Offaly .v. Galway - LSHC Semi Final Replay - 26/06/2010

[GreatDayForTheParish]

And so we start all over again.

One swallow does not make a summer much less a 'revival' of Offaly hurling given the last few years that have been endured. Reading the pundits script six days late and being subsequently hammered by Galway on Saturday would risk last Sundays performance being marked as a plucky once off. Something to be avoided.

The general consensus among neutral observers is that Galway were poor, very poor last Sunday with Offaly performing close to the height of their abilities. The verdict then is that Galway will only improve, Offaly only disimprove with a win for the Westerners duly ensuing on Saturday evening.

Unfair? Lazy journalism? Yes and no.
The no first. No one can deny that last Sunday's performance was the best produced by an Offaly hurling team since the All-Ireland Semi-Final against Cork in 2000. Logic dictates that the same couldn't be produced again this Saturday. By the same token it is argued that a complacent Galway produced their worst performance of the year. Warned and woken, with the one eye off Kilkenny and aware of Shane Dooley they should be better prepared for Saturday, if only psychologically. They'll also have Andy Smith back, his suspension expiring at midnight this Friday.

However scratch beneath the surface and it soon become clear that the above analysis is pathetically simplistic. A closer look shows that Offaly can indeed dare to hope, believe even. The obvious: Offaly played the last 25 minutes with 14 men, Galway awarded a point that wasn't, Galway having a 16th man in the ref, Galway's first goal which has more than a touch of the illegality about it and Galway's second goal which just sat up incredibly fortunately for Ger Farragher to double into the net. Any one of those go the other way and Offaly win. If's, buts, could haves and should haves? Maybe but still something to be kept in mind.

The nature of the draw will count in Offaly's favour. Coming off the field, which team felt better? This was not a case of us leading for the whole game only to be caught at the end by Galway with utter deflation ensuing. Galway effectively had last Sunday's game won when Johnny Ryan picked a red out of his pocket. Except they didn't, Offaly fighting tooth and nail to ensure the draw. Instead Galway departed the scene crestfallen, doubts and questions multiplying.

From their own supporters lauding them as contenders in chief for the All-Ireland but one week ago, now the tune is of a different nature. Suddenly their team isn't good enough, never will be. Bar midfield, there is now not one line on the pitch where Galway supporters can find consensus. In defence they wonder has Ollie Canning lost his famous pace, is Donal Barry good enough, should Adrian Cullinane start while the seemingly never ending debate between Tony Og Regan and John Lee for centre back rages on. Up front, the picture is even more murky. Not one position can be agreed upon unanimously, with some even calling for Joe Canning to be tried on the half forward line. As for personel? The front six could be anyone from Callinan, Healey, Gantley, Donnelan, D. Hayes, Tannion, Harte, J. Canning, K. Hayes, Smyth, R. Cummins. Now some of these are more likely than others but it's still a long list, even for mere consideration. Strength in depth or shortage of quality, we'll see. Nonetheless Galway's uncertainty is Offaly's opportunity.

Finally, a word on Offaly's performance last Sunday. Yes, it was the best in decade but that's more a measure of bad those ten years were. Instead of it being a once off, I would argue that how Offaly performed last Sunday was much closer to how they can and should be performing every week. That's what have made the last few years and those second half fadeouts so frustrating. We know we have good hurlers, we could see them competing with the best for the 50 odd minutes for the last number of years only to fall away at the end. As bad as it was for supporters, it must have been maddening for the players. Belief and confidence, two of the most important things in any team was the issue. Sunday, the nature of it, will have done wonders for that. Look at what they achieved in the last 20 minutes through nothing more than sheer hard work and effort. Let them learn.
Thus hard work, as much off the ball as on is the mantra for Saturday. At some stage Galway will hit their purple patch. How we react will determine the nature of the result, a similar response to last Sunday will see us over the line.

Offaly could have won last Sunday, should have. Why can't they on Saturday? No reason.
Believe.

[Georgio1]

I would agree in general with this analysis. However when you look a little deeper at our performance you can see many reasons to believe we can do even better.
Firstly, Stephen Egan played his first game, and grew as the game went on, should be better the next day.
Murphy was never in the game. Dylan Hayden struck 2 good points and should start, but not in midfield. Carroll was poor in the second half.
I thought Franks struggled. Another thing was the hopeless, aimless clearances by some of our backs, Kenny and Morkham in the first half especially. A little more composure and they would have measured their clearances.
Rory was quiet in the first half but did well in the second half.
Even though Joe Bergin put up a reasonable score, he still can produce more.

As to how the team could line out, I would start Murphy and Hannify in midfield, Hayden, Brady and Carroll, Dooley and Bergin inside, with a third man sweepin up around the half forward line as we lost a lot of breaks here on Sunday. What about Kealey roving around pickin up loose ball, his pace could cause harm, or would Cordial work for a half hour?

dempsey performed really well, and was good to see Mullins has stuck with it. He may not play for Offaly again, but would have been a shame to see his time end at half time against Antrim.

Sure, Galway will improve, however they have been rattled, and if Offaly are in the game coming up to half time then we have evry chance again.

Give it a lash lads, and keep lashing till the end, was tears in my eyes at the end of the game last Sunday, was proud of my County, proud of our team, proud of our men! Lets make them proud of us by turning out in numbers that are not an embarassment! and giving them the great support that the small bunch of fans in Croker did!
All the best lads!

[bracknaghboy]

Hayden, Brady and Carroll, Dooley and Bergin inside, with a third man sweepin up around the half forward line as we lost a lot of breaks here on Sunday

Rubbish. I sat in disbelief in Croke Park on sunday as Dublin attemped all sorts of tripe with extra men sweeping in the midfield and half forward line and they were thrashed. If we give Galway a chance to have a loose man floating about the back line he'll pick up the loose ball and drive it back down. It would demoralise our backs. Remember our backs will be under all sorts of pressure and will mostly not have the chance to hit nice placed ball so they have to horse up into the forwards therefore we need 6 forwards against 6 backs. These extra forwards and midfielders are a receipe for disaster.

[tipptopper25]

i think yee left it behind yee last sun... unfortunatly i think yee are in for a hiding on sat... no disrespect ment....

[kinnittyman]

I see the literacy rate in Tipperary has reached an all-time high.

[Offaly2010]

Molloy to miss replay

Derek Molloy looks set to miss the Leinster SHC Replay with Galway due to injury

Published Date: 24 June 2010

IT be a case of Saturday night hurling fever at O'Moore Park as Offaly and Galway square up to each for the fourth time this year in the eagerly awaited Leinster SHC semi-final replay.

Alan Walsh reports

A huge crowd is expected to flock to the Portlaoise venue and the prize at stake is a provincial final berth against reigning All-Ireland champions and five in-a-row seeking Kilkenny.

Unless the GAA rescinds Daniel Currams' red card he'll be unavailable for the replay and Derek Molloy, too, is unlikely to play a part.

Manager Joe Dooley explained, "Derek Molloy is in serious bother. He definitely won't be available for next Saturday I'd say. He'd an ankle injury coming in to the game and he aggravated it. He is a big loss to us."

Joe believes the performance on Sunday gives Offaly great heart ahead of the replay. "Galway really looked like they were going to walk away it and the sending off coincided with their over run as well but we kept plugging and battling. It wasn't easy against the breeze and it gives us great heart for the replay."

He didn't subscribe to the view that Offaly's chance was gone. "That is one way you could look at it I suppose but that would be a negative way of looking at it. The way we'll be looking at it we're getting another game in the Leinster championship and probably proves that we're as good as what is out there."

Joe, who won the first of his three All-Ireland SHC medals by beating Galway in '85, added, "I'm sure Galway there were such raging hot favourites that they are going to be disappointed. Galway played some great hurling. They got a couple of great goals in the second half and they scored some great points. They are league champions and Walsh Cup champions and they are still major contenders to win an All-Ireland."

John McIntyre, who managed Offaly in 1997 (when Joe Dooley was captain) and also from 2005 to 2008, said he and his Galway charges are preparing for another war on Saturday.

"We didn't press on and we allowed Offaly back into the game. I hope journalists won't just put a spin on it that 'oh Galway were shocking' and giving Offaly no credit.

"Offaly played some terrific hurling. There was a combination of both factors in my book. We dipped below our normal standard and Offaly maybe hurled above their's in the context of the past four or five years.

"I believe Offaly deserve huge credit for getting a result after being reduced to 14 players and some critical decisions going against them. So their tails will be up for next weekend and we face another war."

(taken from Offaly Express site)

[Plain of the Herbs]

Strange things, replays. They can take on a trend completely at odds with the drawn game. Saturday will be no different, whatever way it pans out. Generally the team who came from behind to level in the drawn game is the team who takes the bit by the teeth in the replay. And it was Offaly who came from behind.

The cast will change somewhat too. Prior to last Sunday we knew how Galway would line out and how they would approach the game. Offaly, on the other hand, was more uncertain with the lineout under wraps until 24 hours before the game. The boot is on the other foot now. We can reasonably predict 14 of Offaly’s starting 15, the only doubt being who will replace the injured Derek Molloy.

Hard to know who’ll replace Derek Molloy. Ger Healion would be the only one who would be as abrasive as Molloy, though he would be better employed as a replacement when Joe Brady tires. Perhaps start Kevin Brady at midfield.

Offaly performed well last Sunday. They were comfortable in possession and used the handpass well to play their way out of defence while the long high ball to the front line of the attack also paid dividends.

Galway have much scope for change if they want to. They wasted no time introducing John Lee on Sunday, so he will surely start on Saturday. Only Tony Óg Regan’s versatility (or lack of) would keep Lee out of the centre-back berth. While Joe Brady did well on Regan, Lee would have more hurling.

Cyril Donnellan could be looking over his shoulder after last Sunday. They have the option of bringing Íarla Tannian to centre-forward while there is also the option of Kevin Hayes, who hasn’t featured in the championship thus far. Andrew Smith will probably resume, though he could also slot in to midfield with Ger Farragher rejoining the attack. Whatever they do, it won’t be known until the cheering after the final line of Amhrán na bhFiann is subsiding.

Aidan Harte has been much criticised, but the young Gort man has a tricky, and undefined, role to play. That is to vacate the corner-forward position for the diagonal ball into space for Joe Canning. Galway did this alot in the first half last Sunday but not so much in the second half when the pressure came on.

Galway surely don’t expect anyone to believe the cock-and-bull stary that is their injury list, do they? Indeed, that nugget of information may well be intended to dampen the (perhaps unreasonable) expectations of their followers. In other words get them talking along the lines of “what Joe hurl?” as opposed to “will Ollie Canning be able for Eddie Brennan next Sunday?” as appears to be the case.

Focus is all-important. Offaly went to Croke Park last Sunday to beat Galway. Galway travelled up to get a run-out before they take on Kilkenny in the Leinster Final and challenge for the All-Ireland thereafter. In short, Galway’s eye was not on the ball.

A bit like the Clare followers we encountered under the Hogan Stand as we prepared to face for Jones’ Road after the first match in 1998. Clare’s complaint went along the lines of – it’s alright for ye getting yere replay but we’ve to come back again for the All-Ireland!

Galway tend to hurl in bursts such as the first 10 minutes last week and that period after half time. They also fade from games for periods. Offaly finally overcame a second-half fadeout but having a man sent off wouldn’t be the recommended method of doing so. To overcome this Offaly need to introduce an impact sub around the 40 minute mark. Perhaps Brendan Murphy who doesn’t have 70 minutes in him yet. Brian Carroll would be another option.

Twice now in the space of 3 weeks Offaly have shown reserves of steel in the face of adversity. That’s a resolve that has been missing for a whole decade. That’s a big change, a welcome change, and should manifest itself again on Saturday. It may well be another draw, with extra time to decide a winner. With that new-found mental toughness Offaly might just pull through.

[leinsterman]

offaly will take this replay bye four to five points they know they have the beating of galway now and should do it.
i was a proud man last sunday coming out of croker even doe i had to rush to the airport after the game to catch a flight to the uk.

offaly have the winning of this game if they play Rory Hanniffy In the midfield from the start i think if he was there from the start last sunday
there would be no replay this weekend. anyway come on the faithful we can do this on saturday lads .

[bracknaghboy]

they know they have the beating of galway now and should do it.
offaly have the winning of this game if they play Rory Hanniffy In the midfield from the start

Leinsterman is right. The press and bookmakers are dismissing Offaly again (almost as if the game last sunday never took place). They say Galway have most room for improvment well I look at it a different way.....last weekend showed them what a mess of a team they really have and it can't be fixed in 6 days. Full back line a shambles, the much talked about half back line barely broke even, their half forward line are as ordinary as Laois and Antrims half forwards, oh and they have a 1 man full forward line. I honestly think they are there for the taking and this is where if Joe Dooley is worth anything as a manager his years of experience should be vital in getting the lads heads right for this. This reminds of the games against Clare in 98 and I've a feeling we'll take them. Galway have all the doubts hanging over them not Offaly.....if Offaly are there at 60 mins then Galway will fall flat on their faces. Bring it on!!

[ballinamereman1]

lads lets not get carried away.. we could win it but lets take the same approach we did last week and not being blowing ourselfs up saying well win by 4 or 5..

[Bord na Mona man]

Lets not get carried away too much here.

In replays where you have an obvious favourite and underdog, you tend to know after the first 20 minute whether its going to be another close run thing, or whether the favourites are going to romp home.

If Galway are really going right all their wrongs from the last day, they'll be doing it in the first few minutes.

Its vital that Offaly stay with them early on. They'll be the team hitting Offaly with a few tactical variations and a bit of extra vigour.

[leinsterman]

what will happen if offaly get off to a great start last sunday galway in the first and second got off to a flying start in both half's
so if its offaly get off to the good start Galway will have the problem then.

don't forget since we came on the scene in 1980 we have a 100 per cent record in replays
1982 beat laois
1985 beat kilkenny
19998 after three games beat clare
2010 beat Galway we hope

Doesn't matter once we put in another display like last sunday we will give any team a headache if we hurl like last sunday
i can see this team getting back to croker later on this summer.

[Offaly2010]

Anyone hear anything on the team for tomorrow or are going to have to wait until tomorrow again?

[Offaly2010]

Offaly and Galway delay hurling team announcements


25/06/2010
Offaly manager Joe Dooley and his Galway counterpart John McIntyre have delayed naming their teams for tomorrow's Leinster SHC semi-final replay in Portlaoise (throw-in 7pm).

Dooley is expected to announce the Offaly side tonight, pending the outcome of a disciplinary hearing involving Daniel Currams and also the fitness of Derek Molloy.

Substitute Currams was shown a straight red card during the second half of last Sunday's drawn encounter at Croke Park, and is set to appeal his dismissal tonight.

Molloy is extremely doubtful with an ankle injury and a late decision is expected on whether he is able to start or not.

Meanwhile, McIntyre will not name his starting line-up until just before tomorrow's game as the Tribesmen sweat on the fitness of Ollie and Joe Canning and also Damien Hayes.

(taken from breaking news.ie/sport)

[the weasel]

I know this sounds bad but I hope Currams doesnt get cleared to play because ive never seen him play well for Offaly but I know Dooley likes him. Anyway though I wouldnt be surprised if Molloy starts tomorrow. I know people are saying that Rory should be midfield and your probably right that its his best position but Dooley played him on the HF line to compete for the puckouts so if Rory plays midfield and IF Molloy doesnt play Offaly will struggle in the HF line. Helions an option but as POTH kind of said, you dont want him and brady on the half forward. So in saying all this I really hope Molloy plays