2005 – The Offaly Senior Football Championship in Review

[Lone Shark]

When introducing this article last year, we were hot on the heels of an Offaly championship that was completely and utterly dominated by Rhode. Lone Shark was not alone in expressing concerns that for one club to be so dominant was not likely to bode well for the county’s fortunes, which is after all the common goal. Rhode have recently retained their title, but they met with a lot more resistance this year, and that in itself is a much more positive sign for next year. Certainly if they go on to have a good run in Leinster it will reflect well on them, but also on the other clubs in the county, most notably Shamrocks and Tullamore who came so close to toppling the Village in games this year, even if Tullamore did fade miserably in the second clash between the two.

Against this, you certainly couldn’t say that a wide range of unknown players made their case for inclusion in Kevin Kilmurray’s county panel next year. Thomas Coughlan and Ken Casey were probably the best young players of the championship, but they still look to be players for 2007 and beyond rather than 2006, though Lone Shark could easily be proved wrong on that. As things stand though it looks like the panel for 2006 will be quite similar to that of 2005, notwithstanding the significant loss of Conor Evans and the less severe but still notable absentees James Grennan and Mark Daly, with the futures of Colm Quinn, Cathal Daly and Roy Malone very much in doubt also. Based on that short synopsis, it’s difficult to be excessively optimistic.

However going through teams club by club, here’s Lone Shark’s 2005 review.

Group 1 - Rhode:

They never reached the mercurial heights they hit last summer when they demolished all opposition within the county with ease, but they still retained the Dowling Cup, and did so unbeaten. It’s easy to pick at flaws and weaknesses, but in truth they are still the leading club in the county and the benchmark that others have to reach. Within the club they will be hoping for a good run in Leinster, though the draw has certainly asked a lot of them. An away game in Wicklow - probably against St. Patrick’s who are also defending their county title - will be followed, if successful, by another clash with the Laois champions. Portlaoise have not been playing at the level that brought them to Croke Park last March, but they will still be wily and dangerous opponents should that game come about. Last year’s experience should stand to Rhode though, and if they can play to their potential, they could prove to be a difficult side to contain.

County Watch: There’s not many players pull on Rhode jerseys that aren’t county contenders at one level or another, but their campaign in Leinster throughout the Autumn will tell a lot of how some of these players will handle a higher grade. Starting from the back, Brian Darby had another good year, and crowned it with a good display marking Brian Monaghan in the county final. He’ll definitely start for the under 21 team this spring, and is a dark horse for a senior corner back role in the league. Mark Cassidy is a good all round footballer, whose potential was noted when he was called up to the county panel during last summer. He’ll certainly be on the panel again, but might lack the tenacity required to actually start. Completing the full back line set, Shane Sullivan is in possession of a county shirt and probably won’t relinquish it, though he is probably better suited to playing in the half back line than that close to his own goal. His attacking instincts are great at club level in that they drive his team onwards, but at county where mistakes are more readily punished, that instinct is not always a good thing. Barry Malone missed a lot of the campaign through injury, and is probably unlikely to make the comeback we all hoped for. By the end of last summer’s county championship he looked like a player who was on the road to becoming the player that left for America several summers ago. Twelve months later on and that looks a lot further off, sadly. However outside him, Joe Kilmurray played some very good football this summer, marking well and using the ball intelligently. A more mature player now than when he was playing for county underage teams, he is another dark horse who might find doors opening for himself if he plays well in Leinster. At midfield, Alan McNamee proved on county final day that he is still the best midfielder playing senior football in Offaly right now, and even if the likes of Coughlan and Keane are waiting in the wings, they have a lot to do to usurp him. Up front David Hope has been knocking over frees consistently, and delivering very good ball into his inside forwards. With Colm Quinn not getting any younger, he looks one of the main candidates to fill that playmaking role whenever it becomes available in coming years. Paschal Kelleghan has also been playing in the half forwards a lot, though it has to be said he has not been standing out like a county player should in that role. He scored 1-2 in the county final, reminding all and sundry of the talent at his disposal – which was never in doubt. His attitude and work rate often is, unfortunately. Well worth his place if he puts his head down and gets himself ready over the winter though. Finally Niall McNamee, the great white hope of Offaly football. Either not at his best or in need of surgery, depending on who you listen to, but certainly he never devastated opponents this year the way he can. He has been playing a lot of football, so some degree of burnout was probably unavoidable, but for the county’s sake he can be the X-factor that makes all the difference. Whether surgery or rest is what’s needed to get him back to his best, it has to be done.

Group 1 - Shamrocks:

It’s easy to say it was a great year for the club, but no doubt it doesn’t feel like it now to any of the stalwarts around Rahan or Mucklagh. However they developed well as the summer went on, and in light of the manner of the defeat, there should be a lot more enthusiasm for facing into winter training than there would have been if they had lost in the manner Gracefield did in 2004. On balance Rhode probably were the best team in county in 2005, but Shamrocks were not far behind, and are definitely in pole position in the race to knock the Village off their perch next year. They have a few young players in the panel that certainly have talent but have also showed signs of a poor temperament. How these lads handle the transition to starting for the club seniors and the responsibility that brings will be crucial to their chances of going that one step further next September.

County Watch: Padraig Kelly has re-established himself as the county’s number one keeper, and with laser eye surgery looking to have been extremely beneficial, he will deservedly start between the posts next year. However for all Shamrocks fine summer, he might not have that many club men out the field playing with him. Neville Coughlan continues to do what he does best. He is fantastically fit, very strong, a good fielder and a good passer of the ball. Not the best scorer in the world, but does a vital job for the county, and will certainly and deservedly start. His brother Thomas was widely heralded as the next big thing this summer, however Lone Shark would be a little more measured in his praise of Coughlan the younger. He played very well, and was a key player in his club’s good run, that much is beyond question. However midfielders in Offaly are very thin on the ground, and performances can sometimes be deceptive when the standard of opposition is poor. Alan McNamee got the better of him in no uncertain terms in the county final, and it is by that yardstick he should be judged. He needs a good under 21 campaign to guarantee a place in the senior panel, and even then will probably not start a championship game until 2007 at the earliest. Shane Guinan manned the square very well in early games, and while he’s probably an outside shot, in a county that’s short on defensive defenders, he could be worth a call up and should probably get it. However his poorer displays in the semi final and final would be a concern, and though he will probably get a shout, he wouldn’t be Lone Shark’s choice. Of the forwards, only Leonard Mooney really has the talent to warrant further inspection in terms of county selection, and even then his tendency to disappear for long stretches will probably count against him. Capable of very hot streaks, but will probably prove too inconsistent to really hold a senior slot. Looking at the younger players, one cannot but have been impressed by Derek Molloy’s cameo roles in the county semi final and final. Opinions of this young lad are mixed, but if he’s prepared to spend a year or two listening to the experience around him, he could yet be a player to watch at under 21 level in 2007 if not next year. A repeat of this year’s episodes with the county minor team should not be tolerated though.

Group 1 - Tullamore:


A languishing Tullamore is no good for Offaly football, and as such it was good to see the town getting back to the business end of the county championship. They let their supporters down in a big way with a very limp performance against Rhode in the semi final, but that shouldn’t take from some much improved displays up to that point. They started poorly, losing against Shamrocks in an awful game back in April, but since then they came on game by game, with a slight blip in the drawn quarter final against Gracefield, to the point where many people considered them real live contenders to upset Rhode in their second meeting. It wasn’t to be, but they’ve got back to being a side that most teams will want to avoid in the draw for next year’s group stages, and that’s a positive step in itself.

County Watch: Every year we assume John Kenny will be retiring from county football, and yet he keeps returning each summer. Lone Shark is not alone in being very grateful for the service John has given the county town the years, but please, no more. He doesn’t have the legs for the county game, and based on this summer, he barely has the legs for the club game. This is hardly an indictment bearing in mind how much football the man has played, but to see him being sent in against Laois near the end as we were in trouble was a kick to the teeth of several good forwards who could have been given the chance instead. Somebody somewhere decided that about five years ago that one of Ireland’s best wing backs was a forward – five years later I still don’t see it. Along similar lines, Cathal Daly had another less than inspiring year at centre back for Tullamore. He’s still a good corner back, and possibly will come into contention in that role for the county next year again, but he is not and never will be a centre back for his club, no matter how much he might want to be, and watching him being outplayed by Padraig Sullivan - a converted defender - in the semi final was unsettling. However while the old guard might be on the way out, in James Keane Tullamore have the finest prospect in the county. Playing midfield for the town throughout the summer he was good under a high ball, physically imposing, strong defensively and able to chip in with a couple of scores in every game. He was the main reason why Tullamore were in contention for so long in that semi, as evidenced by their collapse when he went off. He’s a certain starter - if fit - next summer, and looks like being a mainstay of the county team for a long time to come. The club is currently backboned by a corps of young players, many of whom have good potential but are all a bit short of the required standard yet. Shane Dooley is probably as close as any to being at the required level, although he was fairly quiet playing under 21 this year. He’ll need to develop more of a forwards instinct, a selfish streak if you like, to go after the ball and want to take scores. He has all the talent however. Gearóid Ó’Grady is a lively, busy young player, and will certainly be in the shake up for the under 21 team this year, but doesn’t really score enough at club level to suggest that he’s county standard. Michael Hoey is a very good finisher, but struggled to get any change out of the better full back lines he faced this summer, so probably needs a lot more games at club level to bring himself on. The only other Tullamore player who’s really likely to join Keane in the county set up is Paul McConway. McConway has shown really good awareness and footballing instinct, he marks well and he’s good on the ball. He’s still a player in development, but a player who has a bright future nonetheless.

Group 1 – Ferbane

There’s a lot of cloud, and on the face of it the silver in the lining wouldn’t be enough to mould into a pair of cuff links, let alone a trophy. They were competitive in their first two games, even if they never looked like winning, and were completely outclassed by Shamrocks. That’s even more worrying, since you couldn’t say they were underachieving, they just weren’t able to cut it against the heavyweights. That is the only consolation though – they were definitely in with the three strongest teams in the county this year, and with a couple of key players likely to return for the West Offaly mini championship that will be next year’s group 3, they should get back to a level that will win them a couple of games at least. However the dearth of top class forwards still holds the club back from making any real progress, and with the club underage sides still full of good backs and moderate forwards, it’s hard to expect any real progress for another two or three years at least. The lack of a strong second string continues to hurt them – Clara, Rhode and Tullamore all have intermediate teams backing them up, while Edenderry and Shamrocks have strong junior sides. Ferbane’s junior team were in the junior A weak group – this is not a good omen for a club that ten years ago had a second string capable of winning the intermediate championship.

County Watch: James Grennan has finally called it a day at county level, and in truth it’s probably not before time. He has put in years of great service for the county, but the legs and more pertinently the shoulders are beginning to creak, and even at club level this year he wasn’t the force he used to be. Realistically it’s hard to see a county senior panellist coming out of the club this year – the only possible exception being under 21 player David Lowry. He was in the squad last year as reserve goalkeeper, but he was the one bright light for the club this year playing in the half forward line, and he has two particular traits that will be of interest to the selectors – his size, being 6’3” and built to match - and his freetaking. He has become a very accurate free taker at club level, and is capable of taking frees from anything up to 60 metres out. No slouch from general play either, he’ll be one to watch carefully next summer. Gerry Grehan was one of the better minor players this summer, and his attitude and workrate continue to be nothing short of exemplary, meaning that he’ll do a good job for any team that he’s involved in. His size will probably preclude him from an under 21 call up for at least another year, but he will have a significant role to play for Ferbane in the coming summer, and he should continue his development on account of that.

Group 2 – St. Brigid’s:

Much like Doon over the last few years, St. Brigid’s are a fine example of what small Offaly clubs should aspire to. They are fiercely competitive, play with great pride at all times, and rarely lose games that they shouldn’t lose. They don’t leave too much room for manoeuvre between themselves and the thin red line of the law at times, but this should not overshadow the good direct football or the few very talented players in their ranks. Most people would love to see them take the next step from reaching the knockouts the last couple of years and go on to reach the county final, but it’s certainly a big ask for them. Realistically, it’s hard to see them improving on their current position within the county’s hierarchy, barring some serious development on the part of Ken Casey.

County Watch: Needless to say it’s the aforementioned Ken Casey who’s the first player discussed when the Croghan club comes up in conversation. However it shouldn’t be forgotten that he is still minor next year, and talk of a senior call up for the lad are way off the mark. He’ll get plenty of football in the coming years, and should be looked after carefully rather than hurried along. He’ll be playing county minor and under 21 next year, and that’s more than enough. On the field, he has the ability to take a score and compete fiercely for possession that would suggest he’ll do well. Still a long way to go though. Seán Casey on the other hand, is, in this writer’s opinion, ready to start for the county seniors. He’s an aggressive defender who suffocates opposing forwards, and is the type of player who could re-establish Offaly as a team to be feared. He was a huge loss for his club in the quarter final against Ballycumber, and should be given every chance in the league campaign. James Carroll also got injured early in that game, and his influence around the middle was sorely missed also. This is the same point I made regarding him last year, but with the county suffering from a dearth of genuine midfielders, Carroll is one who should be given an opportunity. A player who has been given an opportunity but still leaves the impression of being a “maybe” player is David Egan. He had some good displays and some not so good displays in the county shirt, but remains a contender. Not very big, but whole hearted and well able to score – in what could easily be a heavily revamped forward line this summer he may feature. Finally Enda Egan is another solid player for the Croghan team that is in the prime of his career and could do a job for the senior panel. He reads the game very well, does the simple things right, and while he mightn’t catch the eye, that kind of quiet effectiveness could be very useful. Another dark horse for a slot on the panel.

Group 2 - Gracefield:

After a great 2004 where they reached the county final, Gracefield did not have a happy summer in 2005. By all accounts there was severe disharmony in the ranks during the early part of the summer, and although they made a quarter final after edging out a very disjointed Doon team, and put in a creditable display against Tullamore, they still never really looked like being contenders, and on current form will be one of the teams who’ll find the strong groups tough going next year. They have a reasonable selection of young players emerging who should ensure that they won’t fall too far, but they are still very dependant on Karol Slattery and John O’Neill, and in the case of absence or poor form from one of those players, they will struggle, as evidenced by their abysmal display against St. Brigid’s early in the year while O’Neill was travelling. At the moment they are the leading contender among the top 8 teams to drop to group 3 in 2007.

County Watch: Karol Slattery was once again a contender for player of the year for the county, and he continues to be a dominant force at this level. The question is not if he’ll play for Offaly, but where, and whether he will be captain or not. Lone Shark would be very happy to see him as captain, and personally would also like to see him playing at 10 or 12 in a Brian Dooher style role. John O’Neill made a couple of appearances for Offaly in recent years, but bizarrely they were at midfield or in the half forwards. The jury is out as to whether he’s good enough for either the 13 or 15 shirts for the county, but one thing’s for sure, he should either play in the corner or not play. He is a scorer, and nothing else, and for that reason alone should be given a run in a league game or two. Missed a lot of the early part of the year and still was unstoppable in a couple of the later games. He has to be tried out at least. Tom Fitzpatrick turned out to be one of the better players on an underachieving under 21 team this year, and though he doesn’t necessarily catch the eye in a lot of games that he plays, he still gets on the ball a lot and does the basics right. He could possibly contribute in a workhorse style position given the chance either – certainly his workrate would be very valuable in tricky league games where we start as underdogs. Of the two minor county players this year from the club, John Knight was particularly impressive, and his size and passing certainly bodes well for him in the future. He could easily feature on the under 21 panel this spring, and will be one to watch if he continues his development from there.

Group 2 - Clara:

It was a tough year for the Magpies, and though they were competitive throughout, drawing three of their first four matches and losing the other by a point, they ultimately couldn’t carry the loss of so many key players. Mark Daly was club player of the year two years ago, and his transfer to Lucan Sarsfields cost the club real midfield presence. In his absence they never really looked like taking control of games, and in the end were very lucky to sneak third place in the weaker of the two “strong” groups. Vinny Claffey will benefit from his first year’s experience though, and if they can coax some of their players to resist the bright lights of America for the summer, they will still be a dangerous opponent in 2006.

County Watch: So many of the Clara players that are contenders for roles with Offaly in the coming years have question marks over their summer for one reason or another. Thomas Deehan is a player with great potential, but has still to demonstrate if he has fully recovered from his horrendous injury. He’d certainly benefit from getting playing time in the early challenge matches and in the O’Byrne cup, and based on that we could better judge how he’d fare in a tough league campaign. Joe Quinn is tough, competitive, good under a high ball and generally highly skilled. He’d have all the tools to do a good job in the county half forward line if he could cut out his tendency to lose control of the ball inexplicably. One more year of trying to fill Mark Daly’s boots in midfield for his club will probably be needed before he really reaches that level though. Marius Stones was another player hit by injury just as he was beginning to feature on the county stage. He returned at club level this year, and appears to have added to his physique, but still looks ring rusty. Again, another year of club football is probably needed. John Reynolds, much like last year, stepped up really well in the absence of Deehan, and played a huge part in the competitiveness the club did display. He continues to grow in maturity and at the moment is a likely starter for the county, as is Scott Brady. Brady played with all the fire and drive we associate with him throughout the summer, and also curbed his tendency to vent his frustration which had been so costly in the past. He can’t attack, and tries more often than is wise, but as a pure defender he’s a valuable player for the county and is a guaranteed starter next summer barring injury. Looking further ahead, next year will be a big year for Paul Deehan. This youngster has been marked out as a future star for some time now, and although he failed to force his way into this year’s minor team, next year should see him with a key role in that team. He should also be breaking into the club senior team over the summer if his development is to continue.

Group 2 - Doon:

The club have been dropping back towards the pack ever so slightly over the past two years, and while they still play a very attractive brand of football, next year sees them in what will be a very competitive and fiery group 3 featuring all local rivalries, and it remains to be seen if that will bring out the best in them. They still have some of the most natural footballers in the county, but they’ll have to find a certain amount of steel and resolve not traditionally associated with the club if they are to get back to the knockout stages next summer. The loss through retirement of several established players this summer hit them hard, and they still looked good in their first game against Clara, only to deteriorate from there. Extenuating circumstances can go some way towards explaining this, but even so another year like this could see the club in danger of relegation.

County Watch: As with all small clubs, their fate is largely entwined with their star names, and by no stretch of the imagination was 2005 a good year for James Coughlan. Personal tragedy befell him during the summer, and in the circumstances it’s highly understandable that he may have found football difficult to focus on. He was joined on the county panel – and on the team at times – by Damien Hunt. Damien’s intelligence and fitness meant he was a natural candidate for the centre forward role, and in this supporter’s eyes, he did enough in the Louth match to warrant inclusion in the next game. It didn’t pan out that way, and equally he won’t have been encouraged by management calling on John Kenny instead of him when we were in trouble in subsequent games. Whether he’ll be interested in taking on another year with the county with rugby also an option for him remains to be seen, but if he does he has a lot to offer. This observer would also like to see the two lads above joined at county level by Fintan Ryan. Inky has been a solid club full back for a long time now, and in the absence of Conor Evans in 2006, has to be on the shortlist to fill the number three shirt. Another dark horse from the club is new acquisition from Kerry Aidan Holly. He only played one game for the club last summer against Clara before sustaining injury, but he showed enough class in that game to suggest that he could be capable of making a further step up in grade. We’ll need to see more of him in Doon’s colours before making a more definitive assertion, but he’ll be worth watching. In terms of younger players, the focus will mainly be on David Larkin and Trevor Phelan. Larkin played full back for the minors this year, and was quite sticky throughout, even if he had to carefully watch his fouling against nimble opponents. He’ll need to get more agile as he grows older to progress further, and his performances for Doon in 2005 weren’t up to the level they were at a year previously. If he spends the winter playing some third level football it could be the making of him. Trevor is much closer to being the finished product, although he must be completely sick of being told he’s too small. He’ll never be a good man to win a high ball, but his pace and scorer’s instinct are too good to ignore – he deserves a shot at under 21 to see how he handles it.


Group 3 - Edenderry:

2005 won’t go down as a vintage year in the annals of the Reds, but it still represented a considerable improvement over anything they’ve done in recent years. Two consecutive wins over Ballycumber represented the high point, although there are those who would contend that with a match against Rhode as the prize, Edenderry were a lot more interested in winning those games than Ballycumber were. However be that as it may, even in the quarter final defeat to Rhode there was a lot to encourage Reds fans for the year ahead. The club juniors also put in a fine campaign this year, so between them and some of the brighter prospects on this year’s fine county minor team, there is every chance that Edenderry can continue their forward momentum and get back to where they should be in the county – Dowling cup contenders. How they handle the inevitable loss of stalwarts such as Finbarr Cullen in coming years will be absolutely crucial.

County Watch: Colin McNamara is still one of the better keepers in the county, and he should continue on the panel for the upcoming year. However he will remain behind Kelly in the pecking order barring any serious reversal in form. Adrian Mahon has been playing very well for the club, and he’ll certainly have put himself back in contention for the county also. He has a lot to prove at a higher level, but he’s certainly one who should be given the opportunity. And up front, Ciarán Reilly is still consistently registering good totals, and is a difficult opponent for any corner back. In light of the difficulties our forwards faced in hitting the target this summer, he’ll be an option that Kevin Kilmurray will consider. Looking further forward, Richie Dalton was minor captain this year and became a fixture on the senior club teamsheet also. Several aspects of his game are still in need of work though, so county representation is probably not likely to come his way in 2006 – unlike team mate Ross Brady who is underage for minor again next summer, and will be a crucial player for that team. Whether he plays midfield or half forward remains to be seen, but he’ll be one of the key players in that side and should continue his development.


Group 3 - Ballycumber:

Group 3 was the perfect launch pad for Ballycumber’s good run this year, as they gathered momentum quietly with a series of very winnable games before going into a quarter final against St. Brigid’s with very little expectations on their shoulders. This game was their finest display all year, and was played at a level they never matched against Shamrocks, though you would have fancied Shamrocks to edge them out either way. They have no great amount of size in the team, but each of their players can deliver a pass, they don’t waste possession, and they have a very good set of forwards. However next season will prove a much tougher challenge for them, and even if they do reach the quarters, they won’t be coming in with a settled confident side on the back of a run of wins like this year.

County Watch: It remains to be seen if Colm Quinn will return for another year of county activity. He’s been on the go for a long time now, and certainly does not seem to have seventy minutes of top level football in his legs any more. That said, as impact subs go he could contribute a lot coming into games with twenty minutes to go, as his passing and vision are still unsurpassed within the county, and he could do real damage in games where legs are tiring and space is opening up. He could end up coming on for his club mate Rory Guinan, who had a very impressive club campaign this summer. He’s always been quick, but this summer he was a huge all round threat – giving ball in early, scoring himself, drawing frees and generally just being very hard to contain. Was man of the match both against Edenderry and Brigid’s, and put in a good display against Shamrocks as well when things were going against his team. Deserves a chance to impress, and on this year’s form, should take it. More so than any other player outside of the first fifteen, Guinan has earned a shot at the county team this summer in this observer’s opinion. Ciarán Grennan is still the same player he ever was – very accurate, very dangerous and well able to take a score. His tendency to lose out in the battle for 50/50, or even 60/40 ball, will probably still count against him at county level though. Diarmuid Donoghue is their main contender for a county panel slot among the defenders, though he didn’t have a great summer this year, finding Ken Casey and Leonard Mooney very tricky opponents. Likewise Frankie Bannon had some tough days at the office beside him, and probably won’t get the call up that some people around Ballycumber feel he might deserve.

Group 3 – Shannonbridge:

From the Lone Shark’s point of view, the Bridge have become a very difficult club to talk about. There are others who suggest that the club is short on real talent, and will continue to languish until such time as they eventually fall through the trapdoor. Needless to say Shannonbridge natives do not agree with this assertion. Or like myself, there are those who believe that there is a decent level of talent within the panel, and that they should be doing a lot better, but that maybe they need to engage in some introspection to see why that isn’t the case. That notion doesn’t go down well either. Which leads one to wonder why they believe they are playing in group 3, extremely fortunate to still be senior after a very narrow escape against Bracknagh this year, if their players are so capable? The truth is that they went through another year without beating any decent opponent, to the point that it is now four years since they have beaten any team that is currently senior in a championship fixture, and though the make up of Group 3 next year will no doubt appeal to their competitive instincts, in all likelihood the loser of their match with Erin Rovers will probably find survival to be out of reach. No doubt Lone Shark is going to be accused of an anti-Bridge agenda again for calling it as it is, but last year an email was received detailing how this column was going to be used as motivational material for a much improved campaign in 2005. It started brightly with a draw with Edenderry, but after that clearly it wasn’t motivation enough.

County Watch: Realistically we are looking at a second consecutive year of no Shannonbridge representation on any Offaly team at any level. Jason Kelly is as talented as he always was, but he invariably gets in disputes with management and other players, and is not good enough to warrant consideration when he’s so disruptive. He has the talent to go further if he wishes to employ it positively – that remains to be seen whether or not that is the case. No other player will come into contention.


Group 3 – Erin Rovers:

Working with one of the smallest areas to pick from in Offaly, the Pullough side can be very proud of maintaining their senior status for another year. However with all due respect to the club, it’s hard to see them reaching the level where they will actually contend for honours, or even reaching the knockout stages. The promotion of St. Rynagh’s has left them as, on paper at least, the weakest team in the senior championship, and the favourites to drop back to intermediate. Their performances this year against Edenderry and in the second half against Ballycumber were very praiseworthy, but they ultimately resulted in a draw against a mid-ranking club and a respectable defeat – hardly the stuff dreams are made of. As mentioned above, Lone Shark can’t see past the losers of their clash with Shannonbridge making the drop next year.

County Watch: While you wouldn’t expect any of the Erin Rovers players to make Kevin Kilmurray’s team next year, there are a few players worthy of keeping an eye on all the same. In particular, Alan Lynam was badly missed by our county’s minors during the summer, and was one of the more impressive players in the narrow win over Westmeath. In the few games he did play with the senior club side, he also looked lively, competitive and quite dangerous. He would be a dark horse to make under 21 contention next year, and is very much a player of note in the making. Of the players at their peak at the moment, two players could possibly be worth a look at a higher level, perhaps the county junior side, assuming that particular exercise is taken a little more seriously next year. Richard Fox put in some good displays at midfield, and is both good on the ball and quite rangy and tall. He struggled to make an impact on the county panel last year, eventually getting cut, and by no stretch of the imagination is he county standard yet, but given the chance to play with a better standard of player he could improve to a notable standard. Defender Paddy Lynam played full back for most of the year, and was hard worked in most games, but he generally came out with his reputation intact. He attacks the ball well, is fast enough to live with more forwards, and defends as if his life depends on it, which is a very admirable quality. Again county standard would be a huge step up, but given the chance he could surprise a few people.

Group 3 – Bracknagh:

Bracknagh’s five year stint at senior level finally came to a close this summer, and while it will be seen as a blow to the club, realistically it can only be for the best. The Meath border team were so far off the pace that their existence at senior made a mockery of the whole “weaker group” system. That system shelters clubs like Bracknagh from getting exposed to the kind of hammerings the top teams would dish out, and perhaps if they were losing games by double figures every year – which they did on occasion even in group 3 – they might have realised that they belong at Intermediate, and asked to drop down like Daingean did. Bracknagh were nip and tuck with Daingean for several seasons lately contending for the wooden spoon, and now that we see Daingean failed to even make this year’s quarter finals at that level, that gives an indication of their standard. With clubs like Tubber, Walsh Island and Clonbullogue still chomping at the bit to make the step up, you’d have to say it looks like being at least three or four years before Bracknagh will be able to recoup and make senior once more.

County Watch: Put simply and frankly, the players that would catch scounty selectors’ eyes just aren’t there. This club have been depending on the same valiant old warriors for a long time now, and none of the younger brigade appear to be of that standard.


Intermediate Winners – St. Rynagh’s:

The whole of West Offaly will have rejoiced at the Cloghan boys making the step up for 2006, and joining the rest in what will be a thoroughly enjoyable group 3 next year. (For supporters if not players!!) It was a fantastic achievement for a club that was competing on so many fronts in both codes on into September, and will freshen up matters at senior level considerably. They are operating with a quite young team, and on the face of it they are more likely to reach the quarters next year than suffer relegation. Certainly a good range of their players will improve immensely for the experience of playing senior football, and this can only be good for them and the county in the long run.

County Watch: Certainly relative to some of the clubs that were playing senior in 2005, St. Rynagh’s should contribute to most Offaly intercounty sides to some degree or another next year. After a rocky start to his inter county career, a resurgent Ger Rafferty has played some fine football this year, taking on a lot of responsibility playing at midfield. He has come on both physically and mentally, and could be worth a shot at the senior panel with a view to a role in the half back line. Paudie Mulhare is what he always was as a footballer – a very hard working honest player who will forage well for breaks, use the ball intelligently, and take a scoring opportunity if it arises. He can be always be depended on to do his share in a team, but possibly other alternatives might offer a little more dynamism to the senior panel. At minor level, Diarmuid Horan is underage for another year, and should be a major player for the under 18’s as well as his club. His physique gives him a lot of advantages, and he defends diligently throughout a game, as evidenced by his good display on Alan Mulhall in the inter final. At under 21, James Rafferty had a horrendous experience last year at full back against Meath, where he played as if he was unaccustomed to the subtleties of the play in the last line of defence, all too often going into tackles like a midfielder, only to find his marker winning frees easily and running up scores. His calling will never be in that role, but out around the middle of the park he has the size and the footballing skills to really make an impact on what should be a quite moderate under 21 team next year. He’ll need to add a lot of aggression to his game to really make the step up, but if he can do that he’ll certainly have representative football in his future.

[Bogman]

Great Review Lone Shark.

Trivial Quibble. - Bracknagh a Meath Border Team- "Surely Shome Mistake".

Bracknagh a Kildare Border Team - Yes.
Bracknagh a Laois Border Team - Yes.
Bracknagh a Meath Border Team - Eh No!! Infacta geographically no way in the wide earthly world!!

[Mighty Pair O' Hands]

What ? No mention of Declan Kelly in the Erin Rovers review despite being man of the match against Shannonbridge and Bracknagh ? He was the best player by a country mile in the weaker group last year. Also, Alan Lynam is a good prospect but only played one game last year.

[Lone Shark]

What ? No mention of Declan Kelly in the Erin Rovers review despite being man of the match against Shannonbridge and Bracknagh ? He was the best player by a country mile in the weaker group last year. Also, Alan Lynam is a good prospect but only played one game last year.

The idea behind the "county watch" bit is to mention players who in my utterly unimportant opinion have the ability to represent Offaly at some level or another. Alan Lynam may have only played one game, but I think he has that ability, and will feature in years to come. I didn't see the Erin - Bracknagh game, but certainly I would agree that Declan Kelly was very good in the Bridge match. However I don't see him as having the same potential.

Mea culpa on the Bracknagh thing - no idea what I was thinking at the time.