the decline of shamrocks

[happy harry]

i write this with no great pleasure as shamrocks is not only a neighbouring club but over the last 15 years played the most attractive football in offaly. i know the demise of the once powerfull club has been mentioned and discussed alot on this forum but i may aswell throw my tuppencewoth in. between 97 and 2010 shamrocks competed in 8 senior semi finals (inc replay in 03) aswell as 3 finals. loosing all 3 finals knocked the stuffing and heart out of many and people just gave up or so it seems from the outset. why the decline??1) old age in many cases the mooneys, paraic kelly, n coughlan,cunningham and brian monaghan.2) the lack of intrest?? dereck molloy, stephan delaney and thomas coughlan( 3 super players when tuned in) 3)the hurling football divide, to have a dual senior club is unmanageble for many in a long term capacity and especially when intrest dwinles.4)the loss of ward and dunne. ward hurt his shoulder so didnt play this year and what a help the man would have been in keepin the club senior, his scoring proess at club level cannot be questioned as he can be unstopable at that level. the transfer of young dunne to a dublin club also hit shamrocks hard as he is one of the most exciting talents in offaly so would of course bin hugely valuable to the rahan parish men. 5) the unknowns so to speak,; stephan dunne, shane guinan, mark yeates,patrick walsh...all these dont play but are v good players. i work with a man whos' married into' the club and its apparantle shocking what goes on there. on a side note edenderry hit rock bottom and rose again and shamrocks can go one of two ways ...up or down.

[Awoefullhoor]

Whats your point Harry?

[happy harry]

Ehh that when a club hits rock bottom they can rise again matter what circumstances exist.... 'Doh'

[Ahlethimoutwithit]

Happy Harry, as you said yourself this has been debated before and no one would disagree with anything you say.

[happy harry]

but its still bad for offaly football...they always had a steady supply to the offaly football team throughout their history