Free hit for Offaly footballers in Sligo

By Kevin Egan

In terms of dodging relegation, the likelihood is that Offaly will have some work to do in just over a week’s time when Limerick come to Tullamore, regardless of how they get on against Sligo at Markievicz Park tomorrow (Saturday, 2.30).

Limerick’s trip to Aughrim is far from a foregone conclusion, particularly since they’ll be down wing-forward Emmet Rigter due to his likely involvement in the first round of the Munster U-20 football championship, but there’s still a bit more about Limerick than Wicklow, who have floundered badly at this level of football, culminating in the one-way contest in Tullamore a fortnight ago.

What that means is that even if Offaly beat Sligo, it’s almost certain that a home loss to Limerick would still see Declan Kelly’s men drop to the bottom tier of the league by way of that head-to-head defeat.

Even so, a strong performance and ideally a positive result of some sort against Sligo would still be very valuable to a group of players that hasn’t had a lot to celebrate in the last few years.

By rights, Sligo should be a bit behind this Offaly group in terms of their development. They had a superb U-20 team of their own last year, a group that racked up wins over Roscommon, Galway and Kerry en route to an All-Ireland final, and unlike Offaly, those players seem to have picked up where they left off in 2024, with nowhere like as many injury and loss-of-form concerns.

Like Offaly, there are a few standout leaders in the senior group but not really as much depth as they would like, and like Offaly, a one-point defeat to Clare when they were in the driving seat was something of a hammer blow.

Technically, promotion is still on the table for Sligo, as wins over Offaly and Westmeath might see them scrape through in second place behind Down, but they got something of a reality check in Newry last time out and expectations might be tempered a little now.

For Offaly, this game is all about momentum. Laois are certain to be in good form going into the Leinster championship opener, but if Offaly could pick up a draw or a win in Sligo and then finish the league campaign with an emphatic home win over Limerick - ideally carrying on the form that saw them score 1-12, 2-14 and 5-15 in their last three outings - the dismal start to the season will be consigned to memory. And there would be much more of a spring in the step of the panel and the supporters in advance of what should be an enjoyable local derby next month.