Offaly Senior Hurlers 2024

[Plain of the Herbs]

I know what you’re saying. There was a judgment call to make. The other side of the coin is Louth. Six grass pitches, they used their pitches morning, noon and night, used them for couty team training, club league matches, the works. Their main pitch hardly had a blade of grass on it by Easter weekend when Offaly Minor hurlers were scheduled to play Antrim there. It was in a desperate state, they couldn't get a tractor on to cut the little bit of grass that was there, and the Minor game was played on astro.

After seeing the state of Louth’s place back then, my opinion is that Offaly made the correct call. The situation wasn’t ideal, far from it, but we had a long wet winter and the pitches required relatively little recovery by the time the evenings got longer.

A certain man wouldn't want his fields damaged

Is that not the point of having a centre of excellence, so that the county teams can use them

[Johnny Tightlips]

Saturday's win was the most satisfying, most important Offaly hurling result in a long, long time.
Most of what needs to be said about the game has already been covered. It wasn't our best performance and, yes Laois did have more than enough chances to win it. And then some.
However for sheer heart and determination, Offaly can't be faulted. To score the final three points when, lets be honest, the game looked gone is a testament to all involved. The relief at the final whistle in Croke Park, incredible.

Maybe they'll lose against Cork next weekend and maybe they'll find the Leinster Championship next year tough. Or maybe they won't. Now, however, is not the time for that. Now is the time to enjoy the moment and dream and hope of times to come. What else is the point of winning.

Reflecting on it all, I would like to pay tribute to all involved in Offaly hurling over the last five years, the period including our two years in the Christy Ring and three in the Joe McDonagh.
When Offaly hurling was in freefall throughout the 2010's, the road to the Christy Ring was marked by a series of 'new lows', denial, rancour and discord.

However, relegation to the Christy Ring proved to be a blessing in disguise. Since then all involved accepted Offaly's level and have worked hard, honestly and with great integrity to reverse the situation. Consider this, despite the results of the last 5 years, there was no significant reports of camp discord, of players leaving the panel, or players going to the US etc etc that so often happens in counties that are off 'Broadway'. There was continuity in management. Supporters also acknowledged the reality of the situation and recognised that, by and large, all the best players in the county were involved and were trying their best. And really, what more can you ask for. Its very easy to dedicate your life to be an intercounty hurler for Limerick, Kilkenny et al. It takes remarkable character and dedication to play for Offaly in the Christy Ring and Joe McDonagh. The comparison with our football team over the past number of years and the seemingly unending discontent and disregard to second tier competitions is stark.

Throughout it all we could be proud of our hurlers. Well done all.

[faithfulfanatic]

Saturday's win was the most satisfying, most important Offaly hurling result in a long, long time.
Most of what needs to be said about the game has already been covered. It wasn't our best performance and, yes Laois did have more than enough chances to win it. And then some.
However for sheer heart and determination, Offaly can't be faulted. To score the final three points when, lets be honest, the game looked gone is a testament to all involved. The relief at the final whistle in Croke Park, incredible.

Maybe they'll lose against Cork next weekend and maybe they'll find the Leinster Championship next year tough. Or maybe they won't. Now, however, is not the time for that. Now is the time to enjoy the moment and dream and hope of times to come. What else is the point of winning.

Reflecting on it all, I would like to pay tribute to all involved in Offaly hurling over the last five years, the period including our two years in the Christy Ring and three in the Joe McDonagh.
When Offaly hurling was in freefall throughout the 2010's, the road to the Christy Ring was marked by a series of 'new lows', denial, rancour and discord.

However, relegation to the Christy Ring proved to be a blessing in disguise. Since then all involved accepted Offaly's level and have worked hard, honestly and with great integrity to reverse the situation. Consider this, despite the results of the last 5 years, there was no significant reports of camp discord, of players leaving the panel, or players going to the US etc etc that so often happens in counties that are off 'Broadway'. There was continuity in management. Supporters also acknowledged the reality of the situation and recognised that, by and large, all the best players in the county were involved and were trying their best. And really, what more can you ask for. Its very easy to dedicate your life to be an intercounty hurler for Limerick, Kilkenny et al. It takes remarkable character and dedication to play for Offaly in the Christy Ring and Joe McDonagh. The comparison with our football team over the past number of years and the seemingly unending discontent and disregard to second tier competitions is stark.

Throughout it all we could be proud of our hurlers. Well done all.

Well said, couldn’t agree more

[faithfulfanatic]

Tickets still available on ticketmaster for Saturday.

It would be a real shame if there were only 2,000-3,000 Offaly fans there.
I know we have very little chance of winning but a bit of support can be worth a few points and would be really heartening for the team to see.

It would be nice to cap off a fantastic year with a good performance and to honour this team.

Isn’t that what real support is?

[private joker]

See a number of players have gone on holidays before the cork match. Pity they couldn't have waited until after.

[joe bloggs]

See a number of players have gone on holidays before the cork match. Pity they couldn't have waited until after.

They have reached their target for the year. Its a long tine since they returned to training in November, so if they wanted a few days off fair play to them. They all have lives outside of the GAA. Have you had any holidays since the end of October? Next week the club managers will start calling on them.
Its a folly by the GAA having these preliminary quarter finals in all honesty, and this just proves it really

[private joker]

Players are free to do as they please. They would've known the date of this match long ago. Just saying it's a pity they'd were unable to wait one more week. I don't think it's fair play as it a championship game, but again they are free to do as they please and more luck to them.

[bracknaghboy]

They have reached their target for the year. Its a long tine since they returned to training in November, so if they wanted a few days off fair play to them. They all have lives outside of the GAA. Have you had any holidays since the end of October? Next week the club managers will start calling on them.
Its a folly by the GAA having these preliminary quarter finals in all honesty, and this just proves it really

So would you have been OK if Johnny Kelly and his management team went on holidays this week and missed the All Ireland Hurling Preliminary 1/4 final?
Let's say if he said he'd reached his target and wanted "a few days to himself".
Would you say "fair play to him"?

[frankthetank]

They have reached their target for the year. Its a long tine since they returned to training in November, so if they wanted a few days off fair play to them. They all have lives outside of the GAA. Have you had any holidays since the end of October? Next week the club managers will start calling on them.
Its a folly by the GAA having these preliminary quarter finals in all honesty, and this just proves it really

So would you have been OK if Johnny Kelly and his management team went on holidays this week and missed the All Ireland Hurling Preliminary 1/4 final?
Let's say if he said he'd reached his target and wanted "a few days to himself".
Would you say "fair play to him"?

Players aren’t getting paid though are they?!?!

[DonieH]

Terrace Tickets (Adult) - Selling for 15 euro. Transfer via Ticketmaster Ring Donal 0863719057

Purchased tickets for our club here in Cork (all the talk was tickets would be at a premium, even a podcast down here on Monday spoke of the scramble for tickets!!) so wanted to help our members who may not see when tickets were released "Tickets going live at 3pm on Monday". Even got the missus involved, I know..she thinks I'm a bigger fool than normal!

Since then gods sake Stand tickets have become available and it is still not sold out....so much for a scramble, more of calm stroll!

thank you. Donal 0863719057

[bracknaghboy]

Players aren’t getting paid though are they?!?!

They aren't Frank but I'm struggling to see the justification for lads going on holiday with a massive game going up at the weekend. Everyone knew it was very likely Offaly would get to the Joe Mc final and therefore would extend the season for at least another week. Thankfully, there is no crazy 3 weeks wait around like there was last year for the Joe Mc teams so that's a huge plus.
So why not plan your holiday for after the prelim 1/4 final?
The performance last year against Tipp was a shocker so the lads enter the weekends game against similar opposition but this time as champions and with the benefit of the Tipp game to see what improvements can be made.
It's a free shot to go out and do your best.
Galway, Tipp and Waterford would give their right arm to be where Offaly are on Saturday so to hear some players won't be there is just disappointing.

Joe Bloggs above mentions training since November and have no holidays etc. but aren't all other teams left in the championship in that boat but it wouldn't be deemed remotely acceptable for a Wexford, Cork or Kilkenny player to be on their holliers with a huge knock out game to be played.
As a county, if we want to get back competing with hurlings best then I'm thinking we'd need to start behaving like it.
I've no idea how many are away or is it just a few fringe players so happy to be told I'm over-reacting.
It's been a great year and games against big teams are what I want to see more of, I'm already looking forward to next year.
Hopefully we can muster up 2,000 or 3,000 supporters for Saturday as I believe the team deserve it for their efforts so far.
Who know's maybe just maybe Saturday evening won't be the end of the road for 2024
Imagine that!!

[joe bloggs]

They have reached their target for the year. Its a long tine since they returned to training in November, so if they wanted a few days off fair play to them. They all have lives outside of the GAA. Have you had any holidays since the end of October? Next week the club managers will start calling on them.
Its a folly by the GAA having these preliminary quarter finals in all honesty, and this just proves it really

So would you have been OK if Johnny Kelly and his management team went on holidays this week and missed the All Ireland Hurling Preliminary 1/4 final?
Let's say if he said he'd reached his target and wanted "a few days to himself".
Would you say "fair play to him"?

Johnny Kelly snd Co. wont be turning around next week to start preparing for a club campaign.

[greenairfield]

Such a stupid debate here lads.

At the end of the day we can make all the excuses we want but there season isn't over till they are out of championship end off.

Whether we agree or don't agree they should be playing Cork this weekend -THEY ARE! Players ideally shouldn't be gone on holidays till we're gone our of the champo!

[JimBwobb]

How many are supposedly gone on holiday

[Doon Exile]

How many are supposedly gone on holiday

Players have changed flights. Full squad available tomorrow.