FOOTBALL AND HURLING DRAWS.

[black and red exile]

Just one week to the qualifer draws and for the footballers I would imagine the dream draw [if you could call it that] would be Tipp home or away or Louth at home. The nightmare from hell draw would definetly be away to Tyrone in Omagh, Donegal in Ballybofey, or away to the losers of Down in Newry or Armagh in Crossmaglen, it would be bad enough getting a thumping in Tullamore with little or no travelling but to travel to these places and get walloped would be devastating.
As for the hurlers, I think everyone would like to see Clare in Birr or Tullamore to at least see us being competitive, Limerick and especially Cork away would be serious thumpings and at home at least the beatings might not be as severe. All in all there is not too much to look forward to when the big draws are made next Sunday evening.

[Lone Shark]

I think a lot depends on the footballers state of mind right now. If they are actually back and raring to go, then a big name in Tullamore might be just the thing to really get the focus going - someone like Donegal or Meath would be ideal. On the other hand, if things are not going well, which would be understandable, then yeah, you'd like to see them git Tipp, Louth or Roscommon and limp into the next round that way. Give them a bit more time.

For the hurlers, I think the key thing is to get a game in Birr. I'd prefer Cork in Birr than Clare in Ennis. I'd give them very little chance if they had to travel.

[Bord na Mona man]

For the hurlers, I think the key thing is to get a game in Birr. I'd prefer Cork in Birr than Clare in Ennis. I'd give them very little chance if they had to travel.

Would a Qualifier be in Birr?
I would have thought Tullamore.

If it was against Cork, I wouldn't rule out a trip to Cork or a neutral venue for this fixture, even though Offaly played in Pairc Ui C last year!
Frank Murphy vs. a generous Offaly county board (when it comes to not fighting for home advantage).

[black and red exile]

We can now add Derry in Celtic Park to the list of horrors for the football qualifers. There is no doubt the football qualifers will have as much obstacles as an army ranger training course at this stage.

[bula bula]

Home draws are a must. Would definitely like to give Cork a miss as I feel a hammering akin to last years would be on the cards. Clare in Birr or Tullamore would not be a total lost cause and would have me dreaming of a win at least. As for the fooballers, I agree with LS that state of mind is key and would lean towards a big name in Tullamore rather than a lesser name. A loss to someone the likes of Tipperary ( yes it is very possible with our qualifier record ) would really be too much to bear. I nervously wait.

[Plain of the Herbs]

I’d say a home hurling qualifier would be held at OCP. It’s GAA headquarters who decide that, not the Offaly board.

[Hocker]

Laois in tullamore would be ideal for the footballers (Not too easy, not to daunting either), although as far as I'm concerned this year is finished for both codes, we need to look onwards and upwards...

[Sydthebeat]

i think Kildare, Louth, Tipperary, Leitrim, Longford or Roscommon would be a good draw for the foorballers.

the hurlers need a good challange to see exactly were they are... thus i think a limerick draw would be best. Limerick are not at the level they were last year, and even last year they flattered to decieve. They should have been by tipperary in munster where the woodwork and injuries realy helped them; they were well beaten by waterford in the munster final, then they put in good performance against a clare team that were off the pace big time in the qualifiers; then they met a very tired waterford team that proabably had one eye on the final...... so i say bring them on...

[Oceans 15]

[quote="Lone Shark"]I think a lot depends on the footballers state of mind right now. If they are actually back and raring to go, then a big name in Tullamore might be just the thing to really get the focus going quote]


Some chance!!! They haven't even gone back training yet.. There should have been a round of football championship on for the past 2 weekends. The last 2 weeks off has just been a license for a lot of these lads to drink their heads off...Its a joke..

[DD]

i think Kildare, Louth, Tipperary, Leitrim, Longford or Roscommon would be a good draw for the foorballers.

Leitrim along with Sligo are Tommy Murphy Cup bound..

The full list is;
Longford
Meath
Laois
Offaly
Tyrone
Derry
Donegal
Roscommon
Kildare
Tipperary
Monaghan
Limerick
Louth
Cavan
Westmeath/Dublin
Armagh/Down

If the game is away, with the exception of Tipp & maybe Kildare or Roscommon because they are in equally bad fettle, we may as well forget about it.
The same teams and perhaps Longford, Louth or Cavan in Tullamore would be the best possible fixtures for us.
I doubt though there is any camp going as bad as Offaly's at the minute so I don't think we'll make the next round.

[black and red exile]

You're right DD, we are in bad shape at the moment and we would have to be very lucky in next Sunday's draw to have any chance of getting into the next round and god help us if we are drawn away to any of the big Ulster counties. I can't imagine our footballers being in the right frame of mind going to Celtic Park, Omagh or Bllybofey and to go to places like that only half hearted we will blown away big time.
The hurlers better pray we are at home against Limerick or Cork, at least the trimmings won't be as severe as if we have to travel to the Gaelic grounds or Pairc Ui Choimh. I think if we are all honest with ourselves we know we don't stand a snowball's chance in hell of getting near either of these two, the only difference with it being home or away is the size of defeat. Apologies for being such a misery guts, its just with the last few years going from bad to worse it is very difficult to see any light at the end of the tunnel for the forseeable future.