Will MH and DK remain on as senior football managers for 2027?
What is the general feeling ?
Offaly management 2027
Re: Offaly management 2027
No they definitely won't, we are back in division 3 and still not even a taligan cup final. The progress hasn't happened,. We need a new voice in the dressing room
Re: Offaly management 2027
When discussing such, it's important to look at in objective and broader context. To do that, compare to what went before and bare in mind talent at their disposal. In my opinion, this management group has probably had more talent at disposal than last couple of managers given relative competitiveness of underage teams at u20 and minor in years previous. I tell a lie. It has had more talent.
John Maughan
2019 League 2.5/7 2019 Champ 2/4
2020 League 2.5/7 2020 Champ 1/2
2021 league 4/5 2021 Champ 1/2
2022 league 1.5/7 2022 Champ 3/5
Total 44.87%
Liam Kearns / Martin Murphy
2023 league 4/7 2023 Champ 3.5/7
Total 53.57%
Declan Kelly / Mickey Harte
2024 league 2.5/7 2024 Champ 1/4
2025 League 6/8 2025 Champ 3/6
2026 league 0/7 2026 Champ 3/5
Total 41.8%
41.8% is the average for the last 3 years through 3 leagues in Div 3 twice and Div 2 and 3 Tailteann Cup campaigns where we should be easily making business end most years, and never in higher level of Sam Maguire like previous managers where success chance is more difficult. That tells its own story really.
Yes there were injuries this year and no doubt their supporters will use this as caveat. However, previous managements had injuries with lesser pool of talent. The problem as I see it, is that this management cast off some of the best senior footballers in the county and when the injuries came, we did not have depth in squad to compete. As such, that is on them. There is no doubt that the collapse v Wicklow and failure to make a T cup final in 3 attempts should be taken into account. That would leave us ranked between 19 and 22 in country after 3 years - suggesting little or no progress with a bunch, of whom many have U20 All Ireland medals in back pocket. The significant level of negative noise emanating from the football camp over last few years certainly doesn't help their case either.
So really for me, it's a straight enough call being objective and from outside looking in.
But that aside, I do think there should be proper review process in interests of fairness that includes the voice of the players particularly, who will have more knowledge than any if the management should be kept or otherwise. I would say there is one cavaet to them not being removed. If there is a sense of the wider player group being adamant that they are kept on, that is only circumstance where they should be kept.
John Maughan
2019 League 2.5/7 2019 Champ 2/4
2020 League 2.5/7 2020 Champ 1/2
2021 league 4/5 2021 Champ 1/2
2022 league 1.5/7 2022 Champ 3/5
Total 44.87%
Liam Kearns / Martin Murphy
2023 league 4/7 2023 Champ 3.5/7
Total 53.57%
Declan Kelly / Mickey Harte
2024 league 2.5/7 2024 Champ 1/4
2025 League 6/8 2025 Champ 3/6
2026 league 0/7 2026 Champ 3/5
Total 41.8%
41.8% is the average for the last 3 years through 3 leagues in Div 3 twice and Div 2 and 3 Tailteann Cup campaigns where we should be easily making business end most years, and never in higher level of Sam Maguire like previous managers where success chance is more difficult. That tells its own story really.
Yes there were injuries this year and no doubt their supporters will use this as caveat. However, previous managements had injuries with lesser pool of talent. The problem as I see it, is that this management cast off some of the best senior footballers in the county and when the injuries came, we did not have depth in squad to compete. As such, that is on them. There is no doubt that the collapse v Wicklow and failure to make a T cup final in 3 attempts should be taken into account. That would leave us ranked between 19 and 22 in country after 3 years - suggesting little or no progress with a bunch, of whom many have U20 All Ireland medals in back pocket. The significant level of negative noise emanating from the football camp over last few years certainly doesn't help their case either.
So really for me, it's a straight enough call being objective and from outside looking in.
But that aside, I do think there should be proper review process in interests of fairness that includes the voice of the players particularly, who will have more knowledge than any if the management should be kept or otherwise. I would say there is one cavaet to them not being removed. If there is a sense of the wider player group being adamant that they are kept on, that is only circumstance where they should be kept.
jimbob
Re: Offaly management 2027
The management team needs more than 3 lads on it
DK MH and bree is a small backroom team , I know the lad that is over the mental side of things took over which in itself is alarming and that made it 4
DK MH and bree is a small backroom team , I know the lad that is over the mental side of things took over which in itself is alarming and that made it 4
-
Lone Shark
- All Star
- Posts: 5666
- Joined: Fri Oct 29, 2004 5:21 pm
- Club: Ferbane
- Location: Roscommon
- Contact:
Re: Offaly management 2027
This has been discussed at length, and I don't think anyone's mind will be changed on the matter at this point. Like many of ye I'm sure, I've heard plenty of chats about what was said after the game in the dressing room and on the bus home, but since I wasn't there, I'm not going to perpetuate that and I don't think anyone else should either, unless they're willing to say it having been there first hand, or they can name the person who was there that told them directly.
I was there for the post-match interview with Harte and Kelly, and for me the pertinent points are two responses that Mickey Harte gave. The first is making it very clear that they intend to be back to manage the team in 2027, and the second is that in his opinion, the Offaly team is "absolutely" further on going into 2027 than it was going into 2026. Those points are on the record.
However for the benefit of those reading who are involved with Offaly GAA or with their club (which is plenty of ye), I would make the following points:
(1) More than ever before, it's important to canvas the views of players, and to respect them. I'm of an older generation so I grew up in the era when executives of clubs and counties decided who should manage teams, those decisions were ratified at either an AGM in the case of a club, or a county board meeting, and players just played ball.
Maybe in an ideal world, that's how it should be - but the simple fact of the matter is that if players are unhappy as a collective, then they will not make the huge commitment that is required to play for Offaly in 2027. So many of these lads are at an age where they need to make crucial life and career choices, and as a county, we need to facilitate as many as possible.
There will never be a management team that pleases everyone, and to be honest I'd be worried about any management team if they did please everyone all the time, but I think it's important that the players make sure their views are known, both directly to the county board, AND through their clubs.
(2) I'm a firm believer in democracy, largely along the lines of the old phrase that "it's the worst system out there, except every other system that has ever been tried". For me, it's very important that clubs talk about these, that they talk to their players that were involved (if they have any) and that they actively form their view and communicate this to Offaly GAA early on. If the clubs of the county decide that Kelly and Harte are the right men to continue, I will respect that. If they decide they aren't the right men, I will respect that.
What I DON'T want is that GAA democracy nonsense where you have people who have no thoughts on the issue at hand, so they vote with something else in mind. For something like this, on the one hand you will have a club like Tullamore/Rhode/Edenderry/Shamrocks sitting down and trying to decide what's the right thing for Offaly football, but then the same amount of votes goes to a small hurling club whose only concern is being seen to support the top table, all so that they can call in a favour next month because they need a JHC match moved from Saturday to Friday evening on account of a wedding.
If that reads as a dig at hurling clubs, it's not - the very same thing could happen with the codes reversed, it's not a hurling thing, it's a GAA thing.
(3) More than anything however, it's vital that whatever is decided, is actively decided, and done early. I know there often aren't county board meetings in the Summer months, which is why clubs still need to be proactive in making sure their views are heard. We can't let things drift into the Autumn on the basis that the Offaly GAA Executive says it's a three-year term with one year to go, and then it's September before an actual debate and discussion happens, because that's the next time that the clubs get the chance to air their views.
It's not contentious to say that there are very strong views out there, and it's important that these are heard, as long as they come through the right channels of course. It will not do the cause of the Offaly senior footballers any good if there is an unspoken policy of letting things settle for a while with heads kept down all over the place, meaning that everyone gets distracted by club championships and suddenly it only gets spoken about AFTER two or three players announce their plans to up sticks and go abroad to study/work etc.
I was there for the post-match interview with Harte and Kelly, and for me the pertinent points are two responses that Mickey Harte gave. The first is making it very clear that they intend to be back to manage the team in 2027, and the second is that in his opinion, the Offaly team is "absolutely" further on going into 2027 than it was going into 2026. Those points are on the record.
However for the benefit of those reading who are involved with Offaly GAA or with their club (which is plenty of ye), I would make the following points:
(1) More than ever before, it's important to canvas the views of players, and to respect them. I'm of an older generation so I grew up in the era when executives of clubs and counties decided who should manage teams, those decisions were ratified at either an AGM in the case of a club, or a county board meeting, and players just played ball.
Maybe in an ideal world, that's how it should be - but the simple fact of the matter is that if players are unhappy as a collective, then they will not make the huge commitment that is required to play for Offaly in 2027. So many of these lads are at an age where they need to make crucial life and career choices, and as a county, we need to facilitate as many as possible.
There will never be a management team that pleases everyone, and to be honest I'd be worried about any management team if they did please everyone all the time, but I think it's important that the players make sure their views are known, both directly to the county board, AND through their clubs.
(2) I'm a firm believer in democracy, largely along the lines of the old phrase that "it's the worst system out there, except every other system that has ever been tried". For me, it's very important that clubs talk about these, that they talk to their players that were involved (if they have any) and that they actively form their view and communicate this to Offaly GAA early on. If the clubs of the county decide that Kelly and Harte are the right men to continue, I will respect that. If they decide they aren't the right men, I will respect that.
What I DON'T want is that GAA democracy nonsense where you have people who have no thoughts on the issue at hand, so they vote with something else in mind. For something like this, on the one hand you will have a club like Tullamore/Rhode/Edenderry/Shamrocks sitting down and trying to decide what's the right thing for Offaly football, but then the same amount of votes goes to a small hurling club whose only concern is being seen to support the top table, all so that they can call in a favour next month because they need a JHC match moved from Saturday to Friday evening on account of a wedding.
If that reads as a dig at hurling clubs, it's not - the very same thing could happen with the codes reversed, it's not a hurling thing, it's a GAA thing.
(3) More than anything however, it's vital that whatever is decided, is actively decided, and done early. I know there often aren't county board meetings in the Summer months, which is why clubs still need to be proactive in making sure their views are heard. We can't let things drift into the Autumn on the basis that the Offaly GAA Executive says it's a three-year term with one year to go, and then it's September before an actual debate and discussion happens, because that's the next time that the clubs get the chance to air their views.
It's not contentious to say that there are very strong views out there, and it's important that these are heard, as long as they come through the right channels of course. It will not do the cause of the Offaly senior footballers any good if there is an unspoken policy of letting things settle for a while with heads kept down all over the place, meaning that everyone gets distracted by club championships and suddenly it only gets spoken about AFTER two or three players announce their plans to up sticks and go abroad to study/work etc.
Kevin Egan. Signed out of respect for players and all involved with Offaly.
-
pigeon house biffo
- All Star
- Posts: 384
- Joined: Thu Feb 02, 2017 10:49 am
- Club: Rynagh
Re: Offaly management 2027
Whats alleged to have been said on the bus home?
Re: Offaly management 2027
Also interested to hear what was allegedly said after game as have heard nothing on this front.
Some very interesting points LS and agree with lots of it. If there is to be action taken, either positive or negative action, it is important that it is done sooner rather than later. If it is renewal of new term, then important to do this soon so players have assurances of where they stand. If there is review to be done, then best do it quickly so as to capture the feelings of players etc while fresh in memory. If clubs are to take action and propose same or propose change, again best to do that soon. As i said already, the most important group in all of this are the players and they need to be consulted broadly by county board firstly, and by clubs secondly in relation to their players. The county board is essentially there to best serve the wishes of the constituent clubs and best interests of county. The club delegates should be central to any decision, but should be informed by the views of the players as they are the ones essentially that know best and are the ones that will be making the huge time and effort sacrifices for a 2027 campaign.
I am far from knowledgeable on GAA politics and not sure what threshold a vote would need to carry if it came to that, just assume it is to exceed 50%?
Like LS said, some hurling clubs could be asked to just dial in with co board wishes to carry future favours. Others may be asked to return favours done by other clubs in past to vote in whatever direction - it would be foolish to speculate on that front, how that could skew a vote given the nature of GAA politics.
What I would imagine is that on the football front, that while there may be a certain level of acrimony towards current management in Rhode for obvious reasons, you could equally say that current management would most likely carry a favourable vote from likes of Tullamore and the St Vincent's clubs of Kilclonfert, Daingean, Ballycommon and Cappincur with Kelly's sons hurling with Tullamore and playing football with St Vincents. You'd also imagine a favourable vote from likes of Edenderry and Shamrocks with the volume of their players being on panel and getting selected - with Clonbullogue, Bracknagh and again Tullamore also in this bracket. That would be a very large positive vote to overcome if it were to get to that point and so I would sense that if it were put to a vote that there is a very strong chance that the status quo would remain for 2027.....
Some very interesting points LS and agree with lots of it. If there is to be action taken, either positive or negative action, it is important that it is done sooner rather than later. If it is renewal of new term, then important to do this soon so players have assurances of where they stand. If there is review to be done, then best do it quickly so as to capture the feelings of players etc while fresh in memory. If clubs are to take action and propose same or propose change, again best to do that soon. As i said already, the most important group in all of this are the players and they need to be consulted broadly by county board firstly, and by clubs secondly in relation to their players. The county board is essentially there to best serve the wishes of the constituent clubs and best interests of county. The club delegates should be central to any decision, but should be informed by the views of the players as they are the ones essentially that know best and are the ones that will be making the huge time and effort sacrifices for a 2027 campaign.
I am far from knowledgeable on GAA politics and not sure what threshold a vote would need to carry if it came to that, just assume it is to exceed 50%?
Like LS said, some hurling clubs could be asked to just dial in with co board wishes to carry future favours. Others may be asked to return favours done by other clubs in past to vote in whatever direction - it would be foolish to speculate on that front, how that could skew a vote given the nature of GAA politics.
What I would imagine is that on the football front, that while there may be a certain level of acrimony towards current management in Rhode for obvious reasons, you could equally say that current management would most likely carry a favourable vote from likes of Tullamore and the St Vincent's clubs of Kilclonfert, Daingean, Ballycommon and Cappincur with Kelly's sons hurling with Tullamore and playing football with St Vincents. You'd also imagine a favourable vote from likes of Edenderry and Shamrocks with the volume of their players being on panel and getting selected - with Clonbullogue, Bracknagh and again Tullamore also in this bracket. That would be a very large positive vote to overcome if it were to get to that point and so I would sense that if it were put to a vote that there is a very strong chance that the status quo would remain for 2027.....
jimbob
Re: Offaly management 2027
Unlikely he’ll get a favourable vote from his home club given he proposed disbanding the club at their most recent AGM. And absolutely no love at the other end of the parish in Cappincur...but the club delegate is in the Offaly backroom team so that vote would be wrapped up in a bow you would imaginejimbob17 wrote: ↑Wed Jun 24, 2026 10:33 pm What I would imagine is that on the football front, that while there may be a certain level of acrimony towards current management in Rhode for obvious reasons, you could equally say that current management would most likely carry a favourable vote from likes of Tullamore and the St Vincent's clubs of Kilclonfert, Daingean, Ballycommon and Cappincur with Kelly's sons hurling with Tullamore and playing football with St Vincents. You'd also imagine a favourable vote from likes of Edenderry and Shamrocks with the volume of their players being on panel and getting selected - with Clonbullogue, Bracknagh and again Tullamore also in this bracket. That would be a very large positive vote to overcome if it were to get to that point and so I would sense that if it were put to a vote that there is a very strong chance that the status quo would remain for 2027.....
Re: Offaly management 2027
I'll be honest, I'd get that very hard to believe. That said, if that is true, it'd say a lot about a fella if they don't even get backing off their own...NewEra wrote: ↑Thu Jun 25, 2026 9:09 am
Unlikely he’ll get a favourable vote from his home club given he proposed disbanding the club at their most recent AGM. And absolutely no love at the other end of the parish in Cappincur...but the club delegate is in the Offaly backroom team so that vote would be wrapped up in a bow you would imagine
jimbob
Re: Offaly management 2027
The situation surrounding the Offaly senior football management is becoming increasingly significant. There is a concern that the current setup could remain in place simply because Declan Kelly is a respected Offaly man, the management team are decent people, and there may not be enough people who care to make a change, even if change might be the right decision.
The fact that Mickey Harte has publicly stated his desire to stay on only adds to the complexity. There have also been mixed messages in the local media, with reports suggesting that both Harte and Kelly are seeking another year, which contrasts sharply with much of the public sentiment.
What happens next will be fascinating. Ideally, I would always favour an Offaly management team, but perhaps there is not a suitable candidate available at this moment. If that's the case, then an external appointment may be the best option.
The key issue now is timing. Any delay in making a decision risks losing potential candidates and valuable preparation time. More important than the manager, however, are the coaches brought in around them. Modern inter-county football demands far more than one or two coaches. At a minimum, Offaly need two high-quality coaches, and ideally three, alongside the management team.
The coming months are hugely important for Offaly GAA. If the county decides to retain Declan Kelly and Mickey Harte, then it should be a long-term commitment with full backing and investment. If not, a clean break should be made now to allow everyone to move forward and give Offaly the best chance of progress.
The fact that Mickey Harte has publicly stated his desire to stay on only adds to the complexity. There have also been mixed messages in the local media, with reports suggesting that both Harte and Kelly are seeking another year, which contrasts sharply with much of the public sentiment.
What happens next will be fascinating. Ideally, I would always favour an Offaly management team, but perhaps there is not a suitable candidate available at this moment. If that's the case, then an external appointment may be the best option.
The key issue now is timing. Any delay in making a decision risks losing potential candidates and valuable preparation time. More important than the manager, however, are the coaches brought in around them. Modern inter-county football demands far more than one or two coaches. At a minimum, Offaly need two high-quality coaches, and ideally three, alongside the management team.
The coming months are hugely important for Offaly GAA. If the county decides to retain Declan Kelly and Mickey Harte, then it should be a long-term commitment with full backing and investment. If not, a clean break should be made now to allow everyone to move forward and give Offaly the best chance of progress.
Re: Offaly management 2027
some one said there was progress lately in offaly football, leix beat them well in championship wicklow who were 8 points behind came back to win well if thats progress i don't know what going back will be like. 