What the hell is going on?

[Offalys Future]

Over the last year and especially the last few months i have become completely dissillusioned with Offaly GAA. There isnt any one thing but with County Board, Management, Players, Clubs, Referees, Supporters, Past Players, Coaching etc there are massive problems.

Hurling in the county in my opinion is at an all time low at the moment due to the attidudes of many of the above and the worrying thing is that it ain't improving one bit.

I have tried to remain positive regarding Joe Dooley but lets be honest here his appointment is a complete joke. How in Gods name could the county board appoint a man that had only experience of training a club team for a year. He has no coaching qualifications and has zero success as a manager at any level. It was crazy at the time and over the last few months it has become quiet evident that he hasnt a clue what he is doing. Last week after the Clare game on radio he said that " Offaly would be better off in Div 2 and there would be no pressure on his players to perform" jesus chriest does he have any clue, you judge players when they perform under pressure. By Offaly hurling in Div 2 next year they will be playing against teams that are of a lower standard than them and a few teams that are of the same standard. What benefit is that going to be? absolutely none. In order to improve as players and as a team you need to be playing better players and teams. Offaly drew with Galway and lost to Clare by 2 points, but the manager tells them they arent good enough for Div 1 hurling. What does he do when they go play Kilkenny in June - are they all of a sudden good enough to beat Kilkenny? One of the first rules of top management is that you back your players, Joe Dooley hasnt backed his players and the trust is gone if you ask me.
Lads have criticised Wexford for lodging and appeal regarding their relegation, John Meyler has been on every newspaper, radio and rte backing his players and backing wexford. Even if they are relegated the players know that he has backed them. He speaks passionately about his players and doesnt say they arent good enough for Div 1. I say fair play to John Meyler the way he has acted in last two weeks is top management.

The appointment of Pat McLoughney was also a bad decision and with three players from his club walking out on the panel and he remaining regardless of whoose fault it is, serious questions need to be asked here.

Look also the way Wexford county board has backed the players and defended them. Where is the county board for offaly? Why arent they backing these players? why dont they put a case out there that we drew with Galway and lost 2 Clare by 2 points? Even if it is defeated at least the challenged the GAA and backed the players. But no nothing not a thing.
I have serious issues with the county board regarding: Sponsorship, O'Connor Park, Coaching and Development, etc.
I have spoken about it before and the only way things will improve is if we get a good sponsor in. Carroll meats were very loyal for many years but we are now in the era of corporate sponsorship and even a county like Offaly would be able to attract a big sponsor for serious money over a period of time. The county board need to appoint someone that can get the maximum out of this. All you have to do is look at the programmes for the hurling games at O'Connor park, i am looking at 2 of them as i write this and not one business advertising in them. Are you telling me that there isnt a company in Offaly, Galway or Clare that would advertise?? i doubt it very much.

Money is needed and it needs to be invested in professional and qualified guys that know what they are doing, not waste of time academy's with past players that havent a clue how to coach kids.
Recently there was a level 1 coaching course ran by John Leahy held in Offaly for coaches in all Leinster. Guess how many players that have hurled with Offaly over the last 30 years attended this? 2.
The interest simply isnt there.
I recently went to watch a training session of u-12/u-14 kids in a prominent Offaly club. 5 coaches 1 of them with Level 1 coaching course done. The shouting roaring at kids really was incredible. It was okay to do this 20 years ago but not anymore, too many other sports to compete against. Unless the county board tackle this issue i really cant see any progress been made.

I really dont know where Offaly goes from here. They need to put concrete foundations at u-14/16 and minor level and work on this with the best people they can get. Unfortunately this wont happen because there are too many people that are too narrow minded and have no ambition running Offaly Gaa now. Its heart breaking to see.

[black and red exile]

I also heard that interview on the radio with Joe Dooley last Sunday evening and to be honest I couldn't believe the crap he came out with about being happy the way things are going at the moment. It was unbelievable to hear our senior hurling manager say he is happy after finishing bottom of the league with 1 point after 5 games, getting 2 trimmings from Tipp and Limerick and even losing to a dire Laois team who have been cannon fodder for everyone else and to put the icing on the cake 4 players, for one reason or another, walking away from the panel which suggests to anybody with a brain that there is massive unrest behind the scenes. Maybe Mr Dooley has a tactical game plan up his sleeve for the Summer but my god surely he is way in over his head here.