big day tomorrow in the big smoke it's a free hit for offaly as Dublin and Waterford were favourites to top the group.
if we can get a good performance tomorrow evening i'd be happy enough as i think we will pick up another 2 points again Westmeath in tullamore next sunday and we will be well up the table.
The league has gone well so far with win's over Antrim Laois draw with Carlow a few year's ago we were be beaten in them game's. if we were to get a win again the Dubs it be great and it would set us up for Division 1 hurling next year. if not so be it we have brilliant young hurler's on the way and it's going to take time to reach the top but i think in time we will.
offaly bye 3 tomorrow .
Well done to all involved, fantastic result. A win against Westmeath more or less guarantees promotion. Each year there is a progression and for a teenager now the ambition will be to break into this seriously strong team and that is what we are.
We have had a lot of bad days in the last 20 years so beating Dublin in croker was massive. However it’s only the league but the signs are good.
Going back to the seniors and u20s, Mahon, Shirley and Dan ravenhill are well settled with the seniors so managing these will be fun but a great complaint.
Nice win, nice way to win.
Offaly kept it steady throughout. The composure and manner Offaly picked off the last few points was pleasing.
There was no panic, like hail mary balls, or mad attempt for goals.
Dublin will be annoyed though. They got comfortable too early and probably thought they could canter to the finish. Their only real urgency and aggression occurred when the result was at risk. That's not Offaly's problem though. We've done this enough times ourselves and paid the price.
There was great performances all over the field. I was particularly glad to see Oisin Kelly flying once again. He skinned his marker 3 times in the first half for points. This was when Dublin looked poised to pull away - it kept Offaly in touch.
His long range point in the 2nd half gave a huge fill up to Offaly too.
The fixtures have fallen nicely for Offaly. Beat Westmeath and we go to Dungarvan with no pressure on us.
On the one hand I think we’re going to go all the way and win Liam.
On the other I remember us beating Dublin in the league in 2018 by 13 points and in the same fixture a few months later in the championship they beat us by 17 points.
The future looks bright but let’s not get ahead of ourselves either.
For now though we can celebrate being the only unbeaten county in the country across both codes!
Anonymous1 wrote: ↑Sat Feb 22, 2025 11:24 pm
On the one hand I think we’re going to go all the way and win Liam.
On the other I remember us beating Dublin in the league in 2018 by 13 points and in the same fixture a few months later in the championship they beat us by 17 points.
The future looks bright but let’s not get ahead of ourselves either.
For now though we can celebrate being the only unbeaten county in the country across both codes!
I too thought of that 2018 league match, also in Croke Park, tonight. A result completely at odds with the free fall Offaly hurling was in at that time. Oisin Kelly was in flying form that night if memory serves.
I think annoymous hit the nail on head.
A great result and we have to clap ourselves on the back but we need to stay grounded.
I think we are making healthy progress but long way to go yet...
Kelly and ravenhill both very good.
As for Kiely - some day he will learn...oh wait he won't he's nearly 30.
Anonymous1 wrote: ↑Sat Feb 22, 2025 11:24 pm
On the one hand I think we’re going to go all the way and win Liam.
On the other I remember us beating Dublin in the league in 2018 by 13 points and in the same fixture a few months later in the championship they beat us by 17 points.
The future looks bright but let’s not get ahead of ourselves either.
For now though we can celebrate being the only unbeaten county in the country across both codes!
It seems we have a more solid foundation at the moment.
Also let’s remember that Offaly were absolutely screwed over by Leinster GAA that year with regards championship fixtures. If I’m not mistaken we are the only county since the inception of the round robin to ever have to hurl 4 weekends on the bounce. By the time we got to Wexford in Round 3 we were goosed. In hindsight we should have rested the entire first 15 for that Wexford game to have them fresh for Round 4.
I see the parallels with the last CP victory but there are some notable differences. Tonight we were the epitome of coolness with hurlers in every line which helped us eke out a narrow win. Dublin were the better team for 3/4 of the game but the red card was a watershed moment. Their 3rd in recent games. No doubt the new manager will iron that out before the summer. We hung in there with 3 forwards playing well...Bourke, Ravenhill and Kelly. Duignan chipped in with frees and also finished strongly. Mitchell was poor and Nally and Guinan added a lot. I wouldn't be harsh on Kiely....he added a bit of spice which distracted the opposition and was a physical presence which we badly needed. The defence was solid throughout and the only difference at HT was that we let Dublin take long range efforts with no pressure exerted and in fairness they took their chances well. Ravenhills free at the end reminded me of Pat Fleury against Laois years ago....a monster! He did very well against Paddy Smyth who was moved off him after Dan won the 1st 3 balls. Tonight felt like the start of something instead of a once off (albeit hugely enjoyable) win in 2018
Anonymous1 wrote: ↑Sat Feb 22, 2025 11:24 pm
On the one hand I think we’re going to go all the way and win Liam.
On the other I remember us beating Dublin in the league in 2018 by 13 points and in the same fixture a few months later in the championship they beat us by 17 points.
The future looks bright but let’s not get ahead of ourselves either.
For now though we can celebrate being the only unbeaten county in the country across both codes!
It seems we have a more solid foundation at the moment.
Also let’s remember that Offaly were absolutely screwed over by Leinster GAA that year with regards championship fixtures. If I’m not mistaken we are the only county since the inception of the round robin to ever have to hurl 4 weekends on the bounce. By the time we got to Wexford in Round 3 we were goosed. In hindsight we should have rested the entire first 15 for that Wexford game to have them fresh for Round 4.
It was circumstance more than design that Offaly were the team playing 4 weeks in a row.
We got the short straw, but someone was going to get it that year.
Lessons were learned and in 2024 Offaly correctly didn't risk players in a dead rubber match against Carlow.
Anonymous1 wrote: ↑Sat Feb 22, 2025 11:24 pm
On the one hand I think we’re going to go all the way and win Liam.
On the other I remember us beating Dublin in the league in 2018 by 13 points and in the same fixture a few months later in the championship they beat us by 17 points.
The future looks bright but let’s not get ahead of ourselves either.
For now though we can celebrate being the only unbeaten county in the country across both codes!
I too thought of that 2018 league match, also in Croke Park, tonight. A result completely at odds with the free fall Offaly hurling was in at that time. Oisin Kelly was in flying form that night if memory serves.
He was indeed.
Great to see him back fit and flying.
There aren’t too many people who could come back from an ACL tear in both knees.
bracknaghboy wrote: ↑Sun Feb 23, 2025 1:44 am
Between now and 2030 Offaly will win the All Ireland Hurling Championship.
We’ll certainly be competing in Leinster hurling finals.
Whether or not we can bridge the gap to the Limerick, Cork and Clare’s of the world I’m not sure.
We’ll probably need a second underage team coming along to do so. One team won’t be enough unless we get a 100% hit rate of players progressing from that u20 team to the senior ranks which is incredibly rare.
