1) The senior hurling championship in offaly badly needs Birr and Cooldery to meet in the semi final this year to give one of the outsiders a viable chance of reaching the final. Also i think if coolderry did manage to overcome Birr in a semi their opposition would seriously fancy their chances in the final. We're going to get it unbelievably hard to beat Lusmagh and id say we have to be huge underdogs following two bad performances against Clareen and Shinrone. At least we're in it i suppose. Birr will beat Tullamore handy, Coolderry could struggle a bit against Shamrocks especially if they hurl Brian Carroll centre field, but they'll pull away in the end, K/K should have too much for Rynaghs(but as LS quite rightly says this is the time of the year they tend to implode-remember the trimming they got off Birr in the semi last year?) and Lusmagh should be good enough for our lads although I desperatley hope im wrong.
2) Is padjoe hurling Dylan Hayden in defence just to make room in the forwards for Simon. Dont think hes up to the standard any more and a bit of fatherly bias is in evidence
3) Brian Whelehan is an absolute legend and if he can hurl for club as long as he wants. Our greatest ever hurler deserves better than what was said about him here a while ago. Speaking of legends I firmly believe that Henry Sheffflin will be remembered as the greatest hurler of all time. What a man. Just phenomenal.
4) My two personal highlights from offaly gaa this year. The first 40 minutes against Kilkenny in Portlaoise in June was a throwback to the glory days and if anyone says that the reaction the team got at half time didnt stir the emotions is a cynic. And undoubtedly the highlight of the year was the U21 success in Nowlan Park. It just lifted my spirits in so many ways and to finally get that black and amber hoodoo off my our back was refreshing. The lowlights were any performance by those abosolute to*sers on the football panel. They should be absolutley ashamed of their carry on this year and im not just talking about their football. The words erectile malfunction could be close to how they perfromed. Nothing short of disgraceful, particularly against Dublin. And the second lowlight was that crushing defeat in Thurles when we literally pucked the game away. I have to say i was devastated.
5) My All Stars 1-Damien Fitzhenry
2-Michael Kavanagh
3-Stepen Lucey
4-An Other(Seamus Hickey was a shoe in until sunday)
5-Tony Browne
6-Ken Mcgrath
7-Tommy Walsh
8-Brick Walsh
9-Cha Fitz
10-Stepen Muloumpy
11-Henry Shefflin
12-Eoin Larkin
13-Andrew O Shaughnessy
14-Dan Shanahan
15-Eddie Brennan
Some random musings!!!
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Lone Shark
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Five threads for the price of one!! Anyway, always happy to run with random musings.....
(1) Got your wish there, and I agree completely. It'll do no end of good for whichever of Lus/KK/Ryn/Kin make the final, and hopefully will add a bit of drive to the county championship that was hitherto lacking as the perception of Birr and Coolderry being so far ahead did hamstring a lot of teams.
(2) I'm not sure. In one sense Birr have a lot more heavyweights up front than in the backs, so trying out one of them further back the field makes some sense. I do think Birr will get found out this year, but it's a close call as to whether Brian Watkins or Simon Whelehan is the better 15th man on the teamsheet. I can also see the sense in putting three class hurlers in the half back line - it's what Birr have always built their success on.
(3) Most would agree with that. Brian's a member of Birr club, and if their senior manager wants him to play and he wants to, that's all there is to it.
(4) No question, the U-21 in Nowlan Park was fantastic. To do that with our supposedly main man way off form was utterly heart warming. Made the seven hour round trip completely worthwhile. Agree with the 50 mins vs Kilkenny in the senior to a certain degree, but there is still such a long way to go. For another personal highlight, I'm going to pick out an odd one - our minor footballers winning in Pearse Park. Despite having no real star quality at all, the win in Longford was great because it was a sheer triumph of will and stubborn-ness. All too often I've seen other teams do that to us, and even though these lads never had any chance of winning Leinster, they earned their county shirt so much more than several others that wore it this year. As for the lowlights....
(i) The senior footballers - full stop. Disgraceful efforts by several of them.
(ii) The senior hurlers phoning it in down in Cork. Yup it's Cork, but technically we were still in the All Ireland series, and not once did they play like they had a snowball's chance in hell of getting a result. Cork absolutely made a show of them.
(iii) Padraig Horan's management of the under-21's. Could have cost us the win in Nowlan Park by persisting with Joe for so long when he was clearly all at sea, while did nothing to suffocate the Dubs when they were going away from us in the first twenty minutes in Parnell Park. Perversely, even in our own defeat watching the Dub hurling fans revel in that was a highlight in itself. It would have meant just as much to us, but still it's hatrd to begrudge any hurling men fighting a sea of football hype that kind of day.
(5) Seamus Hickey will still win an All Star, most likely with Tyrell in the other corner. My opinion of McGrath has changed immeasurably since I saw those pictures of him twisting Ollie Moran's broken nose, but I'll acknowledge that he'll probably win it. Brian Hogan is entitled to feel hard done by though. The best centre back in the country this year, albeit still not the best centre back in his own county.
Complete agreement with your forwards, but I'd make a case for Jerry O'Connor at midfield alongside the Brick. I don't see him winning it, but I'd pick him.
(1) Got your wish there, and I agree completely. It'll do no end of good for whichever of Lus/KK/Ryn/Kin make the final, and hopefully will add a bit of drive to the county championship that was hitherto lacking as the perception of Birr and Coolderry being so far ahead did hamstring a lot of teams.
(2) I'm not sure. In one sense Birr have a lot more heavyweights up front than in the backs, so trying out one of them further back the field makes some sense. I do think Birr will get found out this year, but it's a close call as to whether Brian Watkins or Simon Whelehan is the better 15th man on the teamsheet. I can also see the sense in putting three class hurlers in the half back line - it's what Birr have always built their success on.
(3) Most would agree with that. Brian's a member of Birr club, and if their senior manager wants him to play and he wants to, that's all there is to it.
(4) No question, the U-21 in Nowlan Park was fantastic. To do that with our supposedly main man way off form was utterly heart warming. Made the seven hour round trip completely worthwhile. Agree with the 50 mins vs Kilkenny in the senior to a certain degree, but there is still such a long way to go. For another personal highlight, I'm going to pick out an odd one - our minor footballers winning in Pearse Park. Despite having no real star quality at all, the win in Longford was great because it was a sheer triumph of will and stubborn-ness. All too often I've seen other teams do that to us, and even though these lads never had any chance of winning Leinster, they earned their county shirt so much more than several others that wore it this year. As for the lowlights....
(i) The senior footballers - full stop. Disgraceful efforts by several of them.
(ii) The senior hurlers phoning it in down in Cork. Yup it's Cork, but technically we were still in the All Ireland series, and not once did they play like they had a snowball's chance in hell of getting a result. Cork absolutely made a show of them.
(iii) Padraig Horan's management of the under-21's. Could have cost us the win in Nowlan Park by persisting with Joe for so long when he was clearly all at sea, while did nothing to suffocate the Dubs when they were going away from us in the first twenty minutes in Parnell Park. Perversely, even in our own defeat watching the Dub hurling fans revel in that was a highlight in itself. It would have meant just as much to us, but still it's hatrd to begrudge any hurling men fighting a sea of football hype that kind of day.
(5) Seamus Hickey will still win an All Star, most likely with Tyrell in the other corner. My opinion of McGrath has changed immeasurably since I saw those pictures of him twisting Ollie Moran's broken nose, but I'll acknowledge that he'll probably win it. Brian Hogan is entitled to feel hard done by though. The best centre back in the country this year, albeit still not the best centre back in his own county.
Complete agreement with your forwards, but I'd make a case for Jerry O'Connor at midfield alongside the Brick. I don't see him winning it, but I'd pick him.
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Plain of the Herbs
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1. Kinnittyman, would ya go'way with that oul guff about Kinnitty. You're at that nonsense all year! It's a fifty fifty match - no more; no less and Lusmagh will respect Kinnitty as a decent, honest side which they are. The hungrier side will win it. Watch.
2. Remember John Goode got shown the door last year for leaving the chosen one on the bench for the replayed final!
3. Agreed.
4. Agreed re the hurlers. Nowlan Park and O'Moore Park first half were memorable. On the other side of the coin, the second half capitulation to Limerick in McDonagh Park, Limerick will haunt me for a while yet.
5. Re hurling all-stars. I'd make a place at full back for Declan Fanning who had a great year hurling at full back and was Tipperary's best player all summer. no arguments on the rest - maybe I'd try and find a place for Martin comerford who I feel is Kilkenny's most valuable player.
2. Remember John Goode got shown the door last year for leaving the chosen one on the bench for the replayed final!
3. Agreed.
4. Agreed re the hurlers. Nowlan Park and O'Moore Park first half were memorable. On the other side of the coin, the second half capitulation to Limerick in McDonagh Park, Limerick will haunt me for a while yet.
5. Re hurling all-stars. I'd make a place at full back for Declan Fanning who had a great year hurling at full back and was Tipperary's best player all summer. no arguments on the rest - maybe I'd try and find a place for Martin comerford who I feel is Kilkenny's most valuable player.
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kinnittyman
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All il say is that undoubetedly Lusmagh were the happiest team with the Q-Fianl, S-Final draw. Hasn't LS said they are the third best team in the county and he gives them a chance to upset the Coolderry Birr duopoly. I just think they'll have too much for our lads particularly if an injury or 2 we have dont clear up by sunday.
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Lone Shark
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KM, your intercounty managerial career can't be far away with that prodigious ability to take the "my two cents" of a random hack and turn it into the writing off of your own team....kinnittyman wrote:Hasn't LS said they are the third best team in the county and he gives them a chance to upset the Coolderry Birr duopoly.
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Plain of the Herbs
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The semi-final draw is hypothetical until the quarter final is over. Lone Shark hasn't seen Lusmagh hurl in four months now (due to his work commitments, in fairness) so his observations are those of a bookmaker looking at probability rather than those of a regular observer. I don't know when he last saw ye're lads hurl.
Betcha ye're injuries clear up too. Such niggles usually do. Just be thankful ye have a full squad to pick from.
Betcha ye're injuries clear up too. Such niggles usually do. Just be thankful ye have a full squad to pick from.
kinnittyman wrote:All il say is that undoubetedly Lusmagh were the happiest team with the Q-Fianl, S-Final draw. Hasn't LS said they are the third best team in the county and he gives them a chance to upset the Coolderry Birr duopoly. I just think they'll have too much for our lads particularly if an injury or 2 we have dont clear up by sunday.
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Offalys Future
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Re: Some random musings!!!
1)
The best team will always win, i dont think Coolderry are up to much this year, there is alot of internal fighting and thats what you get for having an manager that half the players didnt want.
Birr arent mch better but are getting good practice matches against good sides. I backed kk from the start of the year and while they are not world beaters i still fancy them to win the county final.
2) Simon not up to Offaly club hurling standard?
Offaly club hurling is so bad at the moment and Simon has hurled better than brian has so dont get ya there.
3) No one said brian couldnt keep hurling the argument was that he is embarrassing himself now by abusing players and referees and everytime he does this he loses his iconice figure.
4) My highlights of the year was St.Ryanaghs reaching the feile semi final.
I dont believe in the small county small pick vs big county bigger pick rubbish that is talked.
If you have young hurlers of a certain standard which offaly have and if they are trained and coached correctly they will be a success.
We have plenty underage hurlers in the county they just need to be looked after properly which they havent been.
Other highlight was a good win against KK in under twenty one which was ruined by bad managemnt and a badly prepared team in the final against Dublin
5) My All Stars 1-Donal Og Cusack
2-Michael Kavanagh
3-Noel Hickey
4-Mark Foley
5-Tony Browne
6-Ken Mcgrath
7-Tommy Walsh
8-Brick Walsh
9-Cha Fitz
10-Stepen Muloumpy
11-Henry Shefflin
12-Ollie Moran
13-Andrew O Shaughnessy
14-Dan Shanahan
15-Eddie Brennan
Biggest Disappointmnt Of The Year
- Senior Hurling Management
- Offaly Minors vs Wexford In Replay
- Club Championship Standard
- County Boards Lack Of Vision For The Future
The best team will always win, i dont think Coolderry are up to much this year, there is alot of internal fighting and thats what you get for having an manager that half the players didnt want.
Birr arent mch better but are getting good practice matches against good sides. I backed kk from the start of the year and while they are not world beaters i still fancy them to win the county final.
2) Simon not up to Offaly club hurling standard?
Offaly club hurling is so bad at the moment and Simon has hurled better than brian has so dont get ya there.
3) No one said brian couldnt keep hurling the argument was that he is embarrassing himself now by abusing players and referees and everytime he does this he loses his iconice figure.
4) My highlights of the year was St.Ryanaghs reaching the feile semi final.
I dont believe in the small county small pick vs big county bigger pick rubbish that is talked.
If you have young hurlers of a certain standard which offaly have and if they are trained and coached correctly they will be a success.
We have plenty underage hurlers in the county they just need to be looked after properly which they havent been.
Other highlight was a good win against KK in under twenty one which was ruined by bad managemnt and a badly prepared team in the final against Dublin
5) My All Stars 1-Donal Og Cusack
2-Michael Kavanagh
3-Noel Hickey
4-Mark Foley
5-Tony Browne
6-Ken Mcgrath
7-Tommy Walsh
8-Brick Walsh
9-Cha Fitz
10-Stepen Muloumpy
11-Henry Shefflin
12-Ollie Moran
13-Andrew O Shaughnessy
14-Dan Shanahan
15-Eddie Brennan
Biggest Disappointmnt Of The Year
- Senior Hurling Management
- Offaly Minors vs Wexford In Replay
- Club Championship Standard
- County Boards Lack Of Vision For The Future
" In The Presence Of Confidence Doubt Cannot Exist "
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Lone Shark
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Re: Some random musings!!!
Who priced that - I do usually do a scour of all the local options in May or so to see if prices are around (Was mainly hoping someone would go 1/3 Birr and 3/1 Coolderry) and I couldn't find prices anywhere. I'm not sure if O'Meara in Birr knows who I am at this stage, because he lays me feck all and just told me no straight off.Offalys Future wrote: I backed kk from the start of the year and while they are not world beaters i still fancy them to win the county final.
I'd be delighted to know where you got prices, could be very handy next year!
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Offalys Future
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kinnittyman
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Re: Some random musings!!!
kinnittyman wrote:The lowlights were any performance by those abosolute to*sers on the football panel. They should be absolutley ashamed of their carry on this year and im not just talking about their football. The words erectile malfunction could be close to how they perfromed. Nothing short of disgraceful, particularly against Dublin
Its amazing to note that in practically 18 months my opinions on the Offaly football panel have actually got worse rather than better!!
And while I'm at some random musings I might aswell give a few more things an airing:
Senior Hurling Championship team I'd like to see( Well at least a couple of runs in the league to see how they fare)
Brian Mullins
David Fanks
David Kenny
Micheal Verney
Kevin Brady
Ger Oakley
James Rigney
Rory Hanniffy
Colm Coughlan
Brian Carroll
Derek Molloy
Brendan Murphy
Shane Dooley
Joe Bergin
An Other (Possibles are Mark Egan, Daniel Currams-im actually stuck to be honest!!
Secondly this one year experiment with the SHC in Offaly will prove to be exactly that and will be changed at the end of the year.
Thirdly- A treble of MasterMinded, Denman(Providing the weekend goes well for him) and Garde Champetre looks to good to turn dowm at Cheltenham. Remember folks Binocular's only defeat in last 7 races came in the Supreme Novices last year-That hill may prove too much for him. Cheltenham really is a course that previous winners do well in. What odds Sizing Europe performing a miracolous recovery and taking the Champion Hurdle. He had it in the bag last year until injury hit. Im going to give him my backing anyways to land a surprise victory.