Few observations on Saturday's game;
Always going to be a tricky encounter after such a deflating display versus wexford only 6 days previously. On that basis I was happy with any sort of a win.
Goalie and 6 backs put in another positive performance albeit not quite to the wexford intensity. This area under McIntyre now seems settled.
Hoctor and Tanner both played reasonably well around the middle.
Sid had a few very classy moments (including the goal) but does not have the engine for midfield. A role in the fullforward line may be the answer.
Upfront was again on the whole disappointing. Gary Hanniffy and Hayden both hit a few nice scores. Bergin, Carroll, Egan, and Hanrahan all looked painfully lacking in confidence. First touch for all four was poor which put them under added pressure. Is it coincidental that all of the full forward line are playing badly or is some of the problems down to the quality of the ball being played into them ?
Disappointed that no highlights were shown on The Sunday game (the only qualifier that there was no cameras at !)
Given that the tv coverage was proclaiming Clare and Limerick as the group decider, there is plenty of motivation there for Offaly to prove them wrong.
Offaly V Dublin
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Bord na Mona man
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Not very thrilling stuff from Offaly.
Gary Hanniffy did well at centre forward. Hayden and Tanner also.
Sid added a bit of class to proceedings. Kevin Brady was the pick of the half back line.
The two corners backs struggled under the high ball. Both of them had trouble rising the ball under pressure, though the Parnell Park surface is very bumpy.
While the half forward line was a lot better than vs Wexford, the full forward line were completely obliterated. Joe Bergin was behind his man too often. This happened to him in the league a good few times too.
Alan Egan again looked overrawed. Maybe coming off the bench with less pressure would suit him. Brian Carroll just didn't seem to get on the ball at all.
Interesting that McIntyre is now not trying Damien Murray, Stephen Browne, Simon Whelahan etc. as the super subs. Diggy Cordial or Joe Brady weren't thrown in either.
Harsh to say, but none of the above are players who you would expect to bullishly turn a game around.
Gary Hanniffy did well at centre forward. Hayden and Tanner also.
Sid added a bit of class to proceedings. Kevin Brady was the pick of the half back line.
The two corners backs struggled under the high ball. Both of them had trouble rising the ball under pressure, though the Parnell Park surface is very bumpy.
While the half forward line was a lot better than vs Wexford, the full forward line were completely obliterated. Joe Bergin was behind his man too often. This happened to him in the league a good few times too.
Alan Egan again looked overrawed. Maybe coming off the bench with less pressure would suit him. Brian Carroll just didn't seem to get on the ball at all.
Interesting that McIntyre is now not trying Damien Murray, Stephen Browne, Simon Whelahan etc. as the super subs. Diggy Cordial or Joe Brady weren't thrown in either.
Harsh to say, but none of the above are players who you would expect to bullishly turn a game around.
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Plain of the Herbs
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No questions were answered in Parnell Park on Saturday evening. Only more questions though, like why was Brian Mullins engaged in a warm-up drill taking shots at goal along with everyone else? That’s just plain daft. Same problems that surfaced in the Wexford game. Backs hurling well, but forwards struggling, and if plan A doesn’t work, (puck it out to Gary Hanniffy) keep trying plan A.
In fairness to Gary, he had 2 men to compete with until Sid started making decoy runs to take the second man away from Gary, and Dylan Hayden did well when the puck-out was aimed down his channel in the second half. But no low balls down the centre. Dublin did better with their puck out until Offaly came to terms with it later on. In fact Dublin were far hungrier and won most breaking balls in all sectors. Dublin would have targeted this match as their best chance of a win in this group and were very disappointed with the result. I wish they’d show the same application against Clare and Limerick. Dublin’s combination and support play also put Offaly to shame, where the man in possession nearly always had a colleague in support with an option. It was their striking that let them down. They often tried to take the case off the ball with an 80 yard drive when a shorter stroke would have paid dividends.
Offaly still look tired and jaded, as against Wexford and unlike the sprightly team who took to the floods in Portlaoise. I wonder about the training routine since mid-May. Perhaps less-is-more would suffice at this stage. Physically they’re fit and well conditioned, it’s the sharpness that looks to have waned. The body language of the subs who headed straight for the sideline and who had to be sent for to join in the shouldering drill was not encouraging. Selectors screaming at backs to put two hands on the hurl when the problem areas are further up the field doesn’t bode well either.
For me, DeclanTanner was the best Offaly player on view. Not surprising, giving the point he had to prove to the management. Alan Egan’s first touch was off. He needs to get the ball into his hand first go as he hasn’t the strength to compete when the ball goes to ground. Bergin again struggled to make an impact. Standing behind the full back at this level won't do. Full forward line coming out way too far. Carroll is the only one of the full forward unit who provides any variation through switching wings as he did for the last score.
And then Limerick go and demonstrate they’ve bigger problems than we have. Incidentally, it took an illegal player, Willie Walsh (a blood-sub, 21st man) to get their first score from play. All the same, Offaly still have to perform at their best if they’re not to suffer from a potential backlash in two weeks time. If Limerick has taken their early chances it could have been a different story, though there wasn’t much of Ger Cunningham’s favourite gameplan on view in Ennis. Limerick’s forwards wouldn’t appear to have any notable edge on Offaly backs (Shaughnessy/Franks; Begley/Cleary; Keane/Teehan; Ryan/Brady) though Limerick’s backs, notably Mark Foley and Ollie Moran are physically stronger than Offaly forwards.
Offaly’s future success in this competition depends on what the management do in a bid to freshen things up over the next fortnight. They might include more movement among the forwards, better support for the man in possession and a generally more varied approach. At the moment too much hinges on Gary Hanniffy’s ball-winning ability. A great opportunity arises to qualify for the quarter final though. Indications are that the Limerick match will be held in Birr. Hopefully so. Only the most faithful Limerick folk will travel after yesterday’s debacle, so capacity may not be an issue.
In fairness to Gary, he had 2 men to compete with until Sid started making decoy runs to take the second man away from Gary, and Dylan Hayden did well when the puck-out was aimed down his channel in the second half. But no low balls down the centre. Dublin did better with their puck out until Offaly came to terms with it later on. In fact Dublin were far hungrier and won most breaking balls in all sectors. Dublin would have targeted this match as their best chance of a win in this group and were very disappointed with the result. I wish they’d show the same application against Clare and Limerick. Dublin’s combination and support play also put Offaly to shame, where the man in possession nearly always had a colleague in support with an option. It was their striking that let them down. They often tried to take the case off the ball with an 80 yard drive when a shorter stroke would have paid dividends.
Offaly still look tired and jaded, as against Wexford and unlike the sprightly team who took to the floods in Portlaoise. I wonder about the training routine since mid-May. Perhaps less-is-more would suffice at this stage. Physically they’re fit and well conditioned, it’s the sharpness that looks to have waned. The body language of the subs who headed straight for the sideline and who had to be sent for to join in the shouldering drill was not encouraging. Selectors screaming at backs to put two hands on the hurl when the problem areas are further up the field doesn’t bode well either.
For me, DeclanTanner was the best Offaly player on view. Not surprising, giving the point he had to prove to the management. Alan Egan’s first touch was off. He needs to get the ball into his hand first go as he hasn’t the strength to compete when the ball goes to ground. Bergin again struggled to make an impact. Standing behind the full back at this level won't do. Full forward line coming out way too far. Carroll is the only one of the full forward unit who provides any variation through switching wings as he did for the last score.
And then Limerick go and demonstrate they’ve bigger problems than we have. Incidentally, it took an illegal player, Willie Walsh (a blood-sub, 21st man) to get their first score from play. All the same, Offaly still have to perform at their best if they’re not to suffer from a potential backlash in two weeks time. If Limerick has taken their early chances it could have been a different story, though there wasn’t much of Ger Cunningham’s favourite gameplan on view in Ennis. Limerick’s forwards wouldn’t appear to have any notable edge on Offaly backs (Shaughnessy/Franks; Begley/Cleary; Keane/Teehan; Ryan/Brady) though Limerick’s backs, notably Mark Foley and Ollie Moran are physically stronger than Offaly forwards.
Offaly’s future success in this competition depends on what the management do in a bid to freshen things up over the next fortnight. They might include more movement among the forwards, better support for the man in possession and a generally more varied approach. At the moment too much hinges on Gary Hanniffy’s ball-winning ability. A great opportunity arises to qualify for the quarter final though. Indications are that the Limerick match will be held in Birr. Hopefully so. Only the most faithful Limerick folk will travel after yesterday’s debacle, so capacity may not be an issue.