Farewell to a horror decade at inter-county level for Offaly

In 2000, the first year of this decade, it was Kerry and Kilkenny who ended the year as All Ireland champions of their respective codes. Fast forward to the end of the decade and nothing has changed - the Sam Maguire and Liam McCarthy cups are wintering in familiar environs. From an Offaly perspective however, the sporting environment has changed utterly. The year 2000 didn't see the Faithful county win any senior trophies, but the county's footballers and hurlers achieved a unique double when they each eliminated the then-standing All Ireland Champions (Meath and Cork) while the county's future looked particularly bright in hurling with Leinster titles in the bag at minor and under-21 level. Even the most pessimistic forecaster would not have predicted that nine years later, the county would be reflecting on the most barren run since the 1950's, with nothing only a Leinster Junior football championship in 2001 to show for a decade of trying in both codes. This year was perhaps the worst single year since that time, with only the minor footballers managing to register a win of any kind, while the senior footballers and hurlers both exited the All Ireland championship at the hands of counties who went on to prove that they too were way off the pace. From a hurling perspective, it's particularly difficult to see the light. The All Ireland final of three weeks ago has cast a harsh light on the standard now required to compete at the top level and nothing that has happened in Offaly in recent seasons suggests that the huge gap is being bridged. Next year's league campaign will provide an opportunity to develop, but the current club campaign doesn't seem to be bringing any Brendan Mahers or Noel McGraths to the surface, while it could be argued that only Birr, Seir Kieran and maybe Shamrocks or Tullamore have either improved or even stood still from where they were in 2008. Kilcormac/Killoughey or Coolderry may yet turn matters around, but the simple fact is that hurling nationwide is improving to meet the standards that Kilkenny have set, while hurling in Offaly is stagnating or even regressing. Despite starting from an even lower base, it would be understandable if it was the county's footballers who started 2010 with more of a spring in their step. Kerry may sit on top of the tree, but by winning the All Ireland the way they did, Kerry have opened a window of opportunity for many other counties. Put simply, this was not a dominant Kerry team performing at the peak of their powers. Seven of their players wearing single digit jerseys are either 29 years of age or older, while they looked vulnerable at various stages throughout the campaign, including the first ten minutes of Sunday's clash. Certainly counties like Sligo have every reason to enter 2010 wondering if they are in fact close enough to the level required. For this Offaly team, aspects such as physical development and mental toughness require a lot of work, but counties like Meath and Antrim have proved what can be done with the right attitude, even when starting from a low base, and replicating those achievements should be the goal for next year. Kildare and Meath each look set to maintain their progression and the Dubs will always be a tough opponent in Croke Park, but there is little else in Leinster to be afraid of while even those three counties are vulnerable to a well-planned blindside attack. With seemingly good teams at under-21 and minor level again next year, it is long past time that Offaly football got another Leinster Championship onto the mantelpiece and hopefully one of the three panels will come good. Looking now to the domestic scene, there are a range of very interesting fixtures taking place this weekend, with the senior football semi-final between Clara and Erin Rovers topping the bill. These two clubs met in the first round of the championship in Ferbane earlier this year and Clara were the comfortable victors on a day when Thomas Deehan put his best foot forward, but Erin Rovers have developed since then and they now offer a very different threat, particularly in the wide expanses of O'Connor Park. Rovers' mobile, energetic midfield was crucial to their quarter-final success over Ferbane and there is no reason why Declan Kelly, Jason Devery and Tom Spain can't unsettle Clara in a similar fashion. Aided by the half back line, these players moved the ball at pace down the field, using the full width of the pitch and capitalising on every turnover ball that was secured. They held possession well and created the overlaps that allowed players like Padraig Carroll, Ger Lynam and Alan Lynam to take the crucial scores. Their approach will be an tricky test for Clara, though ultimately they are unlikely to shoot down the Magpies. Ferbane lacked a playmaking presence to really bring their inside line into the game and as a result turned over a lot of ball with long deliveries forward. Clara look to have the capability to pick out their danger men more accurately, while the option of deploying Graham Guilfoyle at midfield to carry the ball forward could be examined if Rovers do sit back and close off the early balls into Deehan and company. This should be an honourable defeat for Rovers, but a defeat nonetheless. The Intermediate football final throws in tomorrow, with Doon hoping to derail the Walsh Island express before its last stop. The Island were devastating in their semi-final win over St Rynaghs and look to have improved considerably this year, reaching a division one league final and performing very well in their three championship matches. Doon come into this game as huge underdogs, but strong performances from key individuals could go a long way. Certainly the likely match up between Paul Heavin (Ballyduff) and Willie Mulhall will be vital as Doon will need to keep the dangerous corner forward under wraps, while Brian Connor is a strong contender for intermediate player of the year in Offaly and Dessie Egan will need to at least match the powerful young player if Doon are to enjoy any parity around that sector. Any team with forwards of Doon's calibre is capable of pulling off an upset, but it would still be a huge upset and right now it looks like it'll be the Island who will be playing senior football next summer. Barring draws, the semi-final line-up for the hurling championship should be completed this weekend also, with Birr expected to advance at Kinnitty's expense on Sunday evening in Banagher. These two sides played out an excellent county final last year, but Kinnitty have not been performing at that level at all this summer while Birr have been easily swatting aside all challengers. They welcome back a couple of big names from the States for this match and while Kinnitty did put in their best performance of the year last Saturday against Belmont, they would need to raise their game considerably again to cause Birr any problems here and don't look capable of doing so. Finally Seir Kieran meet Kilcormac/Killoughey tomorrow evening in Birr, and if supporters are treated to a replay of the drama in the drawn match there will be no complaints. Both sides will feel that they let a chance slip through their fingers in that match, but Kilcormac/Killoughey were probably the happier side of the two. Johnny Pilkington will relish every game as he tries to stamp his mark on the team, while the Clareen men perhaps don't have as much improvement in the tank. There is a strong case for saying that when Birr are finally unseated in Offaly, it's likely to be Seir Kieran that do the job, but this year might just be a little bit soon for them and they might live to regret not closing the deal on this one in O'Connor Park.