U20 "22

[ah lethimoutwithit]

Best of luck to the team and mgt.

Low key build up similar to last year and they kick off with home game v Louth this evening in Kilcormai
Good sprinkle their from last year but will be a tough challenge.

[Doon Exile]

Fecking down with covid so no match for me this evening. I was looking forward to the game for weeks

Looks a strong team selection.

[Bord na Mona man]

[Bord na Mona man]

As the disclaimer from the banking ad goes: "Past performance should not be taken as an indication or guarantee of future performance".
You can never predict what happens in these games. A leak that is unplugged for 5 minutes could lose it for you.

Some good players from last year are still there and some of the new players are highly rated.
We need to put last year in a box and consider this a different team. At a very basic level, we may not be able to replicate the direct running game that was key to last year's success.

[jimbob17]

Good win. Played well when we needed to but still lots to work on. Some lads will be happy with performance, some not so much. O Toole solid in goals. Full back line decent - though Hyland will be annoyed with being replaced. Pearson excellent throughout - probably the only one off this team who is a guaranteed county senior player - thought he was a class apart this evening and Maughan could be looking for him for seniors this year at expense of 20s if that were allowed. He is good enough to start at senior.

Half back line had to contend with a pacy and mobile Louth half forward line who could all score plus a withdrawn corner forward who was clever enought o get on lots of ball, so it wasn't an easy night for them. Struggled at times here but that said, we never really looked like conceding a goal which is testament to them. Midfield - thought Strong was very solid in getting possession. Tynan not great at winning 50 50s but very good when in possession and was involved in lots of good play leading to scores, particularly our 3rd goal. Got a great individual score at end too. Dempsey at wing forward was a strange one given he plays all his football in the backs but I suppose he offered defensive protection if not much attacking threat. Could swap possibly with O Meara for next day.

Harry Plunkett I thought was going well and was surprised to see him taken off - possibly injured but don't know. Delaney worked hard and has filled out a lot and offered himself well on kickouts too. Of the inside 3, I'd say O Neill was the best of them and excelled at times - a really exciting prospect for a young player. Did really well when brought out the field. Flynn did ok and linked play well. Dalton looked dangerous in first half but went out of it in second half though appeared to be almost drop back into half back line for lots of it. Of the subs, thought Kilmurray was lively and worked hard when introduced and Guing helped the ball to stick a bit more in forwards. Cathal Ryan too had good impact and will come into consideration for next day based on display this evening. Cormac Egan did not play which was the right thing to do and it gives him more time to recover. If we can get him back for a potential semi final, it would be huge for the group.

All in all, lots of improvement needed, especially in middle third if we are to progress in competition. Tonight, Louth were very well organised and physically strong down the middle so it was a good win. On tonights display though, we would likely beat a Carlow in round 2 but if there isn't a significant improvement from then onwards, then a Leinster final appearance may be beyond us.

[Bord na Mona man]

I was only following it on the stream, but the goals all came at the right time, because for the first 40 or so minutes it felt like Offaly were mostly hanging on. Louth were reeling off points regularly up to then and they had 11 on the board by 37 minutes.
They only got 2 more in the remaining 27 minutes, so Offaly did at least get to grips with them as the game wore on.

A good cameo from Jamie Guing as well. 1-1 coming off the bench in a one score game.

[Buttons]

At the end of the day a win is a win especially in the first round of a championship, the performance wasn’t the best but with games coming every week now momentum and their play will improve.

Louth were a well drilled team that kicked some super points from distance especially the first half but goals win games and Offaly missed as many as they scored. There was some great build up play or kicks in to create these which people must remember.

Lee Pearsons run at the end with the game in the balance was unreal, lucky to get it to guing but a real leader in driving his team forward.

Carlow next week at home so this game should stand to them.

I read Cormac Egan was out for the campaign( Offaly express) as he is having an operation on the hamstring, a big loss and could be the difference in the later games in Leinster.

[ah lethimoutwithit]

Good win in the end. As with last year, if we took our chances the game might have been put to bed. AS it was given how well Louth played we were in a decent position to be one up at half time. First 10 mins of the second half was sloppy, but the ship was steadied and in fairness the defence were better structured to cut out the shooting opportunities for Louth.
Lee was excellent but diced with trouble with the ref at times, but an outstanding prospect, Strong and Tynan had some decent moments but were good given the challenge they were up against in midfield area. We won very few breaks in the first half, but were more aggressive in the second half on this aspect. Up front Darragh Flynn showed well and created opps but lacked end product at times, if he can click it will be vital for us to progress, as he made some great runs. O'Neill did well, but missed opportunities he would normally nail. Cormac Delaney and Marcus were in and out.
Number of players needed that game badly and having that game under the belt should be a good advantage for next week. Significant contributions in the second half by Jamie Guing and Cathal Ryan. Morgan Tynan's last point was pure genius, hope it was videoed somewhere as worth a look.

But lets put perspective on this now. Over the last number of years under Declan Kelly, we have only been defeated by Meath (in Navan) by 2 pts in a game we should have won, and Kildare in torrential downpour by one pt, and well beaten by Kildare another time. We've beaten Lout twice, Wexford, Carlow twice, Westmeath and Dublin that I can recall and won the O'Connor cup on top of last year. This was a Mickey Harte influenced team that was well prepared and we have had a number of injury issues but ground out a result.
This was a big win for Offaly GAA and the manager, and well done to him and well done to the County Board on having such fantastic facilities to host such games. We are supported by Glenisk, a fantastic company that is rising from the ashes, and Shane Lowry who will go toe to toe with the best in the golfing world this weekend.
It's not all perfect but there were plenty of snipers waiting in the wings last night, and last night was a good night for Offaly GAA!

Well done

[SearingDrive]

Tight win for Offaly v Louth in Kilcormac. I tried to listen on Mids 103 last night, no luck.
Anyone know if further U 20 games will be on the local station.Offaly are the reigning All Ireland champions, surely they deserved some coverage?

[Bord na Mona man]

Tight win for Offaly v Louth in Kilcormac. I tried to listen on Mids 103 last night, no luck.
Anyone know if further U 20 games will be on the local station.Offaly are the reigning All Ireland champions, surely they deserved some coverage?

They had a Facebook live stream with Brian Gavin and John Reynolds on commentary.

[Doon Exile]

Any team news or updates on tomorrow evening?

[Bord na Mona man]

Much more straightforward this evening. I'd imagine Offaly benefitted from last week's outing and it may turn out Louth were one of the toughest teams around.
Kildare will be a different animal next day out.

[JimBwobb]

O connor Park next Thursday at 6.30.

Should bring a nice crowd.

Offaly would of benefitted more from a tough training session than tonight's cakewalk.

Some great passages of play and very clinical.

Onwards and upwards.

[Doon Exile]

O connor Park next Thursday at 6.30.

Should bring a nice crowd.

Offaly would of benefitted more from a tough training session than tonight's cakewalk.

Some great passages of play and very clinical.

Onwards and upwards.

First half was unreal albeit Carlow put up no threat. Great pace in the side again this year.

Is that confirmed for Tullamore next Thursday evening. 6.30 is very early?

[JimBwobb]

Yep on Offalys GAA Twitter page.

Yeah it's early but with no lights in OCP it's probably the latest they can play.

Faithful Fields not big enough capacity wise I'm assuming?