Offaly vs Tipperary SHC Qualifier Phase 3 17/07/2010

[Bord na Mona man]

The Faithful will be up against it here.

While Tipperary's All Ireland performance last year caused them to be overrated, they aren't as bad as their 10 point defeat to Cork. They've now had their wake up call in that clash, so we should expect them to be fully focussed.

In Offaly's favour, Tipp's U21 clash with Cork going to extra time last night can only be good news.

The two Galway games have shown that going at full throttle Offaly can for the most part match a top 5 (excluding Kilkenny obviously) team. Offaly will again need to work exceptionally hard to disrupt Tipp.
The Limerick and Antrim championship games have shown that Offaly lack a clinical edge when the scoreboard needs to worked. In game #2 against Galway, Offaly had a chance to push on after levelling up a 10 point deficit but couldn't and didn't due to some agonising wides.

David Franks may once again manage to lock down Eoin Kelly as he has done in the past, but the threat can and will come from other quarters.
The pace of some the Tipperary forwards is a big danger. Galway placing the speedy Damian Hayes nearer the Offaly goal was probably the winning of the replay for them. Lar Corbett and Noel McGrath especially would need to somehow put on a tight leash.

Full back will be a position to watch for Offaly depending one who plays there. Neither David Kenny or Paul Cleary are particularly quick. My own fear is Lar Corbett getting decent low ball in front of him and going to town.

For Offaly to get close it would need to a vintage performance of hooking, blocking and forcing errors.
As they did in April's league game in Tullamore, they'd need to open up the Tipperary full back line and plunder goals at some stage.

I suspect how the Offaly half forward line fare against the Tipp half back line will be the biggest factor in deciding the margin. Cleaned out, broke even, or on top will probably map to - hammered, respectable defeat, or a puck of a ball in it.

We live in hope.

[Bord na Mona man]

Tipp team named:

1. Brendan Cummins (Ballybacon Grange)
2. Paddy Stapleton (Borris-Ileigh)
3. Paul Curran (Mullinahone)
4. Michael Cahill (Thurles Sarsfields)
5. Declan Fanning (Killenaule)
6. Conor O’Mahony (Newport)
7. Padraic Maher (Thurles Sarsfields)
8. Brendan Maher (Borris-Ileigh)
9. David Young (Toomevara)
10. Gearóid Ryan (Templederry Kenyons)
11. Shane McGrath (Ballinahinch)
12. Patrick Maher (Lorrha and Dorrha)
13. Noel McGrath (Loughmore Castleiney)
14. Lar Corbett (Thurles Sarsfields)
15. Eoin Kelly (Mullinahone) Captain.

[kinnittyman]

That looks about Tipp's best team on paper. Interesting to see they have finally bit the bullet with regards Seamus Callinan and no starting place for John O Brien. Obviously that full forward line looks threatening but I think a half back line of Rigney, Kenny, Morkam could clean out that Tipp half forward line. Two inexperienced wing forwards and a make shift centre forward. Is Liam Sheedy panicing?

Any chance this could happen- Young back to 7, Mcgrath back to 9 and Padraig Maher up to 11. He was tried there in challenges and training before Wexford.

[Kevin]

For starters its July and we are playing a very meaningful game against a team that have their sights set on a date in September.

I don't think for a second that they are overlooking us, but they do expect to win. So should we.

Our boys have shown what they can do. This is the right challenge at the right time.

We have a full panel to pick from and impact subs ready to jump into the fray.

GO GET "EM LADS YOU CAN DO IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

COME ON OFFALY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Offaly2010]

Shane McGrath centre forward,
Lar Corbett full forward,
Two very,very fast men. Will be interesting to see what happens as reguards Cleary and Kenny..who will mark who??

I cant wait for this match lads!
When I look at Offaly's forward line and Tipp's forward line it gets even more exciting!
This is a mouth-watering tie!

Lets hope we win it now lads
Up The Faithful!

[Offaly2010]

Dooley primed for 'a crack' at Tipp

Published Date: 16 July 2010

WHILE Offaly manager Joe Dooley agreed that Tipperary were the team everyone in the qualifiers was looking to avoid, he is relishing the prospect of facing the Premier men.

Alan Walsh reports

"I saw Tipperary against Wexford," outlined Joe and he added, "They were fairly impressive to say the least and they are getting stronger as the year goes on. Shur, we'll have a crack at it anyway and see what happens."

The 1998 All Star winner is hoping that injured defenders Stephen Egan and Michael Verney will be back in contention for selection after missing Saturday's win over Limerick. Daniel Currams is also available after suspension

"Stephen Egan probably has a small chance of making it. Michael Verney has a small chance. But the rest of the lads should be okay. They should be all the better after that game. Derek Molloy and Derek Morkan got a full game so hopefully that will strengthen them up."

During Joe's first season in charge, 2008, Offaly also defeated Limerick but they missed out on an All-Ireland quarter-final place after they succumbed to Waterford in Semple Stadium by 0-18 to 2-18 and if Offaly are to go a step further this year they'll have to end their wait for a first ever win over Tipperary in senior championship hurling.

In 1989, Joe and Offaly came within seventy minutes of facing Tipp in the All-Ireland Final only to see their ambitions dented by Antrim.

He never played Tipp during his championship career and remarked, "Tipperary is a great hurling county. I would have loved to have played against Tipperary in the championship but we never crossed paths and what more can you say. Tipp are still probably second favourites to win the All-Ireland. They have brilliant hurlers. We've good hurlers as well and we'll give it our best shot."

After the hype that surrounded the two tussles with Galway, Joe was asked if it was difficult to focus for the Limerick encounter.

He replied, "It wasn't really. All year we said we'd give it (the qualifiers) a right good lash. We were up for today as much as we could be I suppose. When you are underdogs it is a bit easier to psyche yourself up. The lads handled it well. We won by six points. It was tight but overall we're happy enough with the win."

Joe continued, "Sixteen wides is too many and we probably could have had another goal or two. We didn't take the right options but it was a hard evening for hurling."

Offaly led at one stage by seven points, 1-15 to 0-11, and when Limerick fought back to within two points, 1-13 to 1-15, was the manager concerned.

He answered, "Things were looking a bit hairy but in fairness to Limerick they battled really hard. We were in front of our home supporters so it probably put us under a bit of added pressure. I thought the lads showed huge character when Limerick got it back to two points, but we kicked on and won it by six in the end and probably should have won by a couple of more.

"We should have been more ahead (at half time) and we had two or three good goal chances that we didn't take either. It was just one of those games where you are at home and you are expected to win and you've the favourites tag. We don't do that too well. We're probably better being the underdogs."

Joe, an All-Ireland medal winner in 1985, '94 & '98, continued, "I thought the lads showed great character there in the second half. It would have been very easy for everybody to start dropping the heads and looking at one another. But they didn't. They kept battling right to the end and I thought we finished very strong."

He praised Cathal Parlon on his display. "Cathal just about got the nod to start but he hurled excellently. Cathal is a good, strong hurler and I'm delighted for him.

"Most of Limerick's scores came from frees and they seemed to be getting frees a little bit handier than we were. And that was probably frustrating us a little on the field and on the line. We're delighted to get the win but next week is going to be a hugely different game."

Joe spoke glowingly of Limerick's young team. "Limerick has a lot of young players and they are playing with great heart. They never stopped running for the whole game. They mightn't have the most skilful hurlers in the world but in fairness to them they are hurling to their strengths. They keep on the move.

"They are determined. Justin has them well motivated. It is not easy for them I'm sure. The county is divided but in fairness to the lads that are out there they are doing well. They can hold their heads up and stick their chests out."

(taken from Offaly Express site)

[Offaly2010]

Captain says Offaly need to improve strike rate



OFFALY captain Brian Carroll wasn't impressed by the fact that they chalked up sixteen wides during the win over Limerick and he feels they need to improve on their strike rate ahead of taking on Tipperary.
Alan Walsh reports

On the matter of the wides, he commented, "It is something that has to be looked at. We hit a lot of wides against Galway as well and I suppose if we can tidy up our shooting we'll certainly give ourselves a chance. We're making things hard on ourselves as it is but we are working hard in training. We worked very hard on the shooting and hopefully it will come on."

Brian expected Limerick to provide stubborn opposition. "We fully expected it to be as tough as that. Limerick came here and they had nothing to lose so they were going to give it everything. They showed in the league that they've plenty of hurlers. We said all along, that most of these guys that were hurling for Limerick, would be hurling on that team any way."

Was he worried when Limerick staged their fight back? "Yeah you'd be wondering at the time but in fairness we showed great heart over the last few games and that shone out again. We knew that was in the tank. We know we are very fit this year and we kept plugging away. We knew the scores would come but it was hard at times."

Brian agreed the expectancy of winning and Limerick being written off didn't help. "We're the perennial underdogs. Offaly love that tag and I suppose we don't sit comfortably as favourites. There was an awful lot of talk all week about Limerick having no chance. We spoke about that at length as a panel saying that was absolute rubbish and that was fully justified. Limerick came here with a lot of heart and fair play to them."

Next up are Tipperary and Brian knows a serious test is in prospect. "Tipp are knocking on the door for the last few years. They probably should have won the All-Ireland last year but they came up against a great Kilkenny team. So we know what we are up against.

"Tipp and Offaly battles are always great battles, a lot of rivalry there. But they'll be raging hot favourites after what they did to Wexford and shur all we can do is go along and see how we get on."

Recalling the NHL meeting between the counties earlier this year, he remarked, "Tipp were missing a few that day so we know what we will be coming up against next weekend will be a step up in class again. We'll have the reach the level of performance we got to against Galway and a good bit along with it. Tipperary are second after Kilkenny and we know what we are up against."

Brian is delighted to be in the championship at this stage of the year. "That is what all the winter training is about. We have an aim of at least getting to an All-Ireland quarter final and now Tipperary is standing in our way. We know what is ahead of us. Tipp are going to be raging hot favourites but we won't be going there just to lie down.

"We know we're as good as anyone if we perform but I suppose we have to perform for seventy minutes. We still haven't done it yet this year. We spoke about that. Both days against Galway, against Antrim and even today there have been lapses in concentration that have hit us hard so we're going to have to keep it going for seventy minutes."

(taken from Offaly Express site)

[Offaly2010]

GAA Hurling Championship: Offaly v Tipperary

Friday, July 16, 2010


Tipperary held all the aces as the business end of last year’s GAA Hurling All-Ireland Senior Championship final against Kilkenny crept ominously closer but a late penalty swung the advantage the way of the Cats and they duly went on to record make in four-in-a-row.

The Premier County had a golden chance to dethrone their great rivals but the hurling gods conspired against them and supporters of the blue and gold coming away from GAA Headquarters on the first Sunday in September must have surely thought that next year would be their year. It had to be. Surely.

After a relatively disappointing campaign in Division 1 of the Allianz GAA Hurling National League, Tipperary needed to hit the ground running against Cork in the Munster GAA Hurling Senior Championship opener. However, on their home patch, Cork ripped up the form book and left Liam Sheedy and his selectors scratching their heads.

After a lengthy and frustrating spell in the long grass Tipperary regrouped and easily accounted for a disappointing Wexford side in Phase 1 of the GAA Hurling All-Ireland Senior Championship Qualifiers at Semple Stadium on July 3.

Whether that runaway victory and the positives that emanated from it are enough to overcome Offaly today is up for debate. Joe Dooley’s men made hard work of beating Antrim to in the early stages of the Leinster GAA Hurling Senior Championship but the Faithful County upped their game considerably to push Galway all the way in the semi-final at Croke Park and the subsequent replay in Portlaoise.

The last competitive meeting between the counties was in this year's Allianz GAA Hurling National League where Liam Sheedy’s troops won by 1-18 to 2-14 after Seamus Callanan scored a stoppage time goal in Tullamore.

Today’s meeting is the fourth between the sides in the Championship having previously clashed in 2002, '03 and '07 with Tipperary coming out on top on all three prior occasions.

The Munster kingpins were easy winners - 2-19 to 1-9 in a Qualifier tie in Portlaoise - in 2002, Roscrea’s John Carroll and Mullinahone’s Brian O’Meara the goalscorers.

A year later they met in the quarter-final of the Championship and once again Tipperary emerged victorious but this time they had just five points to spare over their Leinster rivals. As was the case in 2002, Carroll and O’Meara netted for Tipperary as they advanced to the semi-final where they would fall foul of a rampant Kilkenny side.

The margin narrowed again in 2007 with Offaly getting to within four points of their more illustrious opponents in the Qualifiers in Thurles. A red-hot Eoin Kelly, who helped himself to 1-12 of Tipperary’s total of 2-17 on the day, was the main reason Michael ‘Babs’ Keating’s charges scraped over the line.

So what of today? Tipperary will have to push on significantly from their win over Wexford and show further signs that they are the only team capable of derailing Kilkenny’s ‘drive for five’ in 2010.

Offaly will not shy away from Tipperary despite their record against them in the Championship, and in Tullamore sharpshooter Shane Dooley they have a potential matchwinner.

However, one suspects it will be another season or two before this developing Faithful side make a serious impact in the Championship while Tipperary will be hell bent on making a more immediate impact.

(taken from gaa.ie)

[GreatDayForTheParish]

Good analyses above by Bord na Mona Man and POTH. Not much left for me to add.

The Tipp team is interesting to say to least. Changes galore, there's a surprise in there for everyone, including Tipp die hards.

By my reckoning that's a new full back, midfield and half forward line from that which started last year's All-Ireland Final. Remarkable what one loss can do to a team isn't it? Last October Tipp were the champions designate, a settled team having come agonisingly short against KK in All-Ireland 09. Sure, problems in the half forward line were well flagged, but what team (bar KK!) doesn't have a weak line or two. Most, if not all, predicated a straight rematch between themselves and KK in this year's decider. That one defeat to Cork, however, changed everything and now it would appear a doubt laden county travels to Portlaosie on Sunday.

Lets not get ahead of ourselves though. The Tipp defence looks formidabble and let no one forget how two thirds of that half back line (O'Mahony and Fanning) cleaned, absolutely cleaned, the KK half forward line for long periods of the second half in All-Ireland 09. Our half forward line (whoever that is) will have to compete for their lives both on and off the ball to ensure that that Tipp three don't dominate the game. Offaly's midfield will have a big role to play here too.

The Tipp full forward line, on paper, is lethal. Further explanation on how it has to be tied up by not only the full back line but also by a covering half back line is hardly warranted.

In addition, the same discipline shown in the first game against Galway with regards to conceding score-able frees will be required on Sunday.

For me the winning or loosing of this game will be in a large part determined by the performance of our midfield and half back line. The men that they will be marking are where Tipp are at their most unsettled. Both David Young and Shane McGrath have never played in those positions (midfield and CF respectively) before while Tipp's wing forwards are 21 and 22 years young respectively. Tipp's experimentation is Offaly's opportunity. Put simply our midfield and and half back line has to win, and win clearly, this sector for Offaly to have a chance.

Key to all of this is of course the Offaly team and how it's picked. I await with interest.....



Still though, isn't it good for Tipp to do the bit of the experimenting now? 'Shur it's only Offaly'.......

[Faithfulforever]

team named tonight, same 15 as the limerick game but few positional changes

James Dempsey;
David Franks, Paul Cleary, James Rigney;
Dylan Hayden, David Kenny, Derek Morkan;
Brendan Murphy, Rory Hanniffy;
Brian Carroll, Joe Brady, Derek Molloy;
Cathal Parlon, Joe Bergin, Shane Dooley

http://www.rte.ie/sport/gaa/championshi ... ffaly.html

[Offaly2010]

Good to see Parlon has kept his place. Great to have Dan Currams back and I'm sure he will be sprung from the bench at some point over the 70 minutes.

[GreatDayForTheParish]

Almost guaranteed they won't start like that. It doesn't make any sense.
Why Rigney corner back over either Egan of Verney who are now injury free (or so I believe)?

Hayden in defence? Even they should have learned their lesson with regards that by now, I therefore expect to seem him at midfield with Rory moving back. My opposition with regard to that move (Hanniffy in defence) are well known by now and need no further elaboration.

My sincere hope is to see Egan starting with a half back line/midfield of Rigney, Kenny, Del, Hanniffy, Murphy.

[first_touch]

I agree totally with Great Day for the Parish. Maybe Egan or Verney are not fully fit. If Egan was playing corner back and Rigney wing back with Hanniffy and Murphy midfield Id give us a good chance of winning. With the line up just announced I wouldn't be as hopeful. Hayden coming on as a sub at wing forward would be a good move given his long range shooting ability.

Im sure the Faithful supporters will be out in force on Sunday to roar the team on. That support could be worth a couple of points, and that could make all the difference!!

[Offaly2010]

Although I don't think there is much wrong with the team picked to start but this is the team I thought Joe would have selected:
Dempsey
Egan
Cleary
Franks
Rigney
Kenny
Morkan
Hayden
Hannify
Carroll
Brady
Molloy
Parlon
Bergin
Dooley

[Plain of the Herbs]

I wonder would Offaly line their defence out as follows:-

Morkan (in his usual slot) on G Ryan;
Hanniffy at centre back;
Paul Cleary on Maher;
Franks on McGrath;
Rigney on Corbett (watch his right ), and
Kenny on Kelly.

Tipp team named:

1. Brendan Cummins (Ballybacon Grange)
2. Paddy Stapleton (Borris-Ileigh)
3. Paul Curran (Mullinahone)
4. Michael Cahill (Thurles Sarsfields)
5. Declan Fanning (Killenaule)
6. Conor O’Mahony (Newport)
7. Padraic Maher (Thurles Sarsfields)
8. Brendan Maher (Borris-Ileigh)
9. David Young (Toomevara)
10. Gearóid Ryan (Templederry Kenyons)
11. Shane McGrath (Ballinahinch)
12. Patrick Maher (Lorrha and Dorrha)
13. Noel McGrath (Loughmore Castleiney)
14. Lar Corbett (Thurles Sarsfields)
15. Eoin Kelly (Mullinahone) Captain.