Offaly hurlers will learn from tough tests against the elite

By Kevin Egan

Two years ago, Offaly’s return to the top tier of the Allianz Hurling League began with a difficult trip to Pearse Stadium. Galway ran out double scores winners on that occasion, 4-22 to 0-17, but when Evan Niland’s missed penalty and a handful of other spurned goal chances are added into the mix, it could have been even worse.

The following week, Cork travelled up to St Brendan’s Park, Birr and were no less comfortable in a 4-25 to 1-15 win, and it didn’t get any better in round three against Clare either. Round four in Wexford Park showed signs of hope, but Limerick knocked any lingering traces of momentum away and that showed in the relegation final, where Antrim were full value for their seven-point win on the day.

With that experience behind them, a handful of promising younger hurlers ready to make an impression, and a considerable amount of minutes racked up in what was an arduous campaign in both the league and Joe McDonagh Cup in 2023, Offaly have the potential to be that bit more competitive in 2024, starting with this Sunday’s clash with Waterford at Glenisk O’Connor Park (2pm).

The problem for Johnny Kelly and his players is that for the first time in several seasons, the bigger teams in the group have ample motivation to try and run up a large score. If Waterford, or Clare, or Cork, happen to be ten points up on Offaly with 15 minutes to play, there is likely to be an incentive there to push that number up to 15, 18, 20 and more.

The reason for this is the restructuring of the league, starting in 2025. Not alone are divisions going to be expanded, numbering seven teams each, but the league is returning to a system where Division 1A is a tier ahead of Division 1B. In order to guarantee qualification for that elite grouping, teams will have to finish in the top three of six this year. One of the two fourth-placed teams will also qualify, but with scoring difference likely to be the separating factor there, that increases the pressure for all teams to try to run up a score where possible. Waterford will be conscious of that in Tullamore, as will Galway against Westmeath, and Limerick when they play Antrim.

From Offaly’s perspective, qualifying for next year’s Division 1A looks out of reach and even if it was attainable, it’s not immediately clear that it’s desirable. A Division 1B where Offaly would have a couple of games against most established but still not dominant sides (Wexford, Dublin) then a handful of games against opponents of a similar standard (Antrim, Westmeath, Laois, Carlow) would seem like ideal preparation, and should the time come when Offaly’s promising younger players come through and competing at a higher level becomes realistic, then that would be fantastic.

But that time isn’t now, so, for the moment, this league should be seen as a great chance to get some match experience against elite sides, without worrying too much about results.

Odds stacked against footballers in Belfast

By any measure, Offaly’s performance against Westmeath in Tullamore last Sunday was disappointing. John Furlong’s goal chance, saved by Jason Daly, was no doubt a huge swing moment, but once Westmeath’s lead was cut to three points with over a quarter of the game to play and the wind favouring Offaly, the foundations had been relaid and the opportunity was there. And simply put, the group misfired.

Shot selection and shot execution was poor, and while aspects like work rate and tackle count were decent, there was a level of quality to some of Westmeath’s scores that Offaly simply couldn’t match.

This Sunday things don’t get any easier, as Offaly prepare to take on an Antrim side who were the most impressive performers in the division last weekend (with a 2-14 to 2-7 win away to Limerick).

A six-point winning margin in last year’s corresponding fixture was utterly deceptive as Offaly were hanging on by a thread before striking with a late breakaway goal, so everything seems to be stacking up in Antrim’s favour as they will no doubt have that game in mind too.

One defeat to start the league wasn’t fatal, and when we consider that Down, Westmeath and Antrim look like the main promotion contenders, losing out in Belfast wouldn’t be a disaster either, provided there were some positive signs. More than there were in Tullamore, at least.