Offaly county team managements 2014

[Kevin]

Not the ideal draw in Leinster Hurling championship for the new incoming manager. Would have to beat Kilkenny(a wounded animal) away and then Galway just to reach a Leinster Final.

True. Hard work ahead.

But should we come through, we'll be tested and prepared for the final.

[Plain of the Herbs]

It doesn't get any easier anyway. A Division 2 Final against Wexford, a playoff against the second-bottom team in Division 1, Kilkinny, then another qualifier exit against Waterford (or maybe Cork) or a slip on a banana skin, then back to the county championship. That's 2014 in a nutshell.

Not the ideal draw in Leinster Hurling championship for the new incoming manager. Would have to beat Kilkenny(a wounded animal) away and then Galway just to reach a Leinster Final.

[The Bogman]

Heard from someone that would be seriously in the know that the appointment for the senior hurling is already made. Could be an announcement as early as tomorrow night. And no, Danny Owens didn't get it and was never really in the running for it.

[Clontotan]

Any ideas who it is? I'll guess Duignan

[jimbob17]

Have heard that an approach has been made to someone based outside the county but not certain if it is true....If so, id be fairly certain itll be an outsider, possibly from Kilkenny.... either that or an Offaly man based in Dublin!!!

[Toxicity234]

either that or an Offaly man based in Dublin!!!

Jesus, Na they couldn't be that stupid to appoint Liam Hogan from Ballyboden. Now that would be a huge mistake.
i know a few Ballyboden players that think he a good coach but say his man management skill are shocking.

And if Bogman is correct and Danny Owens was never in the Running. We have a huge problem in the county.
from the point of view of other young managers coming through the ranks. looking to one day manage the county, There is no point in the like of Johnny Dooley, Martin Hanney or Brian Whelahan taking the time to manage a club in Offaly because no matter how good a job they do, the county board won't look at them because they only manage a club within Offaly.
But if they manage a club outside the county and improve that club and win a munster or an all ireland they almost be a shoe in for the Offaly job.

if the county board don't think Owens is the man for the job that ok. Then there is only one other man for the job and that Ken Hogan so they better get him. I know he said he not interested but go chase him and try to change his mind.

The Championship is over in Offaly. County Players should be back training already and the young players coming through that will be close to the panel should be back training with the county players.
The new Manager should have being appointed 8 weeks ago at this stage.

[substandard]

According to the Midland Sports facebook update, Michael Duignan, the preferred choice, has ruled himself out of the running last night.

[Bord na Mona man]

Was Michael Duignan the man they were going to unveil tonight? If he was, then it throws the process into chaos.

It might be a red herring and they already have a different candidate lined up.

[Plain of the Herbs]

Apparently so. All up in the air now, according to the following piece in The Irish Times.

Another vacancy
Another management vacancy expected to be filled this evening was in Offaly where a successor to outgoing hurling manager Ollie Baker had been due to be ratified. That will not now take place after it emerged late last night that the candidate to be recommended had withdrawn his name from consideration.
Former Offaly All-Ireland medalist Danny Owens, who at the weekend led Kilcormac-Killoughey to back- to-back county titles and last March to the All-Ireland club final, said on Sunday that he had not been approached about the county position.

http://www.irishtimes.com/sport/jason-r ... -1.1553231

[durra1]

The words ‘piss up’ and ‘brewery’ spring to mind …

[True Red]

If it wasnt so serious it would actually be funny.

[durra1]

The Benny Hill theme song … going out to all of those wizards on the OCB ….

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JcNhDstL4-k

[westender]

I echo Loan Shark's comments on this.
1: For what exactly the Offaly Senior team need to be successful, Danny is Owens is most definitely not the man to 'get it out of them'.
2: Perception. This is key. Whether right or wrong , the appointment of Danny Owens would only reinforce the pervading sense of apathy and pessimism around Offaly hurling, especially among players. Take last year for example, the second year into Ollie Bakers desperately average reign. Stephen Egan, Sean Coughlan, Diarmuid Horan and James Ringey all absent for varying reasons. Count them up, it's practically a brand new defence. Needed is an appointment that generates enthusiasm among all players, to persuade them to put their lives on hold for unending months, to encourage Shane Dooley not to gain the by now traditional winter stone and, most importantly, to motivate Rory Hanniffy to give it one more year.


Anybody hear Padraig Boland on 'd wireless' over the weekend? He didn't sound too optimistic.

Was it what he said or his general tone that didn't sound optimistic GDFTP? Either way I'd be disappointed if that was the impression people were left with (not having heard the comments from the man or the specific context of what he was referring to).

Serously though, there are a lot of things that need fixing, but we are Offaly! How can he not be positive?

You don't have to look too hard to find something to be excited about. I agree that it is dangerous to look back 20/30 years for inspiration so let's fast forward a bit:

1. Camogie winning Junior, Intermediate and now becoming a team to be reckoned with in Senior.
2. Ladies Junior Football ALL IRELAND Champions 2013
3. The basis for a solid Minor Football team forming for the coming years based on results this past summer.
4. Senior Footballers gaining promotion for the next season.
5. Back to back Leinster Championships and All Ireland Club Final Appearances by Coolderry and K/K.
6. Offaly Senior Hurlers giving Kilkenny something to think about for the first time in 15 years with a performance to build on this year.
7. Add your own here. I'm sure stuff is missing...

How is this at all relevant? Well, because good things are happening. We are picking up momentum in general and we are looking to put some more pieces of the puzzle together. Its a GREAT time to take over the Offaly Senior Hurlers and see how much can be got out of them.

The right manager can make an immediate impact. As we've been on the fringes for so long the man who comes in and gets us winning again will come away with an enhanced reputation. This is a chance to succeed where others have not. Here's hoping that some fearless person with ambition and a plan says to hell with the downside risk and jumps at this very intriguing opportunity.

Good luck to all involved in the effort to get the right man aboard

Very Interesting Indeed, Even with the Draw we have, i've been saying for years, winning breeds success, so we need a win and hopefully with this our luck will change. So get a man on board, and let s get this train rolling.

[The Bogman]

Was Michael Duignan the man they were going to unveil tonight? If he was, then it throws the process into chaos.

It might be a red herring and they already have a different candidate lined up.

Yep. From what I heard, Duignan had the job. Don't know what the reason for his pulling out is.
Also, I hear Brian Whelehan is expected to be named the new minor manager soon.

[Kevin]

Was Michael Duignan the man they were going to unveil tonight? If he was, then it throws the process into chaos.

It might be a red herring and they already have a different candidate lined up.

Yep. From what I heard, Duignan had the job. Don't know what the reason for his pulling out is.
Also, I hear Brian Whelehan is expected to be named the new minor manager soon.

This is a disappointing development.

Can't imagine that a time and place for an announcement would be mentioned unless there was a deal in place.

All I've seen is a good sized list of names that are no longer/have never been in the frame.