Leix v Offaly, NHL, Saturday February 14th 2015
Posted: Thu Feb 12, 2015 11:27 pm
I’ll get this underway then get out before the thread is commandeered by the Kilcormacologists.
I’d never generally say this about a League match but Saturday’s is probably the most important match Offaly will hurl this year. The need to make a statement against a Laois team who are improving with each year and are seemingly on the cusp of taking a major scalp.
That Offaly apparently stood and watched Galway run rings around them in the recent Walsh Cup match was a massive disappointment. But now Offaly can turn that to their advantage. There can be no more standing on ceremony, no waiting for the ball to come, no more waiting for the opponent to turn over possession unforced.
While the old way of Offaly hurling is outdated and obsolete, I believe one aspect of the old Offaly way is still relevant – the ability to quickly recover from an abject performance and hurl well the next day. Item: Antrim in Ballycastle last June when Offaly could have thrown in the towel but clung on and were in position to grab their fortunate break when it came.
The pressure is on Laois on Saturday night, and while it’s not a match they absolutely have to win, it’s not that far off either. There will be local expectation, hyped up by their local radio correspondent, they are hurling at home, they fancy their chances, they beat Offaly away last year, they should have beaten Galway last year, they beat Wexford in the Walsh Cup etc. etc. A win over Offaly is the next logical step in their progression.
There is another factor though – this is the first time in a while that Laois fill the role of the hunted going into a match, instead of the hunter. It’s a role they haven’t coped well with – losing to Antrim at home in Portlaoise in the Leinster Championship, losing badly to Dublin in this year's Walsh Cup, losing narrowly to Offaly in the 2013 U21. Not something that develops naturally as the team’s life cycle evolves either – 35 years since their major breakthrough Offaly have yet to master the role of the hunted.
And though against the run of play, Offaly scored two second-half goals to narrow the gap last year and might have created more goal chances late on but for some momentum-halting Laois fouling that would have warranted a black card in a football match. And respectable performances followed against Cork and Limerick. Interviewed on Radio3 last Sunday, Stephen Quirke pointed out that Offaly’s strength and conditioning programme had gone well.
There’s still alot of pride left in Offaly hurling. Management and players can prove this on Saturday night by taking the game to Laois. It really is that important. An early hook of block will epitomise the spirit and they can’t let Laois off to a start. Because Laois still fear Offaly, and Offaly still spook Laois.
Offaly to win, if the spirit is right. For now, I’m backing Sid.
I’d never generally say this about a League match but Saturday’s is probably the most important match Offaly will hurl this year. The need to make a statement against a Laois team who are improving with each year and are seemingly on the cusp of taking a major scalp.
That Offaly apparently stood and watched Galway run rings around them in the recent Walsh Cup match was a massive disappointment. But now Offaly can turn that to their advantage. There can be no more standing on ceremony, no waiting for the ball to come, no more waiting for the opponent to turn over possession unforced.
While the old way of Offaly hurling is outdated and obsolete, I believe one aspect of the old Offaly way is still relevant – the ability to quickly recover from an abject performance and hurl well the next day. Item: Antrim in Ballycastle last June when Offaly could have thrown in the towel but clung on and were in position to grab their fortunate break when it came.
The pressure is on Laois on Saturday night, and while it’s not a match they absolutely have to win, it’s not that far off either. There will be local expectation, hyped up by their local radio correspondent, they are hurling at home, they fancy their chances, they beat Offaly away last year, they should have beaten Galway last year, they beat Wexford in the Walsh Cup etc. etc. A win over Offaly is the next logical step in their progression.
There is another factor though – this is the first time in a while that Laois fill the role of the hunted going into a match, instead of the hunter. It’s a role they haven’t coped well with – losing to Antrim at home in Portlaoise in the Leinster Championship, losing badly to Dublin in this year's Walsh Cup, losing narrowly to Offaly in the 2013 U21. Not something that develops naturally as the team’s life cycle evolves either – 35 years since their major breakthrough Offaly have yet to master the role of the hunted.
And though against the run of play, Offaly scored two second-half goals to narrow the gap last year and might have created more goal chances late on but for some momentum-halting Laois fouling that would have warranted a black card in a football match. And respectable performances followed against Cork and Limerick. Interviewed on Radio3 last Sunday, Stephen Quirke pointed out that Offaly’s strength and conditioning programme had gone well.
There’s still alot of pride left in Offaly hurling. Management and players can prove this on Saturday night by taking the game to Laois. It really is that important. An early hook of block will epitomise the spirit and they can’t let Laois off to a start. Because Laois still fear Offaly, and Offaly still spook Laois.
Offaly to win, if the spirit is right. For now, I’m backing Sid.