Offaly Senior Hurlers 2025

[Bord na Mona man]

To put some context on last week against Dublin, Offaly had a shot of winning in the closing stages but there's no way you could say it Offaly were better, or equal to Dublin.

At various stages circumstances worked in our favour, like both goals against the run of play when Dublin were getting control. Offaly didn’t miss many chances and were deadly from frees. Grains of rice tip the scales.

This evening, however, those circumstances were tilted against Offaly. It was a contest that Offaly ultimately had no chance of winning, but Offaly’s balloon had popped long before the conclusion. Missed frees, bad wides, the self-inflicted goals. Even Galway going to 14 didn’t rejuvenate Offaly. It looked like Offaly were a beaten docket already.

Galway looked miles ahead in their movement. For example, on puckouts or cleared balls, their forwards timed their bursts into space brilliantly. Meanwhile, Offaly forwards were regularly having to wait under dropping balls, while the Galway defenders had enough time get in and contest.

Galway’s smart balls to the man moving into space was more pronounced when they were down a man. Even moreso today, Offaly’s shortage of pace in many sectors was in evidence.

Offaly didn’t make good use of the spare man. Up front they stayed bunched, instead of stretching Galway out.
Even worse, Galway could have won by a massive score, if they didn’t butcher so many chances by doing Hollywood stuff in the latter stages.

Galway conspirators are already claiming Owens gave Burke the red card to put him out of the Wexford game. Burke’s flake down on Duignan on the sounding of the whistle, breaking the hurl over him, was as blatant a red card offence as you’ll get.

Anyway, it’s a good time to reset and refocus – beating Antrim and staying in Liam MacCarthy, is everything and the only thing.
Don't go chasing waterfalls, please stick to the rivers and the lakes that you’re used to.

[first_touch]

Galway are a team with ambition of winning an all ireland. Offaly are trying to stay in the liam mcarthy. Its a huge step up.

That about sums it up.

It's very hard for a team at Offaly's stage of development to put in two big back-to-back performances, especially with only a week in between. The target for this year has to be to stay in the Liam McCarthy. If we can secure that it will be key for management to identify what it takes to step up to the next level where we are competing strongly for progression to the All Ireland series.

Notwithstanding tonight's very disappointing performance, there are positive signs that the younger players in particular have what it takes to complete at the highest level but this will take time.

[greenairfield]

Maybe we should of played it in Birr nice tight field like parnell park

[Anonymous1]

I’m not sure you could’ve scripted a more horrific performance.

A truly dreadful day at the office.

Whatever about the first half, to only puck 0-05 in the second half with an extra man was deplorable. It looked like Galway had the extra man.

Troy’s coughing up of 1-1 effectively killed the game early doors.

We couldn’t win any long puck-outs.

Our full back line were absolutely roasted.

And not one of our forwards found any bit of form, some of the wides were inexcusable.

One would’ve thought an ear bashing from Kelly at HT followed up by a red for Galway would’ve given the team a bit of spark in the second half but they never rose a gallop.

There was no fight, no energy, no plan, nothing.

Some of the subs were baffling. Kiely was put in at full forward half way through the first half and withdrawn half way through the second half. Apart from missing a goal chance, I’m not sure he got on any other ball while there a couple of natural forwards left sitting on the bench.

A lot of soul searching for this group to do over the next few weeks as the beatings will continue at Nowlan Park and also in Wexford Park if we don’t turn things around.

Today was a steep learning curve and a warning to supporters that Rome wasn’t built in a day. The priority at the beginning was to beat Antrim and stay up and the priority remains. Getting carried away with league results never ends well.

[Buttons]

I was trying to look at how it went so wrong yesterday, was it just a case of we had a bad day or did Galway just click into gear.

I think management have to put their hands up, our back line was under serious pressure and getting absolutely roasted. Could a sweeper have been played, a sideline on the stand side went over first line of defence and then left into a 2v 2 full back line and Galway hit a pint. Numerous occasions the keeper found a target straight into the half forward once a run was made. The spare man in the second half was of no benefit whatsoever.

With regards to Kiely unless not fully fit and if that’s the case why bring him on then I would start him at centre back and move Shirley to midfield, it’s an area that he has the height and mobility for. The build up for Kielys miss was superb and that would have brought it back to a 5 point game.

It was great to see the large crowd in OCP, Galway are a step above Offaly, they have a 2 week break now before kk. People are saying Antrim is the big game and it is, Wexford for me is the first big game, beat them and then Antrim and for me that would be a hugely successful year. Either way staying up is the biggest priority

[backofthenet]

Men Vs. Boys

We put ourselves to the sword last night, a night where we needed everything to go right for us to have any chance.

Troy will not look back on this game fondly, pretty much at fault for 2-1 although he had 2 great saves outside of his penalty save to keep us in it also. Although Shirley put the 65 into his own net, it shouldnt have been one.

Outfield, older players weaknesses were on display, Cantwells man got 4 points & wreaked havoc before Mahon somewhat quitened him, alongside Jason Sampson being burned for pace & stamina, both called ashore before half time, even Connelly often self asured in years gone by looked suspect.

Younger players weaknesses also on display but more rectifiable, physical weaknesses vs galways pace & power alongside mental weaknesses on free's & from play made it a very early conclusion to battle.

A bad night all round, the big difference in age & physicality is one that wont be solved in one year, we badly need to find a few big phyiscal guys in their mid-late 20's to bridge the gap.

Management also deserve a mention & i think will need to learn a hell of a lot from last night, way too conservative. I havent seen any decent club team play an extra man in the full back line let alone an intercounty team. A tactic that killed any chance we had.

The management team should have went man for man, kept a 3rd midfielder, pushed up on their puck outs & move kiely & Kelly back to half back line & made them hit long every time with the aim of them competing or our third man getting to the breaks first.

Would it have won us the game, highly unlikely but i think it would have won us the 2nd half & some respectability.

IF we are to compete at the top level we have to believe we are good enough to be there, we can no longer act like a Joe Mc team trying to keep the score down.

[Bord na Mona man]

Another factor working against Offaly was the sun. In the first half it was in Offaly's eyes. This may have contributed to Shirley not dealing with the '65 for the 2nd goal. Also, at one stage I think it was Jason Sampson was directly under a dropping ball and lost sight of it completely and it dropped past him. The clouds came out for the 2nd half and Galway had no such handicap.

[private joker]

Hitting long ball when you are a man up is a waste of time, you need to play through the lines and retain the ball. Use that free man which offaly didnt. Mahon got a load of ball but didn't or couldn't use it to retain it. The early yellow card for the offaly number 7 meant he was always going to have to be brought off. Ultimately the result was always going to be on the cards. Galway are a long way down the roD in terms of development as a team. Huge galway following also there. Mis hits were punished, some very poor wides from both frees and open play. Wexford are there to be bet but antrim will have to be bet too or it will be joe mcdonagh in 2026.

[G91]

After watching that yesterday I think we are going to be in a serious battle to avoid Joe mcdonagh 2026 , and if that happens it will be extremely hard to pick it up and drive on to win it once again

The sun was in the same eyes of the Galway forwards completely pointless

We failed to do some very basic stuff once again caught out waiting for a ball to land at our feet for the Galway back just to run past us and take it

Running away from a breaking ball , not there for the breaking ball

I thought Dan ravenhill had one of his better days Oisin Kelly was good once again spent all his time chasing back ,

Missing those frees is inexcusable if you can’t handle a bit noise from the crowd then you shouldn’t be over them why did management leave Brian on them for so long surely Charlie Mitchell could have stepped up to take the short frees

The youth that came on looked to have more fight in them but the game was well gone

I honestly can’t fathom why Cantwell is on the first 15

I hope there’s some other reason jack clancy is not on the panel and not just down to not being selected

David nally can’t even get a game now who was one of our key players the last 2 year in the Joe mcdonagh

It was always in the cards v Galway but it was going to be how we played

It is possible difficult to play that tempo 2 games in a row

We have a good management and he brought in some really good coaches it will have to come right at some stage

[Anonymous1]

I was trying to look at how it went so wrong yesterday, was it just a case of we had a bad day or did Galway just click into gear.

I think management have to put their hands up, our back line was under serious pressure and getting absolutely roasted. Could a sweeper have been played, a sideline on the stand side went over first line of defence and then left into a 2v 2 full back line and Galway hit a pint. Numerous occasions the keeper found a target straight into the half forward once a run was made. The spare man in the second half was of no benefit whatsoever.

With regards to Kiely unless not fully fit and if that’s the case why bring him on then I would start him at centre back and move Shirley to midfield, it’s an area that he has the height and mobility for. The build up for Kielys miss was superb and that would have brought it back to a 5 point game.

It was great to see the large crowd in OCP, Galway are a step above Offaly, they have a 2 week break now before kk. People are saying Antrim is the big game and it is, Wexford for me is the first big game, beat them and then Antrim and for me that would be a hugely successful year. Either way staying up is the biggest priority

I don’t think Wexford is a big game in terms of our survival hopes because even if we beat them, we still can’t afford to lose to Antrim or we’d be relegated on head to head.

It’s win vs Antrim or bust.

[Bord na Mona man]

The sun was in the same eyes of the Galway forwards completely pointless

Nope, if a high ball is dropping in the square, it's a bigger deal if the keeper or defender loses sight of it.

[Bord na Mona man]

I don’t think Wexford is a big game in terms of our survival hopes because even if we beat them, we still can’t afford to lose to Antrim or we’d be relegated on head to head.

It’s win vs Antrim or bust.

A win, draw, or narrow defeat after a great performance against Wexford is a waste of time if it any way distracts from the Antrim match.

Btw Antrim lost to Galway by the exact same score last year.
18 May 2024 Round 4 Antrim 1-14 (17) – (31) 2-25 Galway Belfast
26 May 2024 Round 5 Antrim 4-22 (34) – (28) 2-22 Carlow Belfast

[Buttons]

Providing how Wexford do in other matches, if we beat Wexford and Antrim beat us it will go to scoring difference providing all teams lose to kk, Galway and Dublin.

[oneshot]

poor day at the office but there was going to be days like this Galway are along way down the road than offaly. as for the game i can't understand why James Mahon was dropped from the side he was harsh sent off in waterford and wasn't picked for the next 3 games young cantwell wasn't at the races yesterday but he will learn. theres one thing offaly back's have to do is get out in front of their men they were behind there man every time the ball came in last night. i think playing in joe mcdonagh and division 2 hurling the last few years also told last night.

a break now to the kilkenny game we might get nothing other than another kicking down there. but i still think we can get something from the wexford Antrim game. we need Adam Screeney fit he done more in 15 minutes than most players did in 70.

[Géill Slí]

One thing we really need to work on from here on in is our puc out strategy. We did well in first 10 mins when we worked the first few out short, but the Galway management in front of us pushed everyone forward, forcing us to go long, and from there on in we were completely cleaned out. I don’t have the stats but how many of our own long puc outs did we win?
This was hardly a surprise, and you can be sure it’s something Antrim are looking at, targeting that last game. We’re not going to improve our physicality or maybe aerial ability in the next few weeks, but management has to look at a way for us to get our own puc outs into play with us retaining possession. Apart from long high balls to Oisin, there doesn’t seem to be a plan B.