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Will it be played in Thurles or will they drag us to the arse end of South Tipp as punishment?

i don't think it will matter they would beat them in tullamore.

townman wrote:i don't think it will matter they would beat them in tullamore.

If it is played in Birr we will definetly win

is it not in Tullamore as Offaly were first drawn or areTipp one of Counties who have guaranteed home advantage in this round?????

Tipperary v Offaly
7-00pm Semple Stadium Thurles

Any team news?
Are we in with a chance at all?

Bord na Mona man wrote:Any team news?
Are we in with a chance at all?

We will do it!

Anyone know how the challange against Clare went at the weekend???

I think we can win this game - it is in the players hands to raise their game and try and revenge the game that sent them down to Div 4

This will be a big challenge, Tipp should be well up for this and will be a better picture of where we are.
A different task for Offaly in that we will have to try and be more creative, but yet close down the space to what can be a lively Tipp forward line.
It is vital for us to win, as a few games together would help to build a bit of spirit as we head into the harsh climate of winter in division 4.Will be heading down to it and if our forwards cant do some damage in the wide open spaces of Semple then we will be in big trouble. Would like to see Bernard Allen instead of Ross Brady for a start. James Coughlan might be a man to get a run too.

summerindublin wrote:Anyone know how the challange against Clare went at the weekend???

heard it was a draw and that Nialler played the full game, good news

it would be a great confidence boost to have Niall back. He is worth a few scores extra for sure.

The form lines give Tipp an edge. In the league Tipperary won by 0-11 to 0-8 in Clonmel.
In the Championship so far:
Kerry 0-16 Tipperary 0-10
Kildare 0-19 Offaly 0-06

Tipperary's result against Kerry looks much more impressive on paper. But bear in mind that Kerry generally don't empty the tank in the Munster games or Qualifiers they think they'll win.

In 2010 vs. Down and 2011 vs. Monaghan, Offaly demonstrated that they are capable of lifting the performance for one off games.
Lets hope they give it everything on Saturday night.

Same team as was originally named for the Kildare game.

Offaly:
Alan Mulhall;

Shane Sullivan, John Moloney, Sean Pender;

Brian Darby, Michael Brazil, Eoin Rigney,

Alan McNamee, Richie Dalton;

Ross Brady, Daniel Currams, Niall Smith;

Ken Casey, Graham Guilfoyle, Anton Sullivan.

Coffey: Kildare a slick machine after four years of conditioning

Wednesday June 27 2012

Offaly manager Tom Coffey has likened the Kildare football team to a "machine".

Coffey, who takes his charges into a first-round qualifier against Tipperary on Saturday night, has said he was almost reminded of the All Blacks as the Lilywhites tore his side asunder in the recent Leinster quarter-final in Portlaoise.

"They have serious athletes and they're just a machine," said the Offaly boss. "At the minute, they'd nearly remind you of the All Blacks, the way they've prepared.

"They've got the result there against Tyrone and they've got the silverware in the league. I just think they're very strong all over.

"The bottom line is that four years' conditioning showed, even at the end of the first half they had us out on our feet. They were getting into full swing at that stage."

Coffey was speaking at the launch of a 100km cycle in aid of two-year-old Tadhg Carroll, who has a rare condition called AHC which causes repeated attacks of paralysis. Offaly will be boosted by the return of Niall McNamee, who came on as a substitute against Kildare at half-time after recovering from injury.

Fitness

"At the last minute we were given the green light from the medical people," said Coffey. "Obviously, Niall will take a while to get up to match fitness and get the co-ordination and everything working perfectly but he's 100pc.

"We probably have four or five sessions before the Tipperary game but to go in at the start having been out of football for the last seven to nine months, it's just hard to reach that level straight away."

Coffey says Offaly football will have to collectively change its mindset if it wants to compete and hints at big calls being made in the months ahead.

"Even if a guy is one of your better players or lower down the ladder, the call will have to be made and you'll have to move on.

"It's not working the way it has been. We'll just have to get everyone on board and committed. When you get that commitment you get a great bond in a team and lads don't mind doing it because they know everyone's doing it so it's easier to go through the pain barrier."

- Colm Keys

from Today's Indo