Let's not forget Kilmurray was also in charge for such results as the loss to Carlow, and the appalling loss to the Dubs in Parnell Park. A 2 point defeat on paper, one of the worst performances in Offaly's history in practice. We may have got to the Leinster final, but we also had a perfect run up to it. A Dessie-less Westmeath, an untested Kildare where we hit them for goals and a very average Wexford team who just had a hot day against Meath before that.
Paul O'Kelly will always be the one that would have got us places if he had been kept on in my mind, but assuming you take the losses (after draws in 70 minutes) to Laois and Roscommon at face value, it's not unfair to say that he didn't put a lot of big wins on the mantlepiece.
I knew you wouldnt resist a crack at my comments.
See thats exactly what I was trying to to point out to OF regarding judging JD and JP at year end.
Results are key- important results - in Championship - not how lucky we were to get there - some would say we were "lucky" to beat Kerry and with a push at that,and them heading for 5 in a row ( i think we were great)
But the same balance or excuses can be made for such losses as you mentioned above.
Carlow loss- not important- we were going nowhere once out of Leinster. We and the Team knew the show was over for the year. You might not agree but that was the case, we were hardy likely to win the all ireland that way. Leinster was and still is our first achievable target.
Dubs- No excuse- Dubs on fire, we was brutal- but again it was an away game under lights and while of some importance not like championship.We competed very well in the Leinster amd we got there to compete by beating what was put in front of us
No matter how easy or perfect the run is ya still got to beat them and we did.
By the way we were fierce unlucky to loose to Laois with that last minute goal the year before ........ Nah not really we should not have taken off our free taker, but still we were rite there till the end and with a bit of luck - who knows (see you cant ell it from both sides)
Kildare- we hit them with goals- yes thats a fact, but if we won with points you could say we hit them with points- we had to go and get them all the same.
The point being when measuring Results you dont really look at lucky or how the other team played, Yes you can review our progress and where we are coming from too but its too easy to justify progress by saying we played well etc.
Our Minor teams of recent years have been pretty sucessful and our U21 footballers last year too, whereas I would say our U21 Hurlers made no progress last year as such- We beat a poor Kilkenny side and got pretty well beaten by Dub who in turn where put to the sword later on.
The glass being half empty or half full
I apprecaite that JD might be doing the right things as such but at the end of the day the results will tell us if he was doing the right things or not. Ditto for JP
If JD can establish us firmly as the number 2 hurling team in Leinster this year then in my opinion thats progress.
What one person might think is the right thing, may not be shared by another persons view point. I dont agree with Pat Roe running the daylites out of every tom, dick and harry up and down croghan hill but if he gets results then he is rite.
If he doesnt was he doing the wrong things ?
To finish- LS good arguments but not good enough, however id agree with you that Paul Kelly should be up there too, as being pretty sucessful.