Offaly hurlers - Time to deploy a sweeper/7th defender?

[Bord na Mona man]

Is it time we took measures to cut down on the high score totals we are conceding?
Granted we are managing to get scores ourselves, but at the moment it seems like our defence is leaking too many scores.
Against Clare we conceded 2-22 and against Tipp it was 2-21.
Tipp hit a tonne of bad wides too. We've cut down on the goals with a much better full back line, but out the field we are letting the opponents get too many shots at the posts.
It is still not out of the question that a more accurate forward line, on a big pitch could put up a 25+ points tally on us.
I do think this is too serious a problem to carry into championship.

Two years ago Clare were up against Kilkenny and deployed Alan Markham as an extra man on the half back line. Kilkenny who had previously been rampant struggled to get the scores and were lucky to salvage a draw.

Obviously our forward line would suffer somewhat, but then again, when the ball is cleared by a half back under pressure, it is always going to be high and hasty. With the exception of Joe Bergin, none of our forwards would be favourites to win this kind of clearance. So most of the time it will get rammed back down into our half of the field.
At least with a sweeper, we can win more puck outs and breaking ball. Players have an extra outlet to pass the ball to when under pressure. An extra man will have more space to clear the ball and invariably can send in a more measured delivery.

Someone like Stephen Browne might suit this role. He wouldn't be a tight marker himself, but I think he'd be clever enough to hoover up breaks and hit intelligent clearances.

Any thoughts?

[the bare biffo]

I would agree about the need to tighten up at the back. I'm not sure if the sweeper is the right way to go, but if it is, surely a fit Brian Whelehan is the perfect candidate ?

[Bogman]

I think it might be worth a try. McIntyre experimented with it last year with Damien Murray withdrawn behind his half back line.

Brian Whelehan would be ideal for it. If the opposition went man for man with our two man full forward line then the likes of Alan Egan would have loads of space.

I'd favour having the sweeper fairly high up the pitch because the really good teams can score freely from half way. A 3rd midfielder type placement would be my preference.

[Lone Shark]

I'm not sure about this, and certainly I'm not sure I love the idea of Sid playing the role. From what I can tell, the role of this player would be to sweep up in and around the dropping ball, to assist in pressurising the man in possession, and to support his own player on the ball and provide an easy outlet.

Sid is not quick, was never a fantastic blocker, and was always legendary for his ability to get away quality deliveries under pressure. Here if the job was done right the player shouldn't be under pressure, so in theory it wouldn't matter if the player wasn't the best striker of a ball - any player in senior intercounty hurling should be able to find a player with time and space.

I do think the problem for us actually starts much higher up the pitch - I think a Ger Oakley type in the half forward line, stopping clearances and supporting the midfield could be a lot more beneficial in this regard.

[Plain of the Herbs]

I wouldn't agree with this at all. It's too difficult to play quick ball into the forwards the way Offaly do (where the striker depends on the receiver reading the incoming ball and getting out in front) and at the same time keep it away from the oppositions defender.

The last time I can recall this was in the U21 against Kilkenny in 2003 when KK made a show of The Clareman's 'clever' tactic by leaving the full back free, leaving Offaly to chase the game a forward short.

Its different in football where you've man-for-man marking throughout.

As for Clare's use of the 7th defender in 2004? Well did it work? I feel it didn't. They still only drew the match, Cody did his homework, recalled Mick Kavanagh for the replay and won well in the end. Now Clare's attitude beforehand may have been to keep the score down, as using 7 backs is a defensive weapon, restricting space, but does nothing to bolster the forwards.

Galway's use of an extra man out the field in 1986 worked because they played (and still do) a possession game, which Offaly don't, can't and shouldn't, primarily on physique, but also because you're then trying to ape teams who've been playing the possession game all their lives.