Looking back on this game and I think we threw away a great chance to beat one of the top teams in the country. We raced out of the blocks and had the lillies rattled after 10mins but then we start doing what we have been doing the last few years - making too many simple mistakes. Why couldnt the sideline see that kicking high aimless balls into a one man full forward line in the first half was such a waste of possesion. Kildare had a blanket defence and the only way to beat this is by kicking diagonal good balls into space - none of this fist passing going backwards. One stage in first half, offaly had the ball on the end line. Kildare then forced them back out to the halfway line
I know Coffey is only there a few weeks and he should be given time but I feel he made a few tactical errors today.
He should of waited till 5 mins into the second half to bring on mcnamee. It would of boasted the supporters and the players by bringing him then, not 5 mins before HT when he would of had no time to get into the game before HT.
This is how I think players rated
Muller: Solid in goals, kickouts could of been varied but other than that my MOTM for Offaly
Shane Sullivan: Played good enough. O Connor is hard to mark but did his best IMO
Maloney: Did well for his Debut. Will give him confidence.
Pender: Did ok,should of took his point instead of going for goal.
Darby: Poor game from the captain. Ran into kildare players looking for frees too many times. Even dived in the first half!
Brazil: Wasnt too bad for his first game and it will stand to him
Rigney: Played very well IMO. No easy task marking Johnny Doyle. Can hold his head up high.
Alan Mcnamee: Was he playing? I dont think he ran once on the field, walked most of time. Gives away stupid frees from lazy tackling. Would struggle to make the Rhode intermediate team on that performance. Dont mean to be critical of players but he was totally out of his depth here.
Ross Brady: Did good enough. Not the best fielder but was solid enough in the middle.
Guilfoyle: Should of been taken off after 20 mins. Think he gave away 2/3 scores in the first half. Very Very poor. Ran into trouble and offered nothing
Derek Kelly: Didnt really get into the game but thought he could of stayed on a bit longer. Will learn from this
Richie Dalton: Dont know what to think of him. Player of the year last year in Offaly but yet never produces on County scene. Should be using his height to more effect
Ken Casey: Should be on the half forward line where he can run at players. Didnt get much ball all day but still played ok
Niall Smith: the best fielder in Offaly? How many balls did he not contest/catch in the full foward line and midfield when he was moved there? Spent more time giving out to the ref than he did trying to play football
Anton Sullivan: Played well enough but really needs to cop on and stop with the attitude. Stupidly brought a kildare free from the sideline into a scorable position which they scored, when offaly had the momentum in the first half.
Subs:
Nialler: Clearly not fit and should of stayed on the bench if not fit enough. Tried and tried and cant be faulted for effect
Cunnigham: Although this game will show him the difference between minor/u21 and senior, he shouldnt of been thrown in the deep end. Was unlucky to not score a point but lost two balls that he should of collected. Could have been nerves. (On another note,when was the last time someone played Minor, U21, Senior championship in either code for Offaly?)
Dunne: Wasnt on long enough
Hanlon: Wasnt on long enough
Offaly really need to build towards next year. Why not give every footballer a chance in the county? Tom and the selectors should try make it their PRIORITY to attend the majority of all Junior A/Intrmediate/Senior championship games this year. Look at the kildare team, 2 of there best players are from junior clubs. Peter Kelly (all star) plays with twomilehouse and Rob Kelly, who dominated the middle of the field plays with Straffan. They are both Junior A. Offaly have too many hanger on's that would struggle to make club teams never mind county teams.
He should try get a provisional Panel of 40 and work with them all winter in the gym as we are severly out of our depth in the physical department. Gove every player in the county a chance. Dont pick players on reputations, pick them on this years FORM!
Anyway, lets hope they sho a bit of pride in the qualifiers.
Another note: Kildare wont get far this year IMO. If offaly took half there chances there would of been nothing in it. Can see Meath beating them (and I hate Meath).
Rant over. Uibh Fhaili Abu