Offaly Senior Hurlers 2025

[Bord na Mona man]

At least the Sunday Game spared us any 'out of character', 'not much in it' bilge about the Daithi Burke stroke.

Unfortunately over on the Mattie forum, they're seeing it differently. They're having a full meltdown over refereeing conspiracies against them and how their top brass should have it addressed.
They're even mentioning John Denton again (some never stopped). It's their version of Godwin's law!

[ah lethimoutwithit]

A very bad day evening on Saturday.

Having left Parnell Park feeling disappointed but optimistic, Sat was a reality check.
First of all, as was outlined in an earlier post, there is context for the Dublin game, we got goals at critical times and Dublin were rattled a bit. I never felt that Offaly would have the ability to beat Galway after leaving Dublin last week and the worst thing that could have happened was the Galway performance in Nowlan Park.

On Sat evening itself, Mark troy pulled off incredible saves, he pucked out a couple of short puck outs that were pretty poorly dealt with by the defenders. Anyone blaming him when one defender stands waiting for the ball, and the other can't control it is being harsh.
The Shirley goal was misfortunate. Kiely missed a great chance to bring it back to 5 in the second half, and aside frim that we couldn't hit a barn door. Our puck out was destroyed due to limited movement and all out aggression by the Galway backs to play from the front and the workrate of their forwards. Complete opposite on their puck out.
Lesson to be taken from that.

The management took a chance both days on Kiely and it backfired. He isn't fit and was horsed out of it under the high ball. Early doors the team reverted to long balls and struggled with any tye of movement.
We looked leggy and the effort of the previous week caught up on us...with many players struggling. Wide count and the chances missed were a killer to any momentum.

But that's it, a collective failure the other night, it happened and we move on. The bandwagon needs to stick with them, particularly through the Antrim game. Sorry to say it but without a win in the first 2 games, it is the only show in town now.
Game time for squad players to try to provide more impact off the bench is critical for the Kilkenny and Wexford games and trying to get some composure on the ball, the amount of aimless balls under no pressure was a killer the other night.
Galway were really good and showed really good physicality and movement. They should take care of Antrim as should Dublin to leave us at a point where its a shoot out with Antrim in the last game.
Of course its alright for us as punters to think like that and assume we can't match Kilkenny and Wexford, (we might have chance with Wexford but still need to beat Antrim), I would think mgt will target Wexford strongly, as a win there would offer savage momentum going into the last game.
You can't just turn on a tap, It's different for Antrim also as they have been in this situation for the last few years and know the drill. Davey has one job to do and thats beat us. Debate for another day but it is crazy that counties like us Laois and Carlow are fighting to stay in the Leinster championship... it allows very little window for development as that fear of dropping down consumes everything.

But keep the faith lads and keep working hard. Management have a job to do and similar to the footballers there is a need to show greater faith in the bench as there needs to be options to come on if we want to progress.

[G91]

I’ve said it many a time and it’s nothing but the truth

As long as Galway and Antrim hurl in Leinster theres no drop in Munster not unless Kerry win the Joe mc

Any team from Leinster that gains promotion should be given more than a one year stint in Leinster

Why should Antrim have the right to remain in it they benefited from the extra team being put in place so they got a year advantage playing at a higher level ahead of the Joe mcdonagh teams


So in theory Antrim had a better advantage witch exposure to stronger teams made the possibility of staying up a little easier for them

[chimbonda]

A very bad day evening on Saturday.

Having left Parnell Park feeling disappointed but optimistic, Sat was a reality check.
First of all, as was outlined in an earlier post, there is context for the Dublin game, we got goals at critical times and Dublin were rattled a bit. I never felt that Offaly would have the ability to beat Galway after leaving Dublin last week and the worst thing that could have happened was the Galway performance in Nowlan Park.

On Sat evening itself, Mark troy pulled off incredible saves, he pucked out a couple of short puck outs that were pretty poorly dealt with by the defenders. Anyone blaming him when one defender stands waiting for the ball, and the other can't control it is being harsh.
The Shirley goal was misfortunate. Kiely missed a great chance to bring it back to 5 in the second half, and aside frim that we couldn't hit a barn door. Our puck out was destroyed due to limited movement and all out aggression by the Galway backs to play from the front and the workrate of their forwards. Complete opposite on their puck out.
Lesson to be taken from that.

The management took a chance both days on Kiely and it backfired. He isn't fit and was horsed out of it under the high ball. Early doors the team reverted to long balls and struggled with any tye of movement.
We looked leggy and the effort of the previous week caught up on us...with many players struggling. Wide count and the chances missed were a killer to any momentum.

But that's it, a collective failure the other night, it happened and we move on. The bandwagon needs to stick with them, particularly through the Antrim game. Sorry to say it but without a win in the first 2 games, it is the only show in town now.
Game time for squad players to try to provide more impact off the bench is critical for the Kilkenny and Wexford games and trying to get some composure on the ball, the amount of aimless balls under no pressure was a killer the other night.
Galway were really good and showed really good physicality and movement. They should take care of Antrim as should Dublin to leave us at a point where its a shoot out with Antrim in the last game.
Of course its alright for us as punters to think like that and assume we can't match Kilkenny and Wexford, (we might have chance with Wexford but still need to beat Antrim), I would think mgt will target Wexford strongly, as a win there would offer savage momentum going into the last game.
You can't just turn on a tap, It's different for Antrim also as they have been in this situation for the last few years and know the drill. Davey has one job to do and thats beat us. Debate for another day but it is crazy that counties like us Laois and Carlow are fighting to stay in the Leinster championship... it allows very little window for development as that fear of dropping down consumes everything.

But keep the faith lads and keep working hard. Management have a job to do and similar to the footballers there is a need to show greater faith in the bench as there needs to be options to come on if we want to progress.

A short puckout should not have to be controlled, it MUST go to hand. Neither puckout went to hand. Also twice in the second half galway shots dropped short and Mark Troy pucked them straight into the hands of galway players with no offaly player nearby. This was at a time when we had an extra man. A number of national media outlets have highlighted our struggles with our own puckout in the last few days. While Mark Troy is not solely responsible, we cannot say he is blameless.

[private joker]

I’ve said it many a time and it’s nothing but the truth

As long as Galway and Antrim hurl in Leinster theres no drop in Munster not unless Kerry win the Joe mc

Any team from Leinster that gains promotion should be given more than a one year stint in Leinster

Why should Antrim have the right to remain in it they benefited from the extra team being put in place so they got a year advantage playing at a higher level ahead of the Joe mcdonagh teams


So in theory Antrim had a better advantage witch exposure to stronger teams made the possibility of staying up a little easier for them

The leinster championship is only a leinster championship in name only, its munster and then its the rest. Where your from, at this stage is irrelevant unless your kerry where a possible playoff cones into being.

[Thomas mc]

All Leinster teams should compete in the leinster championship at some stage, get the opportunity including wicklow, Louth, Meath. It's a farce that Leinster teams don't have the opportunity to compete in Leinster when galway and Antrim can.. if they get knocked out so be it and they can still compete in mcdonagh/christy ring after. These hurling teams need to compete at their own level but also need to exposure to high level otherwise there will never be improvent

[oneshot]

All Leinster teams should compete in the leinster championship at some stage, get the opportunity including wicklow, Louth, Meath. It's a farce that Leinster teams don't have the opportunity to compete in Leinster when galway and Antrim can.. if they get knocked out so be it and they can still compete in mcdonagh/christy ring after. These hurling teams need to compete at their own level but also need to exposure to high level otherwise there will never be improvent

yes agree Laois Westmeath carlow even kildare who are putting alot into hurling should be in leinster why is there the joe mcdonagh just for leinster teams.

[Superhans75]

We all need a reality check
We are closer to the Kildare'sand Loais
Than the Limerick'sand cork
Modern day hurling is a business
Imagine the pantomime if you had a Carlow. Kildare all Ireland
They would probably ask for a second vote
Wether we like it or not things have changed
Football is the true all Ireland
Hurling was for the gentleman as my great grandfather used to say
He loved football )
We were lucky to witness a golden age which.
Very few under 40 didn't see
Will history repeats itself ?
Probably not but it's fun to try
Don't expect too much out of this team some good players and skillful ones but you need 20 of them in the modern game .
It's a lot to find..
I think we need to get things in to prospective.
Have a good week

[oneshot]

theres no one getting ahead ourselfs that have follow the hurling the last 7 or 8 years. as i said before this time 5 years ago we were hurling sligo and mayo. but we have made progress division 1 hurling back in leinster all ireland under 20 title and a bunch of fine young hurlers on the way. if you told me that we would do all that 5 years ago i would told you to go to the mental give this side time i think in 3 years time we will be a good strong leinster hurling team and could get a leinster .

[Superhans75]

My cousin playing for cork at the moment and he was saying the difference between
Teams in Munster training S&C and general player support is massive from county to county yet you think there all at the same level.
That U20 team that bet us 2 years ago has come on leaps and bounds they were a bigger physical team .
Will our young lads progress that way or will throwing them in piecemeal and maybe exposing them to situations like what happened against Galway ( it will happen again ) I understand we don't have the numbers but I think we need use are assets wisely

[private joker]

They love hurling and they love the gym. Both go hand in hand. Not sure the same can be said from an offaly perspective. Its hard to do Both if you don't love Both.