Granted Offaly should benefit from playing in the higher division, but that doesn't guarantee anything.
Offaly would have played the 2024 league with an underdog mindset - chasing games, responding to setbacks, counterpunching, and working hard to stay in touch.
Now, we're in a game where we need to dictate, control, and impose ourselves. It's a different scenario, and a different mindset is needed. I'm not suggesting Offaly can't or won't adjust, but a fatal error would be for Offaly to settle into a tit-for-that game where it's Offaly responding to Leix.
Another factor to look out for, there was massive crying done in Leix last year when Offaly fielded a weakened team against Carlow. Apparently Offaly owed it to Leix to go hells bells against Carlow right before the McDonagh final.
What they overlook is that Leix failed to beat Offaly and Carlow in the group stage - suggesting they were the 3rd best team in it. Cries about how an Offaly stroke stopped them from winning it are daft.
And then Offaly didn't beat Carlow - so Offaly robbed Leix...by not doing the thing that we weren't able to do anyway. FFS.
Their grievance doesn't stack up, but nearly a year later it's still a gripe for them.
I expect they will be playing the victim card in their preparations.
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