Just For The Record

[Offalys Future]

If any of you are surprised by the recent grumblings in Offaly Football camp i would say to you - dont be.
Offaly GAA is at an all time low at the moment.

I said it last year and i say it again the county board in Offaly is an absolute joke and it is largely to blame for the
lack of success and leadership in Offaly for the last 8 years.
In the last 8 years Offaly have failed at any level in hurling and football to win any major trophy.
In the last two years we have seen, player walkouts, referee strikes, matches abandoned at senior and even minor level.

And only last year there was a major incident after an underage game between shamrocks and seir kieran that a county
senior hurler was involved but again was completely covered up.
I am a hurling man so i will tell you a few hurling FACTS.

As a hurling manager at senior level Joe Dooley has never won anything. Nothing not a piece of silverware.
It was a crazy decision given him the Offaly hurling manager job.
My opinion of last year is that the Offaly hurlers havent improved one bit. Lost the Walsh Cup to Antrim, relegated from the
national league while not winning a game and beaten by laois. Hammered by Kilkenny again with know tactics from the management.
Beat a Limerick team that was struggling and beaten by 6 points by a team that lost the All-Ireland final by a cricket score.

This year so far hammered by Galway in Walsh cup with 12 players that played against Waterford in last years championship. While Galway
had 7 that played against Cork last year. And then when he had a great opportunity last weekend to get a bit of silverware and gain some confidence
in the young squad he gives them a fitness test on the friday night and end up losing to Dublin.

My predictions for the year is that Offaly will lose the div 2 league final to Wexford , lose to Wexford come championship time also.
Do any of you not find it crazy that 16 weeks time the U-21's will play the all-ireland champions Kilkenny in the u-21 leinster championship and still
there is no management put in place??? It also looks like Johnny Doohey, John Leahy, Oisin o' Neil or Donal Franks wont be part of the management team
so it will be interesting to see what dish cloth will be instilled as manger, my money is on some player from the 80's that is friends with the county board
hierarchy or else some recent player that has retired with no management experience.

The minor management was a joke last year and after losing to Carlow and getting hammered by wexford(who kilkenny hammered) the same management were
put in place yet again. Also johnny pilkington has taken over at kk. The same Johnny Pilkington that coached castletown last year to their biggest defeat in 20 years
to a team that didnt win the county final portlaois.

The hurling academies as i highlighted last year are also a complete joke with no organisation. People like johnny flaherty and adrian cahill over young kids - u have to be having a laugh.

Add all this to o'connor park that has been full to capacity once in 2 years. the continuing decline of Birr community school as a force in colleges hurling. The hurling
championship structure for this year is a joke also. Teams are asked to play meaningless games before the knockout starts. The constant fighting between county board and
coiste na nog. And the funniest thing of all is that after 8 years of no success at senior level the county board decide to take over the unning of the minor teams.

The football side of things is no better, what has richie connors won as a coach in the last 5 years can you tell me? add this to high court action and the amount of over-rated footballers in our county (guys that have never proven themselves at any level yet they think they are better than what they are) and it had a recipe for diaster from the very start.

Finally Offaly GAA is finished for a long time at all levels until this county board are gotten rid of once and for all and people that know what they are doing are put in place.

[Bord na Mona man]

Whatever you think about Joe Dooley, he has the hurlers playing with passion and pride.
Last year was the first time a long time that Offaly looked capable of mixing it with the big guns.

So Offaly lost to Waterford? So did Tipperary, who many believe are the second best team in the country. I'd take last year over any of the previous 5.

[beirut]

would agree with BNM, it might not have been the wisest decisions at the time to appoint Joe Dooley taking into account his lack of experience but in fairness to him he seems to have everyone singing from the same sheet and there seems to be a bit of competition for a few place which is always good.

[Lone Shark]

We'll stick with the hurling on this thread since the football is getting oxygen elsewhere, but I have to largely echo the two responses above, while also saying the following - yes, last year wasn't perfect, but what were we expecting? A win over Kilkenny? Also, it mightn't have been great, but it's not like Joe Dooley or any of the players are going round singing their own praises. I'm sure they look on it the right way - that last year was a good step in the right direction and that securing a win against another hurling county plus putting it up to the All Ireland finalists was definitely an advance, and a good basis for improvement in 2009. No more than that, but no less either.

I would have several opinions which would run counter to Joe Dooley's in terms of how he goes about things, but the core of the matter is that he has, in the space of one year, made us much more competitive than we were previously. He has brought on a lot of young players and made a few tactical switches that proved me and several others wrong (e.g. I never thought Kenny at full back would work, but it's going well) while also, crucially, getting everyone pulling in behind him. All too often in recent years we've had a plethora of walk offs and been talking about players that aren't on the panel - Joe hasn't had that and that's not something to be glossed over.

Obviously things will have to step up again in 2009, but right now it would be foolish to criticise him when he's clearly making good progress.


I don't know Johnny Pilkington well enough to comment on his management style or anything else, however it's unrealistic to expect young hurlers who were playing second fiddle to teams like North Dublin and Kilkenny south to suddenly be able to compete at minor level. It wasn't a good year, but we were decimated by injury down in Wexford, while the question has to be asked, if he's so bad a manager, why do all these clubs and counties keep handing him the job?

Like I said, I don't know enough to give an insightful opinion here, but I know that there are plenty of good hurling people out there who have time for him, so I'm not going to dismiss him after one year in the job.

[Offalys Future]

I'm sure they look on it the right way - that last year was a good step in the right direction and that securing a win against another hurling county

Offaly lost to Antrim in Walsh Cup and were beaten by Laois in the league and got relegated. Is it an achievent to beat a team that were struggling?

All too often in recent years we've had a plethora of walk offs and been talking about players that aren't on the panel - Joe hasn't had that and that's not something to be glossed over.

Barry Teehan, Shane o Connor, Damien Murray, Ciaran Slevin, Dylan Hayden, Sean Ryan, Niall Claffey, Gary Haniffy

Obviously things will have to step up again in 2009, but right now it would be foolish to criticise him when he's clearly making good progress.

What basis have you for progress? relegated in league and not making the all-ireland quarter finals to me thats not progress.

I don't know Johnny Pilkington well enough to comment on his management style or anything else, however it's unrealistic to expect young hurlers who were playing second fiddle to teams like North Dublin and Kilkenny south to suddenly be able to compete at minor level. It wasn't a good year, but we were decimated by injury down in Wexford, while the question has to be asked, if he's so bad a manager, why do all these clubs and counties keep handing him the job?

you would want to stop living in dreamland. Isnt this my very point that the county board havent a clue and thats the root of the problem. we have become the county for excuses now. what excuse have you for gettin beat by carlow in minor championship? what excuse have you for castletown getting hammered by portlaois in the laois championship knockout stages last year? jesus chriest will you wake up. Also kilcormac killoughey have went back 10 years in my opinion by appointing him. this is the same killoughey club that wanted to get rid of john leahy after he got them to the county final two years ago.

Like I said, I don't know enough to give an insightful opinion here, but I know that there are plenty of good hurling people out there who have time for him, so I'm not going to dismiss him after one year in the job.

[/quote]

Managers that are picked to train county teams are judged on results, he trained mullagh and won nothing with them. he trained castletown and it was their worst year in 20. he trained offaly minors and they got beat by CARLOW and hammered by wexford.

Unless people like you wake up to the reality that is Offaly Hurling is in serious serious trouble.
Lads are talking about effort and players trying their best, that should be a pre-requisite for any county team. You can bring another then u-21's next year and the year after but until they prove themselves at their own age group then it is a pointless exercise in my opinion.

[Bord na Mona man]

Get a grip.
Antrim beat Kilkenny in the Walsh Cup last year too. Sack Cody!

Yet again any valid arguments you might have are lost by your over the top ranting.

[Offalys Future]

Get a grip.
Antrim beat Kilkenny in the Walsh Cup last year too. Sack Cody!

Yet again any valid arguments you might have are lost by your over the top ranting.

Kilkenny team that got bet by Antrim in Walsh Cup last year. One week after returning from holiday and only six players that started the all-ireland final last september,so no need for Cody to be sacked!

Offaly team that lost to Antrim in Walsh Cup last year had 11 players that took part in 1st round of championship against Laois.

Offaly team that lost to Dublin last weekend - 12 started against Waterford in the Championship and 2 more were involved in that match.

The reason i have to use such language is that ye really dont have a clue whats going on in the county at the moment and how it has such a negative effect on hurling
now and for years to come.

[GreatDayForTheParish]

Have to give it to Offaly's Future, always puts a smile on my face.......
Like a broken record player stuck on repeat, he'll keep sining his monotonous tune oblivious to the fact people really don't care for the sound of it anymore.

[Bord na Mona man]

You dismiss the Limerick result which was achieved in championship in July and dwell on the Walsh Cup which was in the middle of winter, with no Birr players and the manager barely in the door.
A classic case of bending facts to suit an agenda.

No one here will pretend that all is well in Offaly hurling, however most people would at least be able to acknowledge if progress is being made. Not everything has to be so black and white...

[joe bloggs]

If any of you are surprised by the recent grumblings in Offaly Football camp i would say to you - dont be.
Offaly GAA is at an all time low at the moment.

I said it last year and i say it again the county board in Offaly is an absolute joke and it is largely to blame for the
lack of success and leadership in Offaly for the last 8 years.
In the last 8 years Offaly have failed at any level in hurling and football to win any major trophy.
In the last two years we have seen, player walkouts, referee strikes, matches abandoned at senior and even minor level.

And only last year there was a major incident after an underage game between shamrocks and seir kieran that a county
senior hurler was involved but again was completely covered up.
I am a hurling man so i will tell you a few hurling FACTS.

As a hurling manager at senior level Joe Dooley has never won anything. Nothing not a piece of silverware.
It was a crazy decision given him the Offaly hurling manager job.
My opinion of last year is that the Offaly hurlers havent improved one bit. Lost the Walsh Cup to Antrim, relegated from the
national league while not winning a game and beaten by laois. Hammered by Kilkenny again with know tactics from the management.
Beat a Limerick team that was struggling and beaten by 6 points by a team that lost the All-Ireland final by a cricket score.

This year so far hammered by Galway in Walsh cup with 12 players that played against Waterford in last years championship. While Galway
had 7 that played against Cork last year. And then when he had a great opportunity last weekend to get a bit of silverware and gain some confidence
in the young squad he gives them a fitness test on the friday night and end up losing to Dublin.

My predictions for the year is that Offaly will lose the div 2 league final to Wexford , lose to Wexford come championship time also.
Do any of you not find it crazy that 16 weeks time the U-21's will play the all-ireland champions Kilkenny in the u-21 leinster championship and still
there is no management put in place??? It also looks like Johnny Doohey, John Leahy, Oisin o' Neil or Donal Franks wont be part of the management team
so it will be interesting to see what dish cloth will be instilled as manger, my money is on some player from the 80's that is friends with the county board
hierarchy or else some recent player that has retired with no management experience.

The minor management was a joke last year and after losing to Carlow and getting hammered by wexford(who kilkenny hammered) the same management were
put in place yet again. Also johnny pilkington has taken over at kk. The same Johnny Pilkington that coached castletown last year to their biggest defeat in 20 years
to a team that didnt win the county final portlaois.

The hurling academies as i highlighted last year are also a complete joke with no organisation. People like johnny flaherty and adrian cahill over young kids - u have to be having a laugh.

Add all this to o'connor park that has been full to capacity once in 2 years. the continuing decline of Birr community school as a force in colleges hurling. The hurling
championship structure for this year is a joke also. Teams are asked to play meaningless games before the knockout starts. The constant fighting between county board and
coiste na nog. And the funniest thing of all is that after 8 years of no success at senior level the county board decide to take over the unning of the minor teams.

The football side of things is no better, what has richie connors won as a coach in the last 5 years can you tell me? add this to high court action and the amount of over-rated footballers in our county (guys that have never proven themselves at any level yet they think they are better than what they are) and it had a recipe for diaster from the very start.

Finally Offaly GAA is finished for a long time at all levels until this county board are gotten rid of once and for all and people that know what they are doing are put in place.

You sound like Enda Kenny. You know all the problems but i dont see any solutions from you

[Oceans 15]

As a hurling manager at senior level Joe Dooley has never won anything. Nothing not a piece of silverware.

Do you mean at Inter-COunty or Club level??

[Offalys Future]

As a hurling manager at senior level Joe Dooley has never won anything. Nothing not a piece of silverware.

Do you mean at Inter-COunty or Club level??

now please tell me u aint going to come out and say he helped Clareen to a junior title. jesus chriest.

As for the comment previous about dismissing the limerick result. Yes it was a good win fair play. But was it that limerick were bad or Offaly were very good?
Limerick got rid of their manager and it has been said that things weren't great in their camp.
Instead of pinning our hopes on a win against a poor setup i look to other performances and results to make my mind up.
Walsh Cup, League and Championship.
we got bet by antrim in waslh cup with 3/4 of our championship team, we lost to laois and never won a game in the league and we got hammered by Kilkenny
and lost by 6 points to Waterford who ended up getting hammered also by kilkenny.

And to the person who made the comment that i show no solutions. i have explained in previous posts that the problem in Offaly
is at underage level with the academies and the people who are running and are over the teams. Johnny Pilkington and Johnny Flaherty and Adrian Cahill
are certainly not the answer.
Take time to look at my previous posts and come back to me then.

[Oceans 15]

As a hurling manager at senior level Joe Dooley has never won anything. Nothing not a piece of silverware.

Do you mean at Inter-COunty or Club level??

now please tell me u aint going to come out and say he helped Clareen to a junior title. jesus chriest.

No but I'm going to tell you he trained/managed Clareen to win their first ever Senior title in 1988... Now put that in your pipe and smoke it

[Offalys Future]

pad joe whelehan has won plenty of them with with Birr as has Gerry Kirwan with Clareen sher why not give them the job?
if thats Joe dooleys claim to fame - 20 years ago well then i dont need to say much more.
i am sure the results will come then, for a manager with such experience.

[Over The Black Spot]

Offalys Future,

Most of what you contribute here is ignored and rightfully so because it can be the most awful nonsensical crap imaginable but sometimes (and I can only confidently speak for myself on this one but I’m sure many others feel similiarly) it just grates to the point where you need to be replied to.

You seem to have a constant gripe with Joe Dooley. I don’t know where you’re from or what Joe Dooley has ever done to you but get off your fcuking high-horse over it. Personally, I wouldn’t have appointed Joe Dooley to the job but I’m more than happy to attend ever game they play under his management and support the team as always. Anyone with half a brain cell running even at fairly low power would tell you that Offaly made progress in 2008. I wouldn’t say Joe suddenly made better hurlers out of any of them but they started to hurl like a team and looked to have an aim about them, something that had been sadly lacking under the previous regime. You can pick on individual results and hold them up there as proving your point but roll back to the All-Ireland winning teams of the ‘90s who were far ahead of this team in terms of quality and achievement and they too suffered similar results on a yearly basis so it’s not uncommon for our county hurlers.

You make a point about the under 21 management. I wasn’t aware that the four fellas you mentioned were out of the running or ever in it in the first place but for one so hellbent on someone would a proved track record, what makes any of those candidates stand out. Some have results at club level but only as trainers and never as managers so your arguments don’t stand up.

As regards the minor management, I again wouldn’t be in favour of them but I would be more critical of the manner in which they were appointed. Reading between the lines, I see this as one of the main reasons behind the moving of the minor grade into the control of the senior board. I know the reason put forward was that it was a Croke Park directive but for something that was supposedly as simple as implementing proper protocol, it seemed to cause a lot of strife and ill-feeling!!

As regards the senior hurling championship, I am wholeheartedly in favour as is every player from other clubs that I have spoken to. Some people are calling it meaningless but it is giving senior hurlers in the county competitive hurling at times when they were previously twiddling their thumbs and that is a positive step. The end result will still be the same with the best team in the county ending up as county champions so why not run with this format?!

The hurling academies are only in their infancy so it’s a bit harsh to call them meaningless. As for criticising Adrian Cahill I think you need to keep your ear a little closer to the ground. I see him involved with underage team in Birr every year and he has been for a good many years and to have some jumped up little fcuk like yourself criticising a fella who gets out there and gets involved is not on. Someone from Birr may shed more light on his abilities but he seems to be doing a fine with their youngsters when he’s involved.

You can reply with any type of the usual muck you normally do to this post but I will not be replying to you or contributing to any thread to which you do anymore on this site. I have seen a thousand fellas like you who think that they’re above the game and somehow more knowledgable than people who are involved, people who think hurling and particularly coaching can be learned from a book, people who can tell you what’s wrong with everything but couldn’t tell you the under 10 in their club who looks like a nice hurler in the making (the important stuff), people who attend county games covered from top to toe in the latest gear but don’t know who’s hurling well for their own club team because small fry stuff doesn’t interest them. Gladly, people like you eventually fade off the scene and are never remembered but genuine people who give of their best to help out with teams and administration at all levels are remembered for the giving regardless of the success.

We seem to forget it sometimes lads but regardless of the results we can only judge someone on their effort, a man can do more than his best and if he gives that he is to be commended especially in the thankless environment of inter county hurling where your always just one game away from ridicule from the supposed experts, safe in their seats in the stand.

I play senior hurling for my club and have represented my county and I will walk away whenever I’m no longer able for it (which is hopefully a good bit away) but I will always be able to look in the mirror and say I done my best everytime I was handed a jersey and any man that can say the same can be proud of what he’s achieved. There’s many a time it wasn’t good enough and I’m sure there’s many more of those days to come but I won’t sit back and not bother and talk about how it should be done because my conscience wouldn’t allow me to.

PS – Sorry this turned into a bit of a ramble lads but fellas like him boil my …….. you know what.