Walsh Cup

[leinsterman]

Doe's anyone know what the team will be or who is playing for college teams on sunday.
they played westmeath on sunday won bye seven points, but gave away 1-21 thats a big score
to give away to westmeath. well hope to get to rath on sunday like to see some young players
getting a run on sunday. get a win on sunday and bring on the cats then.

[Plain of the Herbs]

Not much to report here, despite the close match. The usual poor handling that hurling in January is noted for anyway, so no need to get too excited about any bumbling and fostering that went on.

More notable for the series of ‘firsts’, the first inter-county competitive match at Rath, first senior appearances for Eoin Kelly, Stephen Egan, Shane Kelly & Dermot Mooney while Fergal Daly became probably the first Ballycumber man to hurl for Offaly.

Offaly took an early lead, and Harry Kehoe’s goal arpund the 20 minute mark turned that around, while Cathal Parlon’s solo goal levellit it at half time, 1-9 each in the winter sunshine. Offaly again took an early second half initiative, stretching the lead to 4 briefly. DIT’s inability to tackle correctly costing the students scoreable frees. DIT nibbled away at the lead though, and Moloney’s free levelled it with time nearly up.

Extra time seems imminent but a terrible free given away by a DIT defender (pushing the attacker as the attacker went down over the ball) gave Diarmuid horan the chance to win it with a 20m free wide on the left and the Coolfin lad struck the ball between the posts at the far end for the winner.

Generally the backs did well, Egan particularly so, while Wynne & Murphy were decent. Morkan did well in the half back line, as did Horan. Actually, I’d like to see how that quintet would perform around David Kenny in the centre-back berth. Kelly made a good save early on and got caught with the sun for the goal.

Oakley had a fine game at midfield, helping put his defence and clearing well. The highlight was when he got back to make a fine last-ditch block on Paul Ryan as the Dublinman wound up for a crack at goal, getting a belt himself in the process.

The attack did well in parts. Parlon started well but faded, Odhran Kealey scored a couple of nice points and Ger Healion was the pick of the forwards, catching well, causing Tomas Brady no end of bother and scoring three fine points. Kelly had a decent second quarter when moved to the feft flank while Daly did better in the corner, tried fierce hard and got a fine score.

DIT relied on too few fellas down the centre. Paul Schutte hurled well at centre back and the attack revolved around Pat Hartley (Tullogher). Westmeath’s Joe Clarke scored two fine first half points from midfield too.

The experimental rules didn’t cause much bother or confusion, other than a few dodgy handpasses being pulled up by referee David Hughes. Hughes had a decent game, though his umpire at the near end on the right hand post wasn’t a man for making up his own mind and regularly deferred to his mate on the other post when it was his own call.

Nothing else to report. Kilkenny next week will tell us much, much more really.


Offaly: Eoin Kelly, Stephen Egan, Eanna Murphy, Stephen Wynne; Derek Morkan, Joseph Bergin, Diarmuid Horan (0-4, 3f); Ger Oakley, Kevin Brady (0-1); Shane Kelly (0-1), Joe Brady, Fergal Daly (0-1); Cathal Parlon (1-1), Ger Healion (0-3), Odhran Kealey (0-8, 6f).
Subs: James Rigney for Kealey, Dermot Mooney for Daly, Conor Mahon for S Kelly.

DIT: Finn McGarry; Ciaran O’Shaughnessy, Tomás Brady, Eoghan Costello; Frank Cullen, Paul Schutte, Paul Lynch (0-1f); Padraig Phelan, Joe Clarke (0-2); Peter Kelly (0-1), Pat Hartley (0-1), Declan O’Dwyer; Paul Morris, Paul Ryan (0-9, 3f, 2 ’65), Harry Kehoe (1-2).
Subs: Willie O’Dwyer for D O’Dwyer, Mick Moloney (0-2, 1f) for Cullen, David Treacy for Morris, Neil Kelly for P Kelly.

[kinnittyman]

POTH any news ws on that injury picked up by Odhran Kealey? Was it serious or just a precautionary measure taking him off?

Also how did he go on the frees? 6 scored sounds good. I dont remember him hitting frees since he was minor.

[leinsterman]

odhran played well today cathal parlon, and ger healion were the best of the fowards.
kealey done well on the frees don't think he missed one i think he done his hamstring thats
why he came off. i know its only january but how offaly looked at joe brady for 70 minutes
beats me, joe bergin should be in the foward line was out of the game today at centre back.
i think in Diarmuid horan offaly have one of the best hurlers in the game if he stays fit
he was brilliant today scored great frees and took over the game when he went centre back.
kk next sunday should bring on the young lads enna murphy, wynne,morkham, eoin kelly in
goals has some puck out and done well today, last word goes to ger oakley had a great second half and never gives up he gives 100 per cent every game. so good win over all
we were missing about 12 players today so we seem to have a good panel .

[black and red exile]

Great report POTH and Leinsterman. It sounds like ye had great sunshine in Rath, totally different to Tullamore where the Fog was unbelieveable, at one stage in the second half we thought the ref might call a halt. ITS A PITY HE DIDN'T.

[Georgio1]

Great to see Horan back, Oakley is some man, keeps coming back each year and his committment is great!

[Plain of the Herbs]

Kilkenny hurled Ballyhale in a challenge match today (Saturday). The following team lined out - t'will be interesting to see how many of those line out in OCP tomorrow:-

Richie O'Neill; Shane Prendergast, Sean Cummins, Jackie Tyrell;Tommy Walsh, Brian Hogan, JJ Delaney; Paddy Hogan, Pat Hartley; Michael Rice, Willie O'Dwyer, Niall Walsh; Richie Power, Martin Comerford, Aidan Fogarty. No subs used.

[Plain of the Herbs]

There’s no doubt, that was a sweet one. It’s been over a dozen years since Offaly’s last senior win over the Cats, and while deeds done in the Walsh Cup in January don’t be remembered for long, this marked the day when an Offaly team stood up to the champions and saw the win out to the end.

Thing is, the win didn’t seem at all possible until time was almost up when Offaly finished in the ascendancy with the last five points of an engrossing contest.

An Offaly win certainly didn’t seem possible at the end of the first quarter as Kilkenny led 0-6 to 0-1, hurling with the aid of the hash wind, as Currams took some time to find his range with the frees.. A Kilkenny goal or two then would certainly have opened the floodgates but the goal didn’t come. Richie Hogan caused some bother for Eanna Murphy, and while Offaly did some grand hurling, it wasn’t threatening the scoreboard.

Kilkenny, still on top, hit a succession of wides and Offaly settled that bit more, keeping it score-for-score for a 0-10 to 0-6 deficit as half time approached, John mulhall and Michael Grace finishing two points apiece in that half. Kilkenny might have got in for a goal, but the impressive Stephen Egan intercepted Hogan’s handpass with the goal on. Derek Morkan, Stephen Wynne and James Rigney also impressed in defence, while James Dempsey was assured in goal.

Ger Oakley led the charge in attack, moved to centre half forward mid way through the half in a switch with Rory Hanniffy. Typical of Oakley he left nothing on the field, and but for a few unfortunate ‘first touches’ might have opened up the defence.
Then Ger Healion availed of the experimental ‘square-ball’ rule to trouble goalkeeper Herity under the dropping ball and, on the ground, forced the ball over the line to reduce the gap to a point at the break. 0-10 to 1-6.

Offaly levelled quickly after the break, but when an Offaly attack broke down, Kilkenny swept down the field and Martin Boran reacted first to flash the ball past Dempsey. Typical Kilkenny. Flippin’ typical.

Offaly dug in though, the half back line hurled well and Parlon got a much better service. Parlon showed well for the ball, Ger Healion fought like mad for every ball, and a couple of Currams frees levelled it, 1-11 apiece, 20 still to play.

Two Kilkenny points made it 1-13 to 1-11 and Kilkenny seemed about to kick for home, but the scoreboard stuck on 1-13 to 1-11 for ten minutes, as Offaly clocked up the wides. Richie Hogan went for a goal from a 20m free which was well blocked by Dempsey and Offaly piled into the ruck to ensure the ball wouldn’t pass, and Wynne and Egan combined to clear.

Then Ger Oakley won a ball in the air he’d no right to win, shook off a few strong challenges and fired a mighty point from fifty metres. With the crowd behind them, Offaly stormed into it. Hurling on the front foot, Bergin came into it from centre back and soon pointed from distance and Kevin Brady followed suit with a point from O’Brien Park! Kilkenny were unable to engineer a late winner and Bergin closed it out with a free from 65 metres. Offaly outscored Kilkenny 0-10 to 1-3 in the second half and Kilkenny hit only one wide in that second half - that from a Hogan free! Yep - Dempsey pucked out five times in the second half!

It may be the Walsh Cup, but if Kilkenny were to win, there’d be much comment regarding their hunger to win every match etc. etc. Arrigle does note John Power’s comment about the straws making up the bales which eventually stack up on the All-Ireland trailer. It may well have been a weakened Kilkenny team lacking the cohesion of a team unit, but many of the Kilkenny team hold All-Ireland under 21 and minor medals and most will harbour ambitions of making it on the Kilkenny senior team.

The Walsh Cup has been a springboard to the Offaly team before, most notably Kevin Martin’s tour-de-force against the same opposition in 1994.

With the league coming up, the Offaly defence is taking shape. Dempsey is assured in goal, while Egan, a defender who likes to get out in front, already looks every bit a leader in defence. Wynne is a tight-marking corner back and is developing well. Murphy seemed in trouble under the dropping ball, even against the smaller Hogan. He improved after the break. He may actually do better with a recognised defender playing at centre back, David Kenny maybe.

James Rigney was solid in the first half, but had a thundering second half and did brilliantly in the air. Morkan too did well, and his stroke-play was superb. I’d have my doubts about Joseph Bergin as a defender, but I suppose it’s worth a try. His best hurling came as Offaly attacked incessantly late on. Then there’s Diarmuid Horan and David Franks to be considered!

Cathal Parlon was the best of the attack, while Daniel Currams had a good second half after moving to the wing. Ger Healion has potential as a full forward, at least in the league anyway. The half forward line is the line that needs the most work at this stage, and this line having to contest only five of their own puckouts may be a considerable pointer to Offaly's win. They could probably do with Derek Molloy’s bustling, Joseph Bergin’s scoring and Rory Hanniffy’s intelligence around here.

Kilkenny won’t be too perturbed by this defeat, given the team that lined out, and the team Offaly face in Kilkenny in the league will be much different. Still, Kilkenny too have their difficulties – principally keeping their star hurlers fresh for late summer and the assault on the unprecedented. It will be interesting to see just how they cope.

Offaly: James Dempsey; Stephen Egan, Eanna Murphy, Stephen Wynne; James Rigney, Joseph Bergin (0-3, 1f, 1 ‘65’), Derek Morkan; Ger Oakley (0-1), James Keane; Rory Hanniffy (0-2), Joe Brady, Shane Kelly (0-2); Cathal Parlon (0-2), Ger Healion (1-0), Daniel Currams (0-5, 4f).
Subs: Kevin Brady (0-1) for Keane, Fergal Daly for Kelly and Conor Mahon for J Brady.

Kilkenny: David Herity; Kieran Joyce, Canice Hickey, Damien Fogarty; John Dalton, PJ Delaney (0-1f), David Prendergast; John Tennyson, Lester Ryan; Michael Grace (0-2), Eoin McGrath (0-1), John Mulhall (0-3); Martin Boran (1-1), Richie Hogan (0-4, 2f), Mark Bergin (0-1).
Subs: Matthew Ruth for Bergin, Niall Walsh for Tennyson, Martin Walsh for Dalton, Aidan Fogarty for Grace.

Referee: James McGrath (Westmeath).

Note. Offaly face Galway next Sunday. While Galway are the first team named which would ordinarily mean they are at home, the rule is that where a Leinster team face a non-Leinster team or a college, the Leinster county are at home. This is what happened in the Kehoe Cup this year.

[black and red exile]

Superb report POTH. Confidence will no doubt be sky high at training this week, the Galway game is certainly one to look forward to next week, what a pity it clashes with the footballers game in Tullamore although with the hurling probably in Bannagher or Rath I would imagine there will still be a half decent crowd in attendance.

[Kevin]

It never hurts to get used to winning. Congratulations and best wishes for the next day out!

[Phoenix]

It was great to be there and it was a perfect introduction to inter-county senior hurling for the new lads (I know they hurled against DIT but this was a different type of occasion). It was encouraging to see Offaly keep hurling when Kilkenny seemed to be drawing effortlessly ahead at various times in the game. Like the old days to see the backs and midfield get a grip on the game towards the end and drive the team forward.

Having said that - the Kilkenny team that POTH posted up above which played against Ballyhale Shamrocks on Saturday was a lot stronger than the squad which faced Offaly. The Walsh Cup side really was a Kilkenny 3rd team.

This win is a great springboard for the year and the Galway game is a bonus. Thanks to POTH for the well-written and evocative report.

[Plain of the Herbs]

Vincent Hogan was there for the Indo . . .
http://www.independent.ie/sport/hurling ... 42119.html

Vincent Hogan: Dooley wallows in surprise scalp
By Vincent Hogan

Monday February 01 2010

A gentle smile dances around Joe Dooley's lips as the January mischief commences.

"End of Kilkenny Joe?" chuckles a reporter. "Ah yes," he complies. "That's the end of the five-in-a-row as well. I don't think so now, far from it I'd say now lads."

Offaly hurlers have just beaten Kilkenny in a senior contest for the first time since the '98 All-Ireland final. They are into the last four of the Walsh Cup. Tullamore tingles in a low sun and, in the little yard fronting the old, soon-to-be-demolished dressing-rooms, locals beam with fresh-laundered optimism.

Little acorns.

educated

Joe's hurling life has educated him in the folly of seeing a beaten Kilkenny team as anything other than a unit with a cause.

They've lost a cup here and it will be headline news in the coming months if they happen to lose another.

In the meantime, he is contented in the way of a father who has identified spirit in a quiet child.

Offaly won this game from behind, you see. The first time they led was four minutes from the end of normal time, at which point the heat of the contest had intensified to a level that was interesting and decent.

Yet, this wasn't exactly PT Barnum rolling into town with the Big Top. On Saturday, an entirely different Kilkenny team beat their own county champions, Ballyhale Shamrocks, in a splendid Bennettsbridge challenge.

The scalp taken yesterday won't quite have been worthy of bonfires, then. Kilkenny are what they are. The team the rest of the game still chases.

No matter, Offaly -- too -- had maybe a dozen absentees here, maybe half of them tied up with their colleges. And some of those who started, Rory Hanniffy and Dan Currams among them, were -- literally -- playing their first games of the year.

"It's early days yet lads and I wouldn't read too much into it," sighed Dooley, carefully tramping down the embers. "But it's a great start to the year for us because we're working hard to try and get back up there. If Kilkenny had a full team out there, it would obviously have been a different story. But at the same time, psychologically, it's nice to get the win.

"Because a win against Kilkenny is a lift for everybody on the panel. They had a lot of people missing today but, at the same time, maybe 12 out of their 15 would have had All-Ireland medals in their back pocket. I know it's only January, but you have to start somewhere.

"The pleasing thing was that we hurled for the 70 minutes and didn't throw in the towel or drop the heads at any time. If we had lost by a point, it wouldn't have been the end of the world because it's the performances you're looking for."

Offaly looked edgy at the outset and poor striking in front of goal allowed them slip 0-6 to 0-1 adrift inside 18 minutes. Kilkenny, particularly in the form of half-backs John Dalton and PJ Delaney, looked to have a physical edge while Richie Hogan and John Mulhall especially seemed to be ambling about their business at the far end.

Yet, a Daniel Currams free was bundled over the line by Ger Healion in first-half injury-time and Dooley can't but have been delighted to see his charges slip down the tunnel just one adrift (1-6 to 0-10).

Cathal Parlon was the pick of the forwards, yet should have done better in the 17th minute when, having dummied Damien Fogarty almost out of the ground, he shot weakly at David Herrity.

Likewise for Kilkenny, Hogan twice handpassed to a team-mate when the selfish option would have been the right one.

Just after the resumption, Martin Boran's first-time pull on a Lester Ryan delivery put Kilkenny three to the good and, seemingly, ready to stretch away.

But Offaly wouldn't die and, remarkably, Kilkenny did not register a single score in the closing 17 minutes. At the same time, the Cats conceded 0-5 and had David Herrity to thank for a wonderful reflex save from Shane Kelly.

The game was won in the last five minutes, Joe Bergin making a towering catch from a puck-out to draw Offaly level and substitute, Kevin Brady, putting them in front after fielding Herrity's very next delivery. The gentle smatterings of applause from the 500 or so assembled were now hardening into roars.

Parlon scored his third point of the day from another Kevin Brady surge and Bergin then closed the casket with a resounding thump, driving over a monster free from deep in his own half.

Brian Cody watched it unfold, hands in pockets, face impassive. You could tell he has lived through more harrowing days.

"We put ourselves in a position where we could win the game and we didn't win it. You'll always be disappointed when that happens," he said afterwards.

"But I'm happy enough. We're just looking at lads obviously, trying to open up the panel and see how players go in a competitive game. Certainly we'd have learnt things from today for sure."

Offaly progress then to a semi-final against Galway next Sunday. Kilkenny slip back to the salt mines.

SCORERS -- Offaly: D Currams 0-4 (0-4f), C Parlon, J Bergin (0-2f) 0-3 each, G Healion 1-0, R Hanniffy, S Kelly 0-2 each, G Oakley, K Brady 0-1 each. Kilkenny: M Boran 1-1, R Hogan 0-4 (0-2f), J Mulhall 0-3, M Grace 0-2, E McGrath ,M Bergin, PJ Delaney (0-1f) 0-1 each.

OFFALY -- J Dempsey; S Egan, E Murphy, S Wynne; J Rigney, J Bergin, D Morkan; G Oakley, J Keane; R Hanniffy J Brady, S Kelly; C Parlon, G Healion, D Currams. Subs: K Brady for Keane (55), F Daly for Kelly (62), P Cleary for Brady (64).

KILKENNY -- D Herrity; K Joyce, C Hickey, D Fogarty; J Dalton, PJ Delaney, D Prendergast; J Tennyson, L Ryan; J Mulhall, E McGrath, M Grace; M Boran, R Hogan, M Bergin. Subs: M Ruth for Bergin (h-t), N Walsh for Tennyson (44), M Walsh for Dalton (57), A Fogarty for Grace (69).

Ref -- J McGrath (Westmeath).

- Vincent Hogan

Irish Independent

[durra1]

Great Report.

The whole game summarised perfectly.

[Bord na Mona man]

Great to win.
It warms the heart to hear of Offaly digging in hard to close out the game.

Obviously a lot of that Kilkenny team won't even be on the summer time panel, but Offaly were shorn a few regular players too.
We'll take it anyway.

To cure ailurophobia, like any other phobia, you start small and build it up in stages.
Yesterday's win is a good way to start.

[black and red exile]

Vincent Hogan said in the indo there was about 500 present, I can tell ye in the last 5 minutes it sounded like there was 5000 there.