JULY 4TH. HURLERS OR FOOTBALLERS.

[black and red exile]

I know it's the last thing anybody will be thinking about at the moment but it looks like we are going to have to choose again just like last year when our footballers and hurlers clash on July 4th in the qualifers. It's just typical, no action for 5 weeks and then the two of them are in action on the same day. Anyway just thought I would mention it even though we are still only digesting the last two Sundays.

[Plain of the Herbs]

First, who are Offaly playing?

Last year was complicated by the fact that the footy draw was made the week before the hurlers beat Limerick (which none of us expected) and the hurlers were committed to playing at the same time due to live TV commitments. Also, remember the minor footballers were in a Leinster final the very next day. Something tells me those of us who chose Thurles were blessed not to have been present in OCP for the Down massacre.

As for this year, the hurlers will be drawn against either Cork, Laois or Dublin/Antrim with a further draw for venue. Cork away obviously would be the draw from hell. As for venues, there would be a 50:50 chance of having to travel to Cork or Belfast, but we’ve a home or away arrangement with Laois and Offaly are due to host them next. Remember the football qualifier in ’06 was in Portlaoise as part of the football home and away arrangement so logic would suggest the hurling would be the same. That being the same, there’s a four in six chance of being at home.

As for the football draw. Can some one confirm if the football qualifiers revert to the 2001-2006 system now that the division 4 teams are in the draw? That is, does the round 1 football qualifiers consist of the 16 counties who do not make the provincial semi-finals? Presume there’s a 50:50 chance of a home draw here.

Really only Offaly and Antrim will be in the draw for both first rounds (unless Dublin lose both next Sunday) so if live TV is not an issue there might be scope for moving one tie to Sunday.

Finally, when are the draws for the round 1 qualifiers?

[Georgio1]

I dont think we will be exposed live on tv anymore this year unless we make a quarter final!
Would expect many people would switch over to the cricket. I have had such an amount of sickenings from following both these teams that I expect I will listen on the radio next time like the majority of the so called "Faithful", who abandoned our teams before the championship began!

[black and red exile]

Georgio 1, I know how you feel. I spent all day Sunday snapping the head off my poor wife every time she opened her mouth because I was in such bad form after Wexford Park, and yes there are times when you ask yourself as a supporter why the hell do I bother torturing myself travelling the country only to spend the week afterwards like a briar because more than likely we are after watching another dismal display from our footballers and hurlers, but If and when our fortunes turn around it will be worth it to remember the bad times. I remember travelling to Limerick last year expecting, like 99 per cent supporters a mother and father of a hiding and thinking to myself as I parked outside the Gaelic grounds '' If we get beat by 4 or 6 points tonight I will drive home reasonably happy'' Of course we all know how the night went afterwards and I can tell ya the 2 hour drive home was heaven, the few Offaly supporters that were there that night would no doubt have felt exactly the same. Who knows, depending on the draw we get with both codes we might just have another night like that before the 2009 championship wraps up. Just keep the faith. It's going to be a whore of a rocky road ahead but we'll get there.
SORRY FOR SOUNDING LIKE CHARLES INGALLS FROM THE LITTLE HOUSE ON THE PRAIRIE