Obviously the opposition were again playing a different game to Offaly, but Offaly still worked fierce hard throughout.
On a very simple mathematical basis, Cork had 3-8 on the board by the mid point of the first half, so were on target to hit 44 scores by game’s end. Now I know Cork changed their forward formation around this time which slowed their scoring rate, but Offaly worked fierce hard to eliminate the goalscoring opportunities and to cut out space, make interceptions and generally break Cork’s momentum.
There is criticism elsewhere of Offaly withdrawing their full-forward line. To me, that criticism is unwarranted. So it’s okay for the All-Ireland runners up to do that, but not okay for Offaly? I think it was necessary for Offaly to close down space between the two 45s, and the sight of Collins taking ages to pick a delivery, or laying off a pass, to me was a sign that the space wasn’t there, or the intended recipient was covered. So allowing Cork do what they liked inside their own ’45 was a necessary part of the plan. To me, the alternative was to challenge the goalkeeper, get sidestepped and allow him create an overlap.
Cork took their early opportunities by playing one in the full-forward line, with five other forwards outside the ’45. That allowed them create overlaps and run at Offaly. In fairness, this is bloody difficult to defend against. It required a sweeper to cover the full-back (can’t have a 1 v 1 so close to goal) and a sweeper isn’t going to stop a flowing, passing move.
One of these years, someone is going to play without a full-forward line of any description. They’re in the way of running movements.
Two good points by italia90 here. Offaly did a decent job against Dublin at working the ball out at a middling decent pace. That hasn’t happened since, maybe due to superior opposition, though Cork did give Offaly every chance to work the ball to the ’45.
And the tackling is killing them. Granted Offaly are at a physical disadvantage, but the swinging with the hurl is going to concede frees and yellow cards.
italia90 wrote: ↑Mon Feb 14, 2022 9:29 am
Don't mind a team trying short puckouts or possession game within a game, but try do it at pace. We're physically lighter than opposition so we have to commit runners and try create overlap. Instead, we jogged with a ball and got caught time after time.
We're one of few counties left tackling with the hurl rather than body. A lot of blatant frees given away yesterday and players bewildered said free was given.
This, unfortunately, is what two years in division 2 and two years in Christy Ring, and a lengthy layoff due to Covid has done. That, and an unwillingness to adapt the way hurling is played in this county.
Fairplayalways wrote: ↑Mon Feb 14, 2022 3:51 pm
whatever about the Galway performance upto last 15 minutes or so, yesterday in Birr was very stark reminder of how far back Offaly are..ok I know we are a work in progress and all that, but it was men against boys, we were so far off the breaking ball (Cork were ontop of it instantly) and many of our scores from play were of the shoot on sight the minute we got a bit of space...
Pat Donegan. Signed out of respect for players and all involved with Offaly.
