And if it is a fitness/strength aspect then they should be told to go to a certain strength and conditioning coach who can give them a proper program to follow.
Most club players go to the gym, its just that what they are doing there isn't very good, through no fault of their own.
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Re: Offaly Senior Football Trials

Post by Ahlethimoutwithit »

Any word on how these went? Many turn up, or is it too early with 7 first teams still to play adult finals?

I think any player that makes an effort to attend these should be commended and give a tailored programme to help them improve their strength and fitness in order to get to the level required if they show some promise.
But is a fair enough process in that a guy gets a chance to pit himself against decent opposition, and if he makes the cut can then fall in with some of the more established players and try to make some progress for himself when all the other players from Rhode, Croghan, Tullamore and Clara come back in, (assuming their wont be many from Ballyfore & KK?).

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Bord na Mona man
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Re: Offaly Senior Football Trials

Post by Bord na Mona man »

Ahlethimoutwithit wrote:Any word on how these went? Many turn up, or is it too early with 7 first teams still to play adult finals?
The trials are this weekend coming. Are you Rory McIlroy?

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