Offaly 2-10, Galway 1-17

[St. Catch]

So much for baytin' the Tribesmen back across the Shannon. Was anyone at the match? Were we good, bad or indifferent? Any new players tried out or established lads tried in unusual positions?

Answers on a postcard please. Failing that, answers on this thread.

[Lone Shark]

It was a little bit of a missed opportunity in that it would have been nice to sneak the win, but overall I have to say I was very pleased with the effort and workrate put in by the players - after the muck that we saw from the footballers for the last couple of weeks, it was heartwarming to see the lads absolutely flailing into tackles and hurling with all the energy that we'd like to see. I don't think any fair minded supporter minds seeing the team come off second best as long as the effort is put in, and there was no shortage of that today.

Hurling wise, I'd say Joe Dooley is happy out with where the lads are. The pitch was very soft and cut up, but generally speaking there was a good mix of tidy "crafty" hurling and getting the ball into the hand and giving it long. Galway did seem a little bit sharper, but you got the feeling that Offaly were able to match them for strength, which at this time of year, is more than good enough for me. It'll be difficult to keep the momentum going into the league with so many uncompetitive games on the horizon, but it would be foolish to be too sharp at this time of year.

As for the players...

James Dempsey His puckouts were quite short and he didn't look to do anything remarkable with them, but he made one great save and didn't make any mistakes - if it were me in Joe Dooley's shoes, I'd tell him that the jersey is his for the league and give him the opportunity to try to learn the intercounty game without feeling under too much pressure.

David Franks Came off second best to Callinan a couple of times, but generally did quite well and had a lot of ball come his way. Got away a few very good clearances under pressure, as he does.

David Kenny Barely had time to get his boots muddy before seeing yellow - which appeared to be for a technical foul??? Only Stapleton knows exactly why he had to flash the card, but it seemed finicky anyway.

Michael Verney I'm liking how Verney has improved in the last year or so. He attacks the ball a lot more and I think is a better defender for it. Good day at the office again.

James Rigney It's hard not to love the way that he plays the game, but he will have his work cut out compensating for his size. His touch wasn't as crisp as we've seen in the club championship and he appeared to struggle with the conditions more than most, but he made a nuisance of himself and got some good clearances in. Right now he's probably still not first XV material but I'd say he'll get better.

Paul Cleary I'm not convinced - he just doesn't catch the ball enough to be a county centre back for my liking - having said that he didn't get cleaned at all, but he struggled when he was dragged out of position too. This reads a lot more harshly that I mean to be on a guy who never stopped getting stuck in, but that was my reaction.

Ger Oakley Another early finish, he was doing fine up to that point, albeit marking a little loosely. And I think he may have cut his hair.

Brendan Murphy Good game generally, but hurled very loose and let his man play a big role too. I get the impression that he's wary of shooting too often any more - he pulled it in a few times when he cut have shot for a score - maybe nothing, but he needs to get his confidence in front of the posts back.

Conor Mahon Took a great opening score and did some good things, but honest to God the lad seems to need a pair of skis to be able to stand up by times.

Brian Carroll You could tell his ability from a few of the things he did, but it's a long time since he had such a quiet day in an Offaly jersey.

Joe Brady The conditions suited him down to the ground, but he was possibly our man of the match. Won a ton of ball, horsed into everything that moved and played a few very good balls into the inside line. He ain't quick, but on a day when players couldn't get the ball up quickly, he was right there making a very big nuisance of himself time and again.

Derek Molloy Not for Derek the path of least resistance - he appeared to drive into traffic more times than made sense, but he hurled like it was championship the whole way through - made a rake of blockdowns and tackles and I was delighted when he got a good score in the second half - very well deserved. Top class stuff.

Shane Dooley Took his goal well, but otherwise was anonymous. Just never got into the pace of it, and always seemed to be in the wrong place. Like Carroll, he's better than we saw today.

Cathal Horan I don't like to go over the top on anyone after a Walsh Cup game, but he was way off the pace. He was marking a debutant and got absolutely cleaned, never looked like making any impact. Unless there was any reason for it that we don't know about, he won't have done his case any favours.

Joe Bergin Not as involved as he can be, but a good display generally. Great goal.

Rory Hanniffy As we've now come to expect, not as good as he hurls for Birr, but very decent all the same.

Brendan O'Meara Didn't have to deal with a lot of ball in, but this was one of the most positive aspects of the day for me - he hurled a very good game and has given Joe Dooley a lot to think about regarding the full back position. I'd still prefer to see David Kenny at centre back and if O'Meara makes a real case for inclusion on the edge of the square, then that option becomes all the more viable.

James Gorman Didn't really get involved, and failed to compete for a few high balls that fell on top of him - didn't really bring anything to the table in his time on the field.

[GreatDayForTheParish]

Good analysis as usual Lone Shark. Regards the team and championship hurling, I'd have to say that Rory Hanniffy should always always always be at midfield. He's a top class midfielder with great pace and having him there always you to get the best out of both the defensive and offensive aspects of his game. Given he is so talented he could play anywhere and play there well but midfield is his best position. To play him anywhere else is maddness, just ask Birr (v Ballyhale).

I'd also have a preference for Kenny at centre back but only on the proviso that an adequate full back could be found (not Oakely). I'm not convinced thats the case so I'd have no problem with Kenny staying at full back, he played great there last year.

[Lone Shark]

I'd also have a preference for Kenny at centre back but only on the proviso that an adequate full back could be found (not Oakely). I'm not convinced thats the case so I'd have no problem with Kenny staying at full back, he played great there last year.

Oakley is a makeshift full back I'll grant you, but he tends to get the job done all the same. Having said that, I'd agree that a more "traditional" full back would be a great thing to have.

All the same, it could be argued that centre back is the most important position on a hurling field these days, and odd though it sounds, I'd prefer to have a natural centre back and a makeshift full back than a better full back and weaker centre back. Kenny is the best fielder of a ball in the county and it defies logic not to put him where he can show that off, to my mind anyway.

Agree completely with Hanniffy at midfield.

[joe bloggs]

Its a tough call what to do with Kenny alright. At Full back it makes it difficult for the opposition to play in a high ball and if you get the centre back to sit deep it keeps things tight. I would love to play as a keeper behind him. On the other hand if you hurl him at centre back it makes the opposition work harder with their puckouts. One thing for sure i'd hate to see an offaly team without him.

[Plain of the Herbs]

I don’t have much to add to Lone Shark’s analysis except to pick up on the following.

Initial reaction was one of surprise that so many established players were chosen for a Walsh Cup game, with only one senior debutant in James Dempsey. Still, it shows that management are anxious to use the template that was established in the latter stages of last year’s championship. On reflection, you’d expect this of a management starting their second term.

Central to this will be Joe Brady at centre half forward whose task it will be to break the puckout ball for those around him, and to stop the opposition centre half back from catching. This does lead to an amount of bunching in the diamond area, largely due to the conditions and the resultant slow moving ball.

Galway’s win was largely due to their better all-round awareness and support of the man in possession. Basically, they were thinking all the time, and played the conditions that bit better by getting the ball into their hands and controlling the game. Offaly, in contrast, didn’t seem to me to show that awareness or anticipation. For a team who won’t be controlling possession it’s vital that they can anticipate breaks and be thinking that bit ahead of the play.

The performance of the full forward line as a unit was probably the one disappointing aspect to the match. They were generally behind their man in the first half, although this paid off when Joe Bergin caught that ball over the top to score his goal. Indeed, the Clareen man should have had a second, similar, goal moments later.

For a team playing into a strong wind with the ball coming in low and slow, it’s vital for the front line to get out in front. Then in the second half, as they tried to get out in front of their men, they were out too far when a half dozen or so scoring attempts dropped short.

The midfield partnership of Rory Hanniffy and Brendan Murphy was central to Offaly turning their season around last year, two attacking players. Conor Mahon, another attacking player, replaced Hanniffy on Sunday, but the problem was that the two attacking midfielders weren’t always aware of the positioning of the Galway midfielders who got upfield unmarked to support their attack. With this in mind, I’d nearly always prefer to have an attacker and a defender at midfield.

Still, it’s only January, and I’d be bothered if they were sharp at this time of year. Watch Louth footballers who are on fire at the moment (dare I say due to an early training regime) but who will doubtless be also-rans by summertime.

Great save by Dempsey early in the second half at a stage when Galway could have put the game away. His puckouts do need some work though, and perhaps if he planted his two feet on the ground when striking the ball he might control the delivery that bit better. I wonder who was sub-goalkeeper – none was listed on the teamsheet.

I’d like to see more of David Kenny at full back. His spell in the position last Sunday was truncated and we really only saw him in the position against Limerick, as Waterford never played a ball into his sector in Thurles. Centre half back remains very much up-for-grabs though.

As for the three yellow cards awarded – I think the jeers of derision from the crowd said it all really.