Offaly v Longford National League 5th February 2012

[Offaly Proud]

Any thoughts on a team for next Sunday? Expect Anton Sullivan and Bernard Allen to come into the team.Hard to be optimistic after the Kildare match but would expect some improvement.The defence looked reasonably solid despite coming under lots of pressure in both O Byrne Cup games. Kevin Meehan looked comfortable in goal too.Badly need some ball winners at midfield and a couple of scoring forwards.Any news on Nialler coming back?

[Lone Shark]

It's hard to be too optimistic about this tie to be honest. Longford have improved steadily under Glenn Ryan in recent years and nothing we've done suggests that we're anything other than clear underdogs going up to Pearse Park. I won't be betting against Offaly, but I see that Ladbrokes have opened with 8/11 about Longford to win the game, which looks like huge value to me. Even allowing for players like Anton and Bernard coming back in, who will add plenty of craft but not a lot of physique in fairness, we'll still probably have a lot of inexperienced players making a start.

Of course a lot will depend on whether or not Niall starts, since you have to feel like we always have a chance if he plays, but against a good Longford team in their home venue, I'd be no more than hopeful.

[Offaly Proud]

Herad team on radio this morning,
Kevin Meehan
James Gallagher
Paul Mc Conway
Sean Pender
Brian Darby
Shane Sullivan
Lorcan Hiney
Brian Hanamy
Niall Smith
Aidan Keeanghan
Dan Currams
Anton Sullivan
Bernard Allen
Alan Mulhall
Nigel Dunne
Richie Dalton and Ross Brady are injured seemingly.Looks a lot stronger than Kildare game.Good to see Shane and Anton Sullivan back. Any thoughts?

[icafuture]

I agree it is good to see both o sullivans back. Generally team looks stronger and more suited to Winter football than O Byrne cup team. However mid field really need to step up.

[kingscounty]

hanamy and currams to me are way to slow for county team, granted conditions would prob suit slower player but when it comes to summer football i cant see these moving to quick. no harm in changing things around tho, dalton and brady were poor in all the o byrne cup games so far so i reckon its worth a shot trying some new lads. longford will be a very tough task and its hard to see offaly coming out of pearse park with a win .it will be interesting to see keeanghan and anton on the half forward line and they should add some pace and attack the longford backs,allen needs to feed off mulhall . any word on niall mc yet?

[heman]

no word on niall mac yet,might not see him till the summer,hard to know.

[bracknaghboy]

Richie Dalton and Ross Brady are injured seemingly.Looks a lot stronger than Kildare game.Good to see Shane and Anton Sullivan back. Any thoughts?

Certainly the team is stronger without Dalton and Brady. Hoever going to longford is difficult at the best of times and I can't see where the Offaly scores are going to come from? With Niall McNamee out and Deehan and Reynolds not on the panel I don't think we'll trouble the scoreboard much. Thats the poorest 6 forwards I've seen named in many a year.

[True Red]

Certainly the team is stronger without Dalton and Brady.

thats a good one. Richie Dalton was man of the match in the county final and player of the year in Offaly for 2011. And his last two performances for Offaly in 2011 championship were more than adequate(excellent against Monaghan and good against Limerick)

If he cant make the Offaly team stronger after the year he has had well i dunno what the chap has to do.

[Offaly Proud]

Some good news on Niall Mc.Heard today that he was named in a league panel of 30 players and hopes are that he will be back in contention in 2 weeks.

[jimbob17]

hanamy and currams to me are way to slow for county team, granted conditions would prob suit slower player but when it comes to summer football i cant see these moving to quick. no harm in changing things around tho, dalton and brady were poor in all the o byrne cup games so far so i reckon its worth a shot trying some new lads. longford will be a very tough task and its hard to see offaly coming out of pearse park with a win .it will be interesting to see keeanghan and anton on the half forward line and they should add some pace and attack the longford backs,allen needs to feed off mulhall . any word on niall mc yet?

Dont know how anyone can say something like that of Dan Currams. As anyone that has seen him hurl will agree, he is a serious power athlete and probably one of the paciest guys that OY footballers will have this year, behind Keenaghan and Pender only in my estimation. Hope he does well as he was a solid minor a few years ago. Hope Hanamy does well, he is a big guy, dunno how mobile he is but if he fills out and can play any bit, he'll be an addition. Good to see Shane Sullivan back. Massive potential and hasn't done himself justice since 2006 for various reasons. Hope he realises a career is short and pushes on a bit with a mature performance that he is capable of. Anton Sullivan and Allen are additions too, though small in stature, they are crafty footballers, have done well recently with their respective colleges and wont shy away.

Longford will be good and have been training savagely hard in the past few weeks and are very well organised this year. They are probably a bit further on in their development as a team than OY given their gaffer has been with them a while longer than the OY crew. However, i like the shape of the OY team from what i see. even if we lose, i think that sticking with what they are going with with 5 or 6 subs competing seriously for places and not going back for the old heads will stand to OY in time as fellas get to know each other. Its a big one for OY and LD as a loss will put a little pressure on either side who loses. Both teams will feel they can win this one, yet I really believe that if the backs hold firm, marshalled by Sullivan, Darby and McConway and the midfielders work hard, OY have a fighting chance of getting off to a good start. Also good to hear Niall is going to be back, will give the fellas a boost, though the lad needs to be eased into it when he feels ready for it. IT is good also that other players will now have to stand up and make themselves counted in the meantime........

[My Left Foot]

Best of luck to OY at the weekend for our first league match. We need to focus on the league and get structures and performances right for our panel of players.

We will not be favourites and firepower could be an issue this weekend , but the attitude to push for a win has to be there in every game so get stuck in from the beginning and who knows. for the forwards greed is good. Go for your own scores.

probably be won and lost around the middle third of the pitch from an overall possession point of view.

Is feidir linn

[Kevin]

Good luck to Offaly this weekend. Hoping for a bright start to the league.

AND...

Hopefully the Giants can finish the deal this weekend.

The betting line opened with the Pats as a 3.5 favorite, I believe the current line is now 3 points, but that only matters so much. People don't like to bet against New England in big games and for good reason, but we have reasons to be positive:

1. The team is finally healthy.
2. The pass rush is capable of putting pressure on Brady, which will be essential as he has many weapons. If he has to hurry, then all the better.
3. We've been ineffective at establishing a running game most of the year, but if we can wear them down and have them fall into coverage it may open the lanes somewhat. As much as they'd like to double Cruz, Nicks and Manningham, that just isn't possible (of course we have to figure out how to deal with their receiving corps also).
4. Two very good QBs. Manning still feels he has something to prove even though he has had a tremendous season to date. Brady is ... well ... Brady. Hard to say we have an advantage here, but we do have a man who is never beaten no matter how bad things may look. He is capable of howlers from time to time, but we have not seen many of late and regardless we are blessed to have him.

New England has the revenge factor going for them. they lost last Super Bowl meeting and it ruined their perfect season. We beat them in the regular season in New England so it gives them even more incentive (as if they need it).

Lots of confidence in the NY area about this game, which always unnerves me a bit. This is a team that was 6-2 at one point in the season. We finished strong to get to 9-7!! Blasted the Falcons and the Packers and got past the 49ers. One step to go. The season was not a bed of roses. If not for some major luck in Dallas late in the season they'd all be golfing down south weeks ago and major changes would be considered.

So we're all set for the showcase event. Indoors - so no advantage to either of these bad weather teams. Bring it on, hype, commercials, half-time nonsense, parties with people who haven't looked at a game all year providing expert commentary. Amateur hour I like to call it. Kind of like New Years Eve or later in the evening on St. Patrick's Day (over here anyway), BUT this is different. The Giants are in it again against the 'Team of the Century' (thus far anyway). Nothing else matters.

For those who can stay awake, enjoy!

GO OFFALY (AND THE GIANTS)!!!!

[kingscounty]

hanamy and currams to me are way to slow for county team, granted conditions would prob suit slower player but when it comes to summer football i cant see these moving to quick. no harm in changing things around tho, dalton and brady were poor in all the o byrne cup games so far so i reckon its worth a shot trying some new lads. longford will be a very tough task and its hard to see offaly coming out of pearse park with a win .it will be interesting to see keeanghan and anton on the half forward line and they should add some pace and attack the longford backs,allen needs to feed off mulhall . any word on niall mc yet?

Dont know how anyone can say something like that of Dan Currams. As anyone that has seen him hurl will agree, he is a serious power athlete and probably one of the paciest guys that OY footballers will have this year, behind Keenaghan and Pender only in my estimation. Hope he does well as he was a solid minor a few years ago. Hope Hanamy does well, he is a big guy, dunno how mobile he is but if he fills out and can play any bit, he'll be an addition. Good to see Shane Sullivan back. Massive potential and hasn't done himself justice since 2006 for various reasons. Hope he realises a career is short and pushes on a bit with a mature performance that he is capable of. Anton Sullivan and Allen are additions too, though small in stature, they are crafty footballers, have done well recently with their respective colleges and wont shy away.

Longford will be good and have been training savagely hard in the past few weeks and are very well organised this year. They are probably a bit further on in their development as a team than OY given their gaffer has been with them a while longer than the OY crew. However, i like the shape of the OY team from what i see. even if we lose, i think that sticking with what they are going with with 5 or 6 subs competing seriously for places and not going back for the old heads will stand to OY in time as fellas get to know each other. Its a big one for OY and LD as a loss will put a little pressure on either side who loses. Both teams will feel they can win this one, yet I really believe that if the backs hold firm, marshalled by Sullivan, Darby and McConway and the midfielders work hard, OY have a fighting chance of getting off to a good start. Also good to hear Niall is going to be back, will give the fellas a boost, though the lad needs to be eased into it when he feels ready for it. IT is good also that other players will now have to stand up and make themselves counted in the meantime........

it a forum you can say what you think or am i wrong there aswell? ive nothing against any lad just saying what i see, he wasnt to quick when he played against westmeath or kildare in the o byrne cup of which i am making my point . we need a big man at centre forward but id like to see him after 4 or 5 games in the league and see what he scores or what he sets up in a forward line that will struggle to get scores till niall is back full stop. it would be great to see him and all the new lads doing well , no harm having a big man beside anton and keenaghan maybe they will feed off the breaking ball.

[jimbob17]

hanamy and currams to me are way to slow for county team, granted conditions would prob suit slower player but when it comes to summer football i cant see these moving to quick. no harm in changing things around tho, dalton and brady were poor in all the o byrne cup games so far so i reckon its worth a shot trying some new lads. longford will be a very tough task and its hard to see offaly coming out of pearse park with a win .it will be interesting to see keeanghan and anton on the half forward line and they should add some pace and attack the longford backs,allen needs to feed off mulhall . any word on niall mc yet?

Dont know how anyone can say something like that of Dan Currams. As anyone that has seen him hurl will agree, he is a serious power athlete and probably one of the paciest guys that OY footballers will have this year, behind Keenaghan and Pender only in my estimation. Hope he does well as he was a solid minor a few years ago. Hope Hanamy does well, he is a big guy, dunno how mobile he is but if he fills out and can play any bit, he'll be an addition. Good to see Shane Sullivan back. Massive potential and hasn't done himself justice since 2006 for various reasons. Hope he realises a career is short and pushes on a bit with a mature performance that he is capable of. Anton Sullivan and Allen are additions too, though small in stature, they are crafty footballers, have done well recently with their respective colleges and wont shy away.

Longford will be good and have been training savagely hard in the past few weeks and are very well organised this year. They are probably a bit further on in their development as a team than OY given their gaffer has been with them a while longer than the OY crew. However, i like the shape of the OY team from what i see. even if we lose, i think that sticking with what they are going with with 5 or 6 subs competing seriously for places and not going back for the old heads will stand to OY in time as fellas get to know each other. Its a big one for OY and LD as a loss will put a little pressure on either side who loses. Both teams will feel they can win this one, yet I really believe that if the backs hold firm, marshalled by Sullivan, Darby and McConway and the midfielders work hard, OY have a fighting chance of getting off to a good start. Also good to hear Niall is going to be back, will give the fellas a boost, though the lad needs to be eased into it when he feels ready for it. IT is good also that other players will now have to stand up and make themselves counted in the meantime........

it a forum you can say what you think or am i wrong there aswell? ive nothing against any lad just saying what i see, he wasnt to quick when he played against westmeath or kildare in the o byrne cup of which i am making my point . we need a big man at centre forward but id like to see him after 4 or 5 games in the league and see what he scores or what he sets up in a forward line that will struggle to get scores till niall is back full stop. it would be great to see him and all the new lads doing well , no harm having a big man beside anton and keenaghan maybe they will feed off the breaking ball.

Stand beside Daniel Currams and you will realise that he is in fact a big man and strong as a bull. He may not be technically the best footballer in the world, but he would have the work ethic drive and resolve that OY have been lacking the past few years in a half forward line where previously there were sunshine boys on show. He is more than capable of doing very well on Sunday. In fact himself and Keenaghan would be similar enough, not brilliant footballers but with serious steel and work ethic and would go through a wall for the team they represent. By all accounts Currams was one of Offalys best in a recent challenge v Kerry. How could you rate Hanamy's 5 minute cameo v Westmeath in the byrne cup, didnt see him v kildare, did he even play??

I think that it is very unfair to come on here and knock young fellas before their first league game with the county. No wonder some of the better footballers in the county are slow to play with this sort of negativity and criticism hanging around their neck before they even start. We should encourage young players, not discourage them. Best of luck to Dan and Hanamy and Aidan Keenaghan and James Gallagher too who will all be making their league debuts at the weekend. They are all hard working and well deserving of their opportunities. And best of luck to the rest of the team too.

[kingscounty]

i was talking about currams performance against westmeath not hanamys. im knocking no one i made a comment on 2 players where i said they might lack pace , sure lets not say anything at all and heap praise on the team the whole time even when they lose. what was the score in the kerry game , he must have scored 3 or 4 points if he played well in the challenge game as a good scoring forward should be able to do?