2016 National League Div 3

A forum to air your views on Offaly GAA matters and beyond.
kingscounty
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Re: 2016 National League Div 3

Post by kingscounty »

Great start to league campaign well done lads , big test in newbridge next week keep her lit

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Lone Shark
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Re: 2016 National League Div 3

Post by Lone Shark »

Today was a must win game, and it was nice to see the players show an attitude commensurate with that. It was far from polished - scoring just five points with that wind was very poor - but there was plenty of bottle needed, and plenty shown. The win takes a lot of the pressure off for the weeks ahead, and it means that the lads can head down to Newbridge without fear. Defeat in Kildare won't be a disaster now, and if we did get a result, then a promotion hunt is really on.

In a division like this, head to head records could easily be crucial and while it would be great to take points off Kildare, Westmeath or Tipperary away from home, none of those counties are likely to be in the relegation shake up at the end of the season. Sligo almost certainly will, and after that it's any out of the other four to get in trouble with them. That's why today was so crucial - beat Sligo now, and you'd have to imagine that any other win or draw would be enough - and hopefully we'll have one more positive result in the bag after next week. Even if not, you'd have to be hopeful of getting something somewhere. Tipperary have lost a few key lads to the hurlers and to emigration, so if we're lucky Clonmel will beat Ballyboden and they could be down another few for the game in round four. There's plenty of cause for optimism here, even if the injury to Moloney (the one guy who was a nailed on starter along the spine of the team) is a worry.
Kevin Egan. Signed out of respect for players and all involved with Offaly.

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Bord na Mona man
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Re: 2016 National League Div 3

Post by Bord na Mona man »

Murphy's Laws of Offaly playing into the wind in a first half.
1. Offaly will do extremely well for almost the entire half, but at the very end leak a few quick scores to let the margin inflate.
2. With the wind Offaly will reel in the opposition, draw level, lose momentum and let them away again.

Yesterday Offaly nearly fell foul of the both laws. In first half stoppage time Longford hit the inside of the post which would have given them an undeserved 5 point cushion. A few minutes earlier Offaly had missed a penalty which would have sent them 4 ahead, despite playing into a storm.

In the second half, Offaly found it hard to tack on the insurance scores once the drew alongside Longford. By that stage the game was a dogfight, so we can forgive Offaly for being less surgical. However, they kept Longford at bay and never gave them an easy scoring chance all half.

There are lots of positives. What is noticeable about Pat Flanagan sides, they never allow the ball to stay in the same area of the field for long. Players are always looking for a switch ball to change the point of attack. Offaly of the last decade have been terrible for overplaying the ball, handpassing in ever decreasing circles until the ball is given away.

You can also sense that the players are backing each other's skills. Instead of instinctively rushing towards the Offaly player in possession, as if to rescue him, his colleagues are looking to move away into space, very often to receive a kick pass.
In the first half Offaly used a sweeper, but were never panicked into pulling everyone behind the '45. Hence the score of 7 points into the wind instead of 2 or 3.

Having Sean Pender back is positive, yesterday his first man was taken off after 20 minutes to make way for Brian Kavanagh. Kavanagh never managed to get enough space to shoot and had to lay it off every time. McNamee and Allen often combined well to get their scores, though they didn't get much supply in the 2nd half. Graham Guilfoyle has improved his awareness and option taking and is now a key player.

3 times Offaly played Longford last year and were the better team in all of the games, yet only won the game in which they were miles the better team. To beat them in such a tightly poised and pivotal game as yesterday will give a lot of reason for satisfaction. On an imaginary relegation league table, this would put Offaly on 3 points and Longford on 0, given the head-to-head considerations. Not that we're looking downwards instead of upwards!

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Re: 2016 National League Div 3

Post by True Red »

As posted above, and from a clubman point of view, really delighted to see Sean Pender back in with Offaly.

The right age profile and in my opinion a genuine Inter county player. Surprised to see his name omitted in some previews of the forthcoming season as Sean will bring real leadership and quality to that backline, following his captaincy of Edenderry's successful championship side of 2015.

In his post match interview, manager Pat Flanagan praised his performance ( 'a superior player' ), with his gutsy run at the end notably setting up the free for the final score. Offaly needs every hand on the pump considering the comparatively small pick the county has.

Onwards and upwards for Offaly hopefully.
If you don’t stand for something you fall for anything

NewEra
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Re: 2016 National League Div 3

Post by NewEra »

That was the perfect weekend for Offaly football. Great win by the 21's. Hopefully preparation ahead of the Kildare game goes up a few notches with lads chopping at the bit to make the first 15. Very young team with only 3 players over age next year. Best of luck to them over the next few weeks.

PERFECT result yesterday. Fair enough there were mistakes and the result was not put to bed but how many times over the last number of years have Offaly been in similar positions and ended up losing or not being able to get ahead. This gives them a shot in the arm now at promotion ambitions and nothing to lose. Kildare will be interesting.

Very good to see competition for the 15. Any news of Jonny's injury? With lads like P Cunningham, N Smith, E Carroll not back yet it means for the first time in a few years there is genuine competition and an improvement in the overall quality of the team.

ryot
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Re: 2016 National League Div 3

Post by ryot »

Things building on a Kildare Fans forum::::::::::

First Lad
I heard Pat Flanagan interviewed on Midlands 103 after the matches yesterday saying that he thought Offaly were the better team in our two meetings over the past 12 months and he hopes that his team will prove him right next Sunday. Kildare have had the better of the likes of Offaly, Laois, Longford and Westmeath for the most part over the last ten years and it's important we keep on top of these teams within Leinster.



Number 2 says:::::::::
If we're happy to amble along being a middle tier county, losing to or scraping a result against Offaly is fine.

If, on the other hand, the ambition is to build on the Trojan work being done at underage level, realise the young players' potential and become a top eight county over the next few years, the aim should be to turn on the style and wipe the floor with them.

That's no disrespect to Offaly - just an acknowledgment that there has been a vast gap between the counties at senior and underage over the past six or seven years. Yes, they've beaten us couple of times at U21, but we are the only county in Leinster consistently able to compete with and beat Dublin at underage. There is literally no one else.

Number 3:::::::
Also I normally don't care at all about pre match comments, but that Flanagan interview is fairly provocative. If I was manager, I would say to the players a couple of times this week, Flanagan reckons you didn't really deserve those last two wins.

Let's really take it to them on Sunday and then see what he has to say afterwards.

Kevin
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Re: 2016 National League Div 3

Post by Kevin »

ryot wrote:Things building on a Kildare Fans forum::::::::::

First Lad
I heard Pat Flanagan interviewed on Midlands 103 after the matches yesterday saying that he thought Offaly were the better team in our two meetings over the past 12 months and he hopes that his team will prove him right next Sunday. Kildare have had the better of the likes of Offaly, Laois, Longford and Westmeath for the most part over the last ten years and it's important we keep on top of these teams within Leinster.



Number 2 says:::::::::
If we're happy to amble along being a middle tier county, losing to or scraping a result against Offaly is fine.

If, on the other hand, the ambition is to build on the Trojan work being done at underage level, realise the young players' potential and become a top eight county over the next few years, the aim should be to turn on the style and wipe the floor with them.

That's no disrespect to Offaly - just an acknowledgment that there has been a vast gap between the counties at senior and underage over the past six or seven years. Yes, they've beaten us couple of times at U21, but we are the only county in Leinster consistently able to compete with and beat Dublin at underage. There is literally no one else.

Number 3:::::::
Also I normally don't care at all about pre match comments, but that Flanagan interview is fairly provocative. If I was manager, I would say to the players a couple of times this week, Flanagan reckons you didn't really deserve those last two wins.

Let's really take it to them on Sunday and then see what he has to say afterwards.
Not particularly over the top from Kildare-folk. They won't need comments from our management to get up for the game.

Until we give them cause to feel otherwise they should be confident. Let's see what happens on Sunday.
Kevin Clancey. Signed out of respect for players and all involved with Offaly.

hopper82
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Re: 2016 National League Div 3

Post by hopper82 »

I felt that we had the beatens of these guys in the qualifiers last year and it was a lack of belief / experience more than anything else that day that prevented us kicking on for the win .

This will count for very little Sunday but it would discouraging for us to go to Newbridge and be brought to the cleaners.

I feel we have been progressing nicely under Pat Flanagan , to steal 2 points over in the Bridge would be extremely sweet and safety from the bottom tier would be as good as secure you would have to feel,
The experts aren't given us the slightest hope going into it ,PP has kildare @ Kildare 2/7 while we are been priced at 10/3 to cause an upset ,it wouldn't be a bad day to rip up the form books and expert opinions .

Best of Luck to them Sunday I'm looking forward to it.

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Bord na Mona man
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Re: 2016 National League Div 3

Post by Bord na Mona man »

Kildare will have a bit more of an advantage this time with the game being played in Newbridge. Especially with Newbridge being such a dump as well.

first_touch
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Re: 2016 National League Div 3

Post by first_touch »

Bord na Mona man wrote:Kildare will have a bit more of an advantage this time with the game being played in Newbridge. Especially with Newbridge being such a dump as well.
Are you referring to the town or the GAA grounds?! I am not sure how either or both being 'a dump' gives Kildare more of an advantage!

NewEra
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Re: 2016 National League Div 3

Post by NewEra »

Has any team been released for tomorrow?

Also, any update on Johnny's injury? It will be a big loss if he's out tomorrow.

SearingDrive
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Re: 2016 National League Div 3

Post by SearingDrive »

NewEra wrote:Has any team been released for tomorrow?

Also, any update on Johnny's injury? It will be a big loss if he's out tomorrow.
Why the big secrecy about the Offaly team, it's just Division 3 of the league!

Exiled in Connacht
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Re: 2016 National League Div 3

Post by Exiled in Connacht »

Full time - Kildare 1-12 : Offaly 1-08

Was listening on Kildare radio and it seemed we had them rattled a bit in last 10 minutes having been 9 points down half way through second half.

No real damage done In terms of the overall league. There were important wins for Longford and Sligo which makes our home game against Sligo a big one. Another loss for Westmeath. Our game later on in Mullingar could yet be crucial.

jimbob17
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Re: 2016 National League Div 3

Post by jimbob17 »

As expected really. Kildare are a step ahead of us at present. they have had strong underage structures consistently for last 8-10 years while we have neglected ours. Sligo and Clare next at home. Really need to be beating these two if we hope to be in contention. Sligo beat westmeath so will be no easy game. Clare beat sligo well in first game so they wont be simple either. Westmeath losing first two puts them in real danger of relegation unless they win 3 of their remaining games so it could be very interesting. Kildare on 4, Tipp on 3 and all others on 2 or 1 point (Limerick) with Westmeath on 0. Will be very tight with probably Kildare and tipperary favourites now for promotion
jimbob

hopper82
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Re: 2016 National League Div 3

Post by hopper82 »

Was a poor game to watch , kildare hands down were the better team .Niall kelly ran riot in the first 15 -20mins and we were 5 down before we got moving at all .
We were struggling big time around the middle sector of the field and as a result most of our fowards had drifted out to try get possesion , when we did get it we might of only had 1 foward to aim at v 2 or 3 defenders.

I was a little suprised not to see Niall Smith and Anton introduced earlier in the game as i would consider them as two of our best ball winners , in saying that it wasnt going to change the end result .

The break will do us no harm it will give the injured time to recover .

Longford and sligo picking up wins has throwing the cat among the pidgeons and the result of the Sligo game in Tullamore will give us a good indication what divison well be playing in 2017.

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