Offaly Senior Footballers 2025

[Superhans75]

Got delayed yesterday so missed the first half
So I can't comment on it.
Look we should have got a point but we didn't
We still have a chance but it's a lot harder.
Nice little ground decent folk and someone gave me a lift in to Omagh after which shortened my journey .
I thank them very much .
Have a good week

[SearingDrive]

Got delayed yesterday so missed the first half
So I can't comment on it.
Look we should have got a point but we didn't
We still have a chance but it's a lot harder.
Nice little ground decent folk and someone gave me a lift in to Omagh after which shortened my journey .
I thank them very much .
Have a good week

Promotion is in our own hands, another defeat could end Offaly’s efforts to get out of Div. 3

[joe123]

So we've to beat Kildare.

If taking at least a point off Kildare in a home game isn't realistic, then we've no business up in Division Two anyway.

First off, we're not in division 2, secondly kildare may have had a couple of poor enough seasons but they are very strong this year and their results show that, the new rules also suits them. there are a couple of teams in division 2 we'd stand a better chance of beating. I don't expect us to get anything out of kildare be it in Tullamore or not. We also don't have to beat them to get promoted.. there will be changes as there always is in this division, we could get promoted with 9 points but I think 10 points (a win v Leitrim and clare) will get us promoted. I don't see any of the other teams gettin to 10, kildare will win all their games.

[Lone Shark]

If Kildare get promotion to Division Two, they will be expected to fall in the middle of the pack next year. Maybe a smidge ahead of Down, Cavan, and whoever else just about avoids the drop, but on all known form, you couldn't say that they would be better than Louth, Meath or Cork, and certainly not better than whichever teams out of Roscommon/Monaghan/Mayo/Armagh/Derry also end up in that second tier.

Or to put in another way, if we were to find ourselves in Division Two in 2026, then a home game against Kildare would probably be one of the two or three best chances we would have to pick up points. In fact if Division Two was to finish as it is now, with Westmeath and Down making the drop, I actually don't think there could be an easier fixture than Kildare at home. Cavan will have Paddy Lynch back which is an immediate four-point improvement, Meath are going far better than I thought possible, and Louth have been the second best team in Leinster for a few years now.

That's not me saying that I suddenly think Kildare are terrible, or that Offaly are favourites to win the game in OCP in a couple of weeks - it's me saying that I don't share the prevailing view on this board that this game is all but a write off, and to my mind, if we're not at least very competitive in it, then no, absolutely not, I don't think we're ready for Division Two football.

And in terms of ten points being good enough for promotion, I don't think Fermanagh's games against Laois or Sligo are tap in fixtures at all, but an away trip to Ennis is a tougher assignment than either of those games. So from an Offaly perspective, I wouldn't plan for 10 points being good enough, we could well need 11.

[joe123]

If Kildare get promotion to Division Two, they will be expected to fall in the middle of the pack next year. Maybe a smidge ahead of Down, Cavan, and whoever else just about avoids the drop, but on all known form, you couldn't say that they would be better than Louth, Meath or Cork, and certainly not better than whichever teams out of Roscommon/Monaghan/Mayo/Armagh/Derry also end up in that second tier.

Or to put in another way, if we were to find ourselves in Division Two in 2026, then a home game against Kildare would probably be one of the two or three best chances we would have to pick up points. In fact if Division Two was to finish as it is now, with Westmeath and Down making the drop, I actually don't think there could be an easier fixture than Kildare at home. Cavan will have Paddy Lynch back which is an immediate four-point improvement, Meath are going far better than I thought possible, and Louth have been the second best team in Leinster for a few years now.

That's not me saying that I suddenly think Kildare are terrible, or that Offaly are favourites to win the game in OCP in a couple of weeks - it's me saying that I don't share the prevailing view on this board that this game is all but a write off, and to my mind, if we're not at least very competitive in it, then no, absolutely not, I don't think we're ready for Division Two football.

And in terms of ten points being good enough for promotion, I don't think Fermanagh's games against Laois or Sligo are tap in fixtures at all, but an away trip to Ennis is a tougher assignment than either of those games. So from an Offaly perspective, I wouldn't plan for 10 points being good enough, we could well need 11.

I think kildare have had a couple of poor years since they fell out of division one and are in no uncertain terms on the way back to being a top quality team and on their day are capable of mixing it with the best. They are a big county and produce a lot of quality footballers, they are and will be a team that will benefit from the new rules and I believe they will be promotion contenders in division 2 next year.

Well I don't think right now we're ready for division 2 because we ain't in division 2 but to say that we're not ready for division 2 next year because we can't get at least a point off kildare this year just doesn't make sense. I'm not saying we can't get anything out of that game but we'll most likely be beaten by a few points, I don't believe that means that a young improving Offaly team with relatively new management won't be ready for division 2 next year.

I'd fancy Offaly more to get 4 more points than I would fermanagh to get 6. But look this Division is notorious for all sorts of results and teams nickin points off each other, 9 points with a better score difference might even be enough. Fingers crossed.

[Superhans75]

Let's just beat Leitrim first .
Then deal with Kildare after.
Rather there was not a fortnight gap between the games because pressure and hype can be an issue.
Ballinamore or bust
Looking forward to game .

[Cheddar]

Look at the start of the league, if you told me we’d have 6 points from 8, we’d be in 2nd place and we had winnable games ahead, I would have taken your hand off.

Let last Sunday be the dip, the game where we weren’t on the ball and just make sure we bounce back professionally for the next game in Leitrim. We are still in an excellent position and I do think Sligo could do us a favour yet.

Also, just out of interest, why have none of Leitrim’s games been in Carrick-on-Shannon? A decent little ground and very accessible from the N4.

[ah lethimoutwithit]

Look at the start of the league, if you told me we’d have 6 points from 8, we’d be in 2nd place and we had winnable games ahead, I would have taken your hand off.

Let last Sunday be the dip, the game where we weren’t on the ball and just make sure we bounce back professionally for the next game in Leitrim. We are still in an excellent position and I do think Sligo could do us a favour yet.

Also, just out of interest, why have none of Leitrim’s games been in Carrick-on-Shannon? A decent little ground and very accessible from the N4.

I think work being done there has caused the move.

And agree totally, hardly a person here who back in Jan would have thought we would be in this position at this stage it they are being honest.
Same as the hurlers, its one game at a time and give Leitrim the respect that you'd give anyone, that will be the message this week.

[ruletheroost]

We have a growing list of hamstring injuries.. the number is up to 5 now.

This is where a development squad like Kildare have is so important to give those injured lads a game before returning to proper competitive games In the league, and prepare for the championship.

This is where Kildare are leaving us behind. Can anyone tell me why we don’t have one?

[joe123]

We have a growing list of hamstring injuries.. the number is up to 5 now.

This is where a development squad like Kildare have is so important to give those injured lads a game before returning to proper competitive games In the league, and prepare for the championship.

This is where Kildare are leaving us behind. Can anyone tell me why we don’t have one?

Because no one wants to sit on a development squad and get little or no opportunity to play while missing out with their club. Kildare have countless numbers of players compared to offaly. We had a development/trainin squad couple years ago and it's of no benefit to anyone.

[ruletheroost]

You shouldn’t have to miss out on your club? Just playing the games is what I thought happened.

[joe123]

You shouldn’t have to miss out on your club? Just playing the games is what I thought happened.

We had a player in there and he wasn't training with the club, was missing and odd match aswell.. think the squad trained once a week or even twice an odd time.. the idea of it sounds good but it's a bit much to ask some players who really once they are outside of the 26 won't get any game time

[ryot]

a development squad :::::: Living in Kildare I know their Dev Squad did some training and have played quite a few games, challenges v Waterford, Tipp and one or two more (Cavan ?) as well as participating in a "Leinster Dev League* v Dublin, Louth & Meath.

Offaly could do similar which could add to the squad and might uncover some hidden talent. Kildare had a lad midfield recently who was never mapped until this year.....

[ryot]

There was a mention of a free when an Offaly player strayed into (?) his own half to interept/collect possession.
Was the free given from that spot or brought to the 20 line---- In the programme from Croke Park on Sunday it is clear any such free is "on the point where the player crossed the halfway line "

[Cheddar]

Was chatting to one of the senior players today. Things are good in camp. There’s a good attitude and positivity there, and they are really enjoying it.

Long may it last.