Re: Joe McDonagh cup
Posted: Thu Jun 20, 2019 8:07 am
Look I am from North Offaly, and Faithful fields is 25/30 mins away, 15 mins additional to Birr, My commute to work is 3 hrs round trip daily (yes , that's my issue, but get some perspective on distances.)This.
I wasn't goingt to post anything about Saturday because it's still massively disappointing. But I want to draw attention to PJ's point. For as long as the work is not done at grassroots, Offaly will continue to produce teams who:-
- are deficient in basic fitness (I mean the areas such as saq);
- are unable to control a game;
- are unable to win a puckout;
- are unable to go short with a puckout and work the ball through the lines (because they can't win it in the air);
- are unable to deal with a team with a extra defender;
- are unable to string two passes together;
- are unable to make a run to collect a pass;
- are unable to tackle correctly;
- are unable to with their body (there is more to tackling than hooking and blocking, you know);
- are unable to hurl as a team;
- are unable to think their way around the field.
(the list is not exhaustive.)
And for as long as Offaly are deficient in each of the above skillsets, and others, they will continue to field teams who are absolutely harmless when faced by competent opposition and will continue be overtaken by counties previously ranked below them. There are no quick fix solutions. And the world is not going to revert back to 1980 or 1990 to suit Offaly. Hurling is constantly changing, and will continue to do so. "
That being said, I would love to get to a stage where some decent level matches could be help in Birr and would be delighted to attend a County final or semi final down there. There will be no issue with crowds for C Ring so I suppose the opportunity for Offaly to hurl there will happen in 2020.
I also think that if there is a real desire to work on the above areas (As outlined by POTH) in a proper manner then you will see some positive results.
But lads...…...come on...parking issues in Tullamore, delays getting in and out of town, ye really need to get out a bit more!!!!
Hurling plan, duster and committee to oversee roll out please Tommy if you are reading!
Newspapers, get an article and interview with coaching staff from the county comparing hurling plan proposal with what is REALLY happening on the ground, and don't hold back on challenging the answers.
Finally After this, Co Board if they have a plan need to hammer down the door of the Leinster council and ensure that we get extra coaches in the assist us to see , with the right local effort in place and with their support, we have the potential to get back up along the ladder and into the Leinster championship.
Enough fiddling while Rome burns, and we need to do the same with the football also. We are talking about a run in the qualifiers, last year fellas were hailing Paul Rouse as a Messiah (and he did well and is a good fella), but we beat Antrim, this year we have beaten London and face Sligo on Sunday. We can at least see some consistency coming into play if we can get over Sunday.