Glendassaun wrote: ↑Tue May 14, 2024 9:24 am
There's a sense going into this game, based off some of the comments, that we're near rank outsiders for this contest. While nobody can deny the tradition that Kilkenny bring to the table more recent form at underage would suggest that such a side is far from infallible.
Tradition when it comes to underage hurling, or any sport for that matter is rather irrelevant. What's most pertinent is recent history, which on the balance of the past couple of seasons would favour Offaly. We mustn't forget, as if we could, that we are in fact the reigning Leinster champions, having overcome a Wexford team who beat Kilkenny in last years Leinster Semi Final. Okay, anyone who watched that game would have noticed some dubious refereeing decisions which went against Kilkenny in the later stages of that game, but that's been consigned to the past now.
We laud the great St Kieran's side that have won numerous colleges titles in the past couple of years, but we seem to overlook the significance of the fact that an Offaly schools side, backboned by a core group of this U20 side went to Kilkenny and in the hallowed ground of Nowlan Park beat a much fancied Kilkenny side, and would have won the All Ireland title were it not for the rule against an amalgamated side going forward in the All Ireland series, a rule somewhat laughable when one considers the spread of clubs available to St Kierans, who themselves are a county team in all but name.
If I were objectively looking on in any other sport and noticed that the reigning champions were about to face up to a team of contenders, a team who hasn't played in almost six weeks, whose players have been training, but haven't seen competitive game time since early April and who are playing a side who are entering top form in front of a packed out home venue, then the only logical conclusion I could draw would be that I'd rather be in the position of the home side with each of those considerable advantages stacked in my favour.
Don't get me wrong I'm far from naïve. I'm well aware that this will be the toughest game this side has faced since playing Cork in last years All Ireland Final, I'm well aware that Kilkenny have a fantastic side and have a panel of players who can each cause a potent threat, and I'm well aware that much of this Kilkenny side won All Ireland's at colleges level, and as Minors with Kilkenny. But crucially I'm walking into O'Connor Park tomorrow with a sense of pride, knowing that this team can look any side in the eye and confidently say "if we play to our potential then we can compete and win".
Let's pack out O'Connor Park tomorrow, let's get behind our side right from the off and lets make sure Kilkenny are well aware that this side is going to cause serious problems for Kilkenny, not just tomorrow at U20 level, but in 3-5 years time at Senior Level also.
COME ON OFFALY!!!
