Ruislip, Sunday 3rd February. Anyone heading over?

[Plain of the Herbs]

Count me in

[kinnittyman]

I'll have to give that one a skip!!

[Abercrombie Fitch]

Big crowd from Clara going anyway. 20+.

[Johnno81]

Booked it last week. Cant wait!!!

[Bord na Mona man]

Be careful about booking accommodation near Ruislip lads.
There is talk of this game being moved to a bigger ground to accommodate ticket demand.
If it's Wembley, ye won't be too bad, but if it gets switched to the Olympic stadium, as the rumours suggest, ye'll be on the wrong side of the city!

[Ahlethimoutwithit]

Good buzz around this, not for me though.
Will be more at this from Offaly than some of the home games I would say. Plus if the Offaly lads that are in around London go they may move it to Loftus road!

[Plain of the Herbs]

the following are all heading over, boots and all . . .

From the Offaly GAA site -

1 Alan Mulhall (Walsh Island)
2 Brian Darby (Rhode)
3 Eoin Rigney (Rhode)
4 Sean Pender (Edenderry)
5 David Hanlon (Edenderry)
6 Derek Kelly (Edenderry)
7 Graham Guilfoyle (Clara)
8 Alan McNamee (Rhode)
9 Richie Dalton (Edenderry)
10 Ross Brady (Clara)
11 Brian Connor (Walsh Island)
12 Eoin Carroll (Cappincur)
13 Matthew Mitchell (Clara)
14 Niall McNamee (Captain) (Rhode)
15 Anton Sullivan (Rhode)

SUBS;
16 Gavin Sheil (Killeigh)
17 Shane Sullivan (Rhode)
18 Keith McGuinness (Edenderry)
19 Paul McConway (Tullamore)
20 Paul McPadden (Rhode)
21 Mark Young (Edenderry)
22 Willie Mulhall (Walsh Island)
23 Peter Cunningham (Bracknagh)
24 Bernard Allen (Tubber)
25 John Moloney (Tullamore)
26 Joe Maher (Ferbane)
27 Ruairi Allen (Gracefield)
28 David Brady (Ballyfore)
29 Michael Verney (Birr)
30 James McPadden (Rhode)

[DAF]

Is Michael Brazil on the panel for the league?

[Lone Shark]

Most of these guys have played all the games so far and I'd much prefer to see guys getting a real and meaningful chance to prove whether or not they're worth it, so in that sense the team looks reasonable and well balanced.

My only concern would be the lack of players that are comfortable taking a score. Everyone from number 5 to 13 can kick a point or even nick a goal on an occasional basis, but that would be it - they would average maybe one score per game when playing in a suitably advanced role. That's not to say they don't all bring something else to the team, but I'd feel a little bit more comfortable if there was one or two more guys in there who were pure forwards in the scoring sense.

[Ahlethimoutwithit]

I would expect that Brian Connor will move to midfield during the game, he has struggled at centre forward to varying degrees. Eoin Carroll has done well to hold out, and the interesting thing is that if NA Graham was bothered and in the country, and Jason Gethings went in when he was called, Cappincur could have 3 lads pushing hard for a slot.
Ross Brady & Alan Mc, really only room for one of them, both have struggled so far.

McDonnell is giving lads every chance to play themselves off the team, I would see Moloney coming more into the mix over the coming weeks, and Cunninham/McPadden and B Allen getting in there also. Strong team physically around the middle, and could be important against an outfit like London early on.

[Ahlethimoutwithit]

Dont mean it harshly, about either of the Cappincur lads, especially Jason Gethings, tis a pity he felt he couldnt commit it should read.

[Plain of the Herbs]

I thought I was going to London to a match today, but when I looked behind me at half-time I found I was looking into someone’s haggard, complete with tractors, trailers, bales of silage, straw and livestock. And then I realized the smell in the air WAS actually of silage!

Ruislip was easily found, only about 5 miles from the circular M25 motorway and just a couple of miles from the M40 motorway. Nice bar downstairs with food served upstairs. A roast beef dinner with three veg cost an impressive £6.95. T’would nearly be worth getting a cheap flight to London for that.

The pitch was soft and cut up quite a bit. It wouldn't be fit for hurling at all today.

There was a good Offaly crowd there too, with plenty of familiar faces. Glad I made the trip.

[TheBoyWonder]

What was the food like in London at the weekend lads?

[jimbob17]

What was the food like in London at the weekend lads?

Absolute classic,

[Bord na Mona man]

I see Kevin Lynam played for London today in their win over Sligo.
Their first championship win in 36 years.