del wrote: ↑Sat Feb 24, 2024 6:58 pm
Cian Farrell dropped and has left the panel arguably the best forward in the county
NIGEL Dunne dropped for tonight’s game too as I said earlier this team was known the last few days.
All is not well in the camp
It will come out in the wash what’s going on there the last few months
So sounds like lads put in great effort and gave Down a good game. Kodos to them as I am sure it was a tough week for everyone after Clare defeat.
Tried to listen on Midlands but to my disappointment, there wasnt even over and back coverage on Midlands radion which I think was shocking. Was similar for Antrim game.
Some of the changes were a surprise, particular Nigel Dunne one given he has been best inside forward we have had this year. I dont know the stats but his scores per minute ratio is way ahead of all others.
I can see Kelly's reason too - and well done to young Bryant who appeared to do well on score sheet acc to reports at least. Not sure how many were frees. If Kelly wants to know how good Bryant really is, this is a game to throw him in. He may have seen it as chance to nothing. On plus side, he gets high quality minutes against tough team and gets to see if he is up to it. He may have seen it as game likely to lose and spring lads in with view to reverting to Dunne in the upcoming must win games. If he is not testing panelists in this game, when does he get to test them. I wouldnt be doing much testing v Wicklow, Limerick or Sligo. If it goes well, great, if not, nothing lost and Dunne et al return for next game.
As it turned out, Bryant puts himself in shake up now for Wicklow game.
Re the subbing of Hyland, no idea if injury applied. If not, like someone else said, Cathal Donoghue and Nigel Dunne were whipped off just before HT v Westmeath - so no sentiment with Kelly. Some might see this as making calls as he sees them and good management. Others might say it is bad man management. Anton coming in appeared to do well so maybe the call was merited. I wasnt there so I dont know.
As for the rumours around Farrell, I just dont know tbh. Sometimes lads need to accept when they are left off and work hard to get back in. Sometimes, managers need to be clever about how they engage with players when dropping them. Im not sure which category his non participation in the panel comes under as I dont know the facts, but either way, Offaly needs Cian Farrell going forward. So if there is an issue, it is hopefully resolved amicably. Having Farrell leave (if true), along with absence of Bernard Allen and Shane Tierney, makes for a much weaker inside forward squad group than what we might have if they were there.
Interested in your last two lines about all not being well in the camp as I have not been hearing much really only that they trained exceptionally hard through the winter. What is it that'll come out in the wash.
