joe bloggs wrote:Timber your name is very apt. You have a chip on both shoulders with regards to players from "North" Offaly not getting a fair deal in the past.
The facts speak for themselves. It's only in the last few years we have really seen clubs from there making a big impact in the A grades at underage. It's not rocket science why so few in the past were being selected, the hurlers weren't there.
I'm delighted to see big strides being made by clubs like Ballinamere and Na Fianna, long may it continue and if it can be sustained along with a revival in shall we call them the traditional clubs then we will have a better future.
Could not disagree more. As a neutral (wouldnt consider myself north or south), there most definitely was a bias depending on who was over team. There were hurlers from B clubs that were good enough but not selected because of politics. Likes of Killeigh and BMere always had individual lads good enough but often not selected due to where they were from. I've seen some horrific stuff but again was always dependent on who was over team.
Not all from south were biased but a lot were and displayed political and geographical allegiances ahead of best interest of county.
I Helped out some years ago when a north lad ripped it up scoring 1-6 from play in final trial game before team panel chosen for minor team. He was 2nd or 3rd best forward on the panel but didn't make the 26. Obviously, I had no say but the three wise men from South made the call. One nephew got in ahead of him on 26 and wouldnt have deserved it in my opinion.
I remember the players themselves were sick for him having played underage all way up with him. The lad was distraught and didnt hurl for few years after! I was surprised when he actually went back at it.
It was so so wrong and embodied everything wrong about Offaly at the time. They were getting trimmings off Laois and Westmeath at minor around that time!
In 89, Finbarr Cullen from Edenderry played in All Ireland minor final. There were always lads in north that were good enough and always will be irrespective of whether their club team is contesting minor A championships or not! It just takes the right knowledgeable people to respect them and pick the team based on merit. You are no less an Offaly man, north or south!