Westmeath v Offaly, NHL, 15/02/09

[Plain of the Herbs]

Many had been worried that Offaly would be vulnerable to a surprise result against Carlow last Sunday, mainly remembering the league defeat in 2005 which was a blip, and a pair of championship defeats at minor level, which now form a trend.

Offaly face Westmeath in the (now) first round of the league, and few expect anything other than the formality of an Offaly win. This dismissal doesn’t do justice to Westmeath who have been the most consistent of the ‘second tier’ counties over the last five years. They peaked when they beat Dublin in the floods in Portlaoise in 2006 and threatened to build on that last year when they ran Dublin close for sixty minutes before three late goals and a string of points flattered the Dubliners.

Unlike Carlow, Westmeath have a more established spine to the team, led by Darren McCormack, Brian Connaughton and Brendan Murtagh. McCormack has been a rock for them at centre half back in recent years though he lined out in the forwards in the Kehoe Cup win over Carlow from where he scored four points from play, with the versatile Andrew Mitchell anchoring the defence. Unlike Carlow, the regular lineout has eleven or twelve regulars although players such as Greg Gavin, John Shaw and Mitchell tend to flit between defence and attack.

Westmeath don’t have many regular local derbies when it comes to hurling, Meath being the nearest to the hurling district around Mullingar, although there’s also Roscommon. Encounters with Offaly are rare enough (this will be the first in four years and only the second in eighteen) so Sunday represents a special day for them and, like many weaker counties, one that they will certainly have targeted.

They are a physically stronger side than Carlow, being that bit older generally and they play a more direct brand of hurling. Obviously they will also be stronger than the UCD students Offaly faced in the Walsh Cup recently. They don’t overdo the soloing, preferring to hurl the ball to the forwards, trusting those forwards to win possession to score. Offaly’s half backs will need to deny them possession and if McCormack joins Murtagh in the forwards as he did last time out it’s clear where they will target Offaly.

If Westmeath are to win, Offaly will have taken an early lead, failed to take control of the game with Westmeath regaining ground in the second quarter, Offaly having ten good minutes at the restart though not reopening a lead, Westmeath growing in stature in the middle third of the half and taking the lead with Offaly finishing in a frenzy but unable to break the Westmeathmen down.

Much will depend on Offaly’s attitude and stomach for the battle, being one of those dreaded games they “should win” which are the most dangerous of all as they tend to lead to a drop in workrate. If Offaly can take their scores, finish the goal chances that were wasted during the Walsh Cup campaign and not allow Westmeath gain a foothold in attack, they’ll win with a bit to spare. But they’ll need to be up for it.

[Archangel]

The 'second tier' in Leinster has been very competitive over the last few years. Westmeath being the better, and improvements from Meath, Kildare, etc. Anything but a focused performance will see an embarrassing outcome in this one.

[Kevin]

POTH,

Nice writeup for a Division 2 game. Even if it is OUR Division 2 game. Thanks!

COME ON OFFALY!!!!

[Bord na Mona man]

The scoreline makes it sound like the sort of challenge match you get to open up new dressing rooms.

[Offalys Future]

There is only one game in this years league that to me will show how Offaly are doing and that is
the away game to Wexford.
All these games are really a pointless exercise. They still have to be won of course, buthow they give
absolutely no indication of how the team is progressing.
Offaly play Limerick in a challenge this weekend and that woudl be an opportunity for Dooley to put out
his best 15 and see how they go. A game like this is better than 4 div 2 league games.

Railway Cup on this weekend so will be without a few of the lads - Bergin, Franks, Haniffy and Carroll all on panel id say.
Nice trip away if they win against Ulster.

[loyal offaly]

I agree with the comment that it is hard to judge any performance against these teams but there is some learning's you can take.
I was disapointed that our half back line never won any primary ball what so ever it was only after Westmeath mistakes that they cleared ball. Also the half foward line found it hard to catch any clean ball and this will be a must for the championship,especially when you have Joe Bergin and brady both men who can catch ball.

It was good to see Cathal Parlon and D Horan fit into the team when they came on to show we can rely on the line which needs to happen in all our games.
Our defense will have to tighten up as 1-17 is to much to give away against teams like this and the old problem of fouling too much is still there even allowing for a very poor referee performance.

One thing to note the activity up and down the line that the manager and selectors put in versus our past football management team was very obvious.
Yes its early but we can only beat whats in front of you and while Wexford will be the asset test games against Antrim and Laois will also answer some outstanding questions.