Expectation from the NHL this year?

[Offalys Future]

Can end the league campaign on a high with a win against Clare, just saw the Clare team and absolutely nothing to be afraid of. Manager should play biggest players in full back line as franks and hernon will struggle with tall physical forwards.
Get a win and then prepare for championship.

[Bord na Mona man]

just saw the Clare team and absolutely nothing to be afraid of.

That's what you said before every match!

[Offalys Future]

just saw the Clare team and absolutely nothing to be afraid of.

That's what you said before every match!

ha!

well i said it before Tipp game and they were with Tipp for 45 mins until their sideline brought on callinan and butler.
Said it before Galway game and they drew with them.
Said it before Limerick game and apart from bad goal-keeping they would have been alot closer.

Say it again this weekend as that Clare team aint great. Physical but Offaly should be able for them.
A win would be great and realistic and then Joe and management team can prepare for championship.

[midfield]

What happens now that we have lost to Clare ? Are we automatically relegated to divison 2 Hurling next or is there a play off or what ?

[Muck Savage]

we're b@!$%*xed.
Down we go, look forward to trips to Mayo for the Hurlers next year!

[Bord na Mona man]

At least we get to play Wexford, Antrim and Leix next year, so it won't be as bad as Div 2 in 2005.
Am I correct in saying that this year's Division 2 winners won't get promoted?
That the new Div 1 of 8 teams will just be the top 4 of both groups.

It sounds like a better performance from Offaly today at least. Some positional tweakings seem to have paid off.
Unfortunately the 15 point win needed to survive was never going to happen.
You pay a high price for being too casual in games like against Leix.
Also the infuriating habit of some Offaly fellas throwing in the towel before the end, like what happened against Tipp meant our points difference was severely weakened.
Maybe if there was only a 3 or 4 point win to be chased today, an escape might have happened!

[Lone Shark]

At least we get to play Wexford........

If the rules are applied correctly and fairly, then yes. Of course the Cork situation has given some wiggle room on this. I hope that's what happens, it's the least Dublin hurling deserves, but I'd be fairly wary that the yellabellies might weasel out of this somehow.

[midfield]

Ridiculous decision by the GAA to organise the hurling leagues in this way.In what way does it promote hurling by having 2 top groups of four. The top 12 /13 teams should be in division 1 and seperated into 3 groups of 4 or two groups of six. Every year some team is going to be relegated to division 2. Also we were not that far off staying up - if only we had beaten Laois!!

[Muck Savage]

Ridiculous decision by the GAA to organise the hurling leagues in this way.In what way does it promote hurling by having 2 top groups of four. The top 12 /13 teams should be in division 1 and seperated into 3 groups of 4 or two groups of six. Every year some team is going to be relegated to division 2. Also we were not that far off staying up - if only we had beaten Laois!!

We'd still have gone down on scoring difference.

How many teams get promoted from Div 2 next year? Is it true that they end up playing the team being relegated in a playoff?

[Lone Shark]

Taken from GAA.ie - scant, but it seems to indicate that the winners will go up -

Promotion & Relegation

Both promotion and relegation to be organised on the basis of one up/one down.

It appears Wexford haven't been given a reprieve, and that there will be no playoff - as it should be. Both teams played five matches, both teams played Cork, and whether you counted that game or you didn't Wexford still had a worse scoring difference. Justice done. Incidentally I'm delighted for the Dubs. (Cue a load of people giving out about my pro-Dub sympathies!! )

Now we just need to make sure we beat them to the top spot next year.

[Bogman]

I totally agree with you, Lone Shark!!

Good for the Dubs, Fair Play, and Justice Done!!

One Side Effect - Wexford will be gunning for them in the Championship.

[Bord na Mona man]

Correct.
I'm not sure why Wexford wanted to draw Dublin into this argument.
They both had the exact same path through the league and Dublin finished above them.
Wexford should either tried to get Cork thrown out, or left it at that.

[black and red exile]

I've heard a few rumours in the last week from various sources that Brian Mullins is not returning to the County panel. Anyone know if this is true?

[Lone Shark]

I've heard a few rumours in the last week from various sources that Brian Mullins is not returning to the County panel. Anyone know if this is true?

He's definitely going back - he considered it, but is going back next week.