Offaly Senior Football 2026

[jimbob17]

Are you seriously suggesting Sawyer, Molloy and Murphy are better inside forwards than Kellaghan? Sawyer was an unused sub for U20s (maybe not even on 26) when Aaron Kellaghan was starting. He was better then. He is still better now. Molloy was never an inside man and still isn't. Murphy is not an inside man, With more running fitness, I do think he could be a panel player at 10 or 12 but he needs a hell of a lot of fitness and mobility work. Only reason he is straight in is all the other options left the panel.

And Ruairi Egan as a 12? Come on. That's just patchwork because you know you have nobody else for forwards. But he is a damn good option at wing or corner back so this is not a design on knocking the chap, just to be clear.

Fully agree re Mike Fox. Plunkett probably not asked in even though he deserves consideration. He has been mainstay starter for Tullamore in forwards for last 2-3 years. They won 3 in a row. They have enough with one of them is likely the opinion and they'll stick to their guns and LP will be sitting in stands watching lesser players play for the county.

Bill Carroll was on Sigerson team of year a few years ago but the current management deem him not worthy of a trial? It is truly bizarre, particularly given the shortness of the squad. In saying that, Mickey Harte wouldn't know who he is.......

The more I think about it, the more laughable it all becomes.

Sawyer is from Dublin and wasn't in the Offaly system whatsoever until his last year under 20 so therefore was a non playing member of that under 20 all ireland panel. Kelleghan was on it but was subbed in every game and also it was a condensed season where a lot of those players haven't gone on to play senior. Also he'd been in the system from minor etc which matters particularly at underage. Ciaran Murphy played on that excellent Dublin 20s team that lost out to galway in all ireland final a year prior. I would argue Kelleghan isn't any better than him or Molloy. Put Molloy in that Rhode team alongside top players he would do damage.
Whatever you think about Sawyer he's managed to get himself more game time than Kelleghan.

You might have a little more info on Sawyer than I but your post is somewhat confusing. You say he wasn't in Offaly system, until last year of U20 in 2021, where he was a non playing member of panel. To me, a non playing member of a panel is a sub, injured or a lad who does not make a 26. If he is on panel, he is eligible to play. Otherwise, he is not on the panel. If he was really good and he was on the panel, why was he not playing in his final U20 year or how good do you need to be to be a non playing member? Or what does a non playing member of a panel do - carry water? Please enlighten me as I am confused. Others, who were ahead of him at 20, but didn't go on to play senior, only asks more questions. It being a condensed season? Not sure what that has to do with anything really, unless he was injured, which I am led to believe, he wasn't. By my recollection, that U20 campaign went from May through to August, which wasn't altogether condensed as you suggest.

Kellaghan had been in system from minor and made that U20 team. Not sure what that means? I'm told on good authority that he was the 4th highest scorer in Offaly senior football championship in 2025, and that none of the top 3 ahead of him started for Offaly seniors this year. The point is that Sawyer seems to be getting a lot more football than his form has suggested, while others have left or are kept outside the loop. To best of my recollection, he was started ahead of Tierney and Nigel Dunne last year for first game in league in Tullamore. And for the record, I'm not suggesting AK should be starting for Offaly, just that he is one of maybe 6 inside forwards not on the panel that offer more on inside line than the 3 that played on inside line the last day.

You say Murphy was a Dublin U20 in All Ireland final in 2020. I have it from a good authority that he was not on that team, and did not play any minutes in the Leinster final, All-Ireland semi final or final. Maybe he was a non playing member of that panel. There is no shame in that by the way. He had a good year for Skerries by all accounts. He might offer something yet and I certainly wouldnt write him off. I hope he comes good for us but I don't think that'll happen as a 13, 14, or 15.

Listen, I am not anti Sawyer or Murphy or anyone. I am sure they are good lads. Are they better than what we have sitting in Edenderry or Tullamore or Rhode for that matter? No is the simple answer. We are struggling at the moment and there are any amount of lads that have had fall outs with management. That is a problem. I'd only love for Sawyer to contribute more, but he isn't. He has probably put on a bit of muscle from last year, but he has another bit to go and doesnt appear to be overly threatening, yet at least, and I hope he does become that by the way.

I saw Murphy earlier in year at WF in O'Byrne Cup. I thought he was a big ball winner who could kick a score but lacked mobility. At least he was played in his position then. He is clearly not an inside man. I think, with work (a year maybe), he might become an option in ideal world - but he has work to do and is not ahead of a few mentioned above in my opinion. That is just being honest. I'd love him to come in and do what Shane Horan did after coming in from Crokes. Let's see how that plays out.

As for Dan Molloy as an inside forward at inter county level. No disrespect to the chap, he is a good trier further out the field so I am not even going there!

[Superhans75]

Let's enjoy our trip to Derry
Probably be a long time before we grace
That place again.
I think the argument with demographics
Is an issue but also there is also
Another issue in the last 20 years more girls than lads have been born in comparison to say 40 years ago when everyone had the same surname.
This has a much larger effect on smaller
Counties .
And also when competing in other sports I have been talking to coaches of Limerick city soccer clubs whom are having this issue it's also appearing in the gaa in mayo..
I have cousins whom are principals of primary schools it's very noticeable
There in Tipperary and Kilkenny.
Food for thought

[Wingbackassassin]

Are you seriously suggesting Sawyer, Molloy and Murphy are better inside forwards than Kellaghan? Sawyer was an unused sub for U20s (maybe not even on 26) when Aaron Kellaghan was starting. He was better then. He is still better now. Molloy was never an inside man and still isn't. Murphy is not an inside man, With more running fitness, I do think he could be a panel player at 10 or 12 but he needs a hell of a lot of fitness and mobility work. Only reason he is straight in is all the other options left the panel.

And Ruairi Egan as a 12? Come on. That's just patchwork because you know you have nobody else for forwards. But he is a damn good option at wing or corner back so this is not a design on knocking the chap, just to be clear.

Fully agree re Mike Fox. Plunkett probably not asked in even though he deserves consideration. He has been mainstay starter for Tullamore in forwards for last 2-3 years. They won 3 in a row. They have enough with one of them is likely the opinion and they'll stick to their guns and LP will be sitting in stands watching lesser players play for the county.

Bill Carroll was on Sigerson team of year a few years ago but the current management deem him not worthy of a trial? It is truly bizarre, particularly given the shortness of the squad. In saying that, Mickey Harte wouldn't know who he is.......

The more I think about it, the more laughable it all becomes.

Sawyer is from Dublin and wasn't in the Offaly system whatsoever until his last year under 20 so therefore was a non playing member of that under 20 all ireland panel. Kelleghan was on it but was subbed in every game and also it was a condensed season where a lot of those players haven't gone on to play senior. Also he'd been in the system from minor etc which matters particularly at underage. Ciaran Murphy played on that excellent Dublin 20s team that lost out to galway in all ireland final a year prior. I would argue Kelleghan isn't any better than him or Molloy. Put Molloy in that Rhode team alongside top players he would do damage.
Whatever you think about Sawyer he's managed to get himself more game time than Kelleghan.

You might have a little more info on Sawyer than I but your post is somewhat confusing. You say he wasn't in Offaly system, until last year of U20 in 2021, where he was a non playing member of panel. To me, a non playing member of a panel is a sub, injured or a lad who does not make a 26. If he is on panel, he is eligible to play. Otherwise, he is not on the panel. If he was really good and he was on the panel, why was he not playing in his final U20 year or how good do you need to be to be a non playing member? Or what does a non playing member of a panel do - carry water? Please enlighten me as I am confused. Others, who were ahead of him at 20, but didn't go on to play senior, only asks more questions. It being a condensed season? Not sure what that has to do with anything really, unless he was injured, which I am led to believe, he wasn't. By my recollection, that U20 campaign went from May through to August, which wasn't altogether condensed as you suggest.

Kellaghan had been in system from minor and made that U20 team. Not sure what that means? I'm told on good authority that he was the 4th highest scorer in Offaly senior football championship in 2025, and that none of the top 3 ahead of him started for Offaly seniors this year. The point is that Sawyer seems to be getting a lot more football than his form has suggested, while others have left or are kept outside the loop. To best of my recollection, he was started ahead of Tierney and Nigel Dunne last year for first game in league in Tullamore. And for the record, I'm not suggesting AK should be starting for Offaly, just that he is one of maybe 6 inside forwards not on the panel that offer more on inside line than the 3 that played on inside line the last day.

You say Murphy was a Dublin U20 in All Ireland final in 2020. I have it from a good authority that he was not on that team, and did not play any minutes in the Leinster final, All-Ireland semi final or final. Maybe he was a non playing member of that panel. There is no shame in that by the way. He had a good year for Skerries by all accounts. He might offer something yet and I certainly wouldnt write him off. I hope he comes good for us but I don't think that'll happen as a 13, 14, or 15.

Listen, I am not anti Sawyer or Murphy or anyone. I am sure they are good lads. Are they better than what we have sitting in Edenderry or Tullamore or Rhode for that matter? No is the simple answer. We are struggling at the moment and there are any amount of lads that have had fall outs with management. That is a problem. I'd only love for Sawyer to contribute more, but he isn't. He has probably put on a bit of muscle from last year, but he has another bit to go and doesnt appear to be overly threatening, yet at least, and I hope he does become that by the way.

I saw Murphy earlier in year at WF in O'Byrne Cup. I thought he was a big ball winner who could kick a score but lacked mobility. At least he was played in his position then. He is clearly not an inside man. I think, with work (a year maybe), he might become an option in ideal world - but he has work to do and is not ahead of a few mentioned above in my opinion. That is just being honest. I'd love him to come in and do what Shane Horan did after coming in from Crokes. Let's see how that plays out.

As for Dan Molloy as an inside forward at inter county level. No disrespect to the chap, he is a good trier further out the field so I am not even going there!

Sawyer was a non playing member meaning he was on the extended panel in 2021. It was a championship that consisted of 5 championship games and just six(6) weeks of training and a couple of challenge matches prior to that as there was still stupid lock down measures in place regarding contact sports up until six weeks before first championship match. That's pretty much as condensed a season as you could possibly get. Point I'm making is sawyer only first became part of an offaly panel in that short time period as before that no one knew who he was. Had he come through the Offaly club and county system I think there's a good chance he would've been a playing member of that under 20 all ireland winning panel. Despite all that I agree he doesn't look like a county footballer at all. I think that's fairly obvious and even more damning when you think about the quality of player mentioned who is sat at home.
Ciaran Murphy I think has been one of offfalys better players this year. Definitely has the makings of county player.

[jimbob17]

[/quote]
Sawyer was a non playing member meaning he was on the extended panel in 2021. It was a championship that consisted of 5 championship games and just six(6) weeks of training and a couple of challenge matches prior to that as there was still stupid lock down measures in place regarding contact sports up until six weeks before first championship match. That's pretty much as condensed a season as you could possibly get. Point I'm making is sawyer only first became part of an offaly panel in that short time period as before that no one knew who he was. Had he come through the Offaly club and county system I think there's a good chance he would've been a playing member of that under 20 all ireland winning panel. Despite all that I agree he doesn't look like a county footballer at all. I think that's fairly obvious and even more damning when you think about the quality of player mentioned who is sat at home.
Ciaran Murphy I think has been one of offfalys better players this year. Definitely has the makings of county player.
[/quote]

Being honest, I don't see it yet with Sawyer at IC level. Yea he might be a nice jinky corner forward at club level. For me, he has little physical presence and doesnt have other things to make up for that; speed for example. With a lot more physical work, he might become something so not ruling him out, but he is 24 or 25 now so if not ready physically now, when will he be. For me, Murphy has it all to do yet.

As for the soccer / gaa post above, I don't believe Offaly has a soccer issue. In fact, i'd say the soccer problem is much less now than it was during the 1990's when Jackies army was having way more influence on hearts and minds of young people. There is less soccer clubs now than there was then, particularly in Tullamore where it had it's main base. I'd say Tullamore GAA now has a monopoly on the dual talent in the town in a way it hasn't had for a very long time mainly due to success which is driving more success. Tullamore Rugby is struggling to get teams out at some underage age groups because of GAA. That was not the case 10-15 years ago when Leinster Rugby were winning Champions Cups and Offaly GAA brand was at a low ebb. And by same token, Offaly GAA has little issue with soccer or rugby either as the recent All-Ireland underage successes in hurling and football, and with the fabulous Faithful Fields training complex, means young lads want to play for Offaly in hurling and football.

Yea there might be a few outliers at times at underage where lads want to do both, but remember that our best footballers developed a lot through involvement in other sports. In fact, it is a scientifically proven fact that being involved in multi sports through development ages up to 16 or 17, when they need to start specialising, is actually beneficial to development as it helps with different elements of fitness, movements and skills and game reading ability. Cormac Egan, Cillian Bourke, Lee Pearson, Paddy Dunican, Rory Egan, Jack Bryant, Jordan Hayes, Shane Tierney, Dylan Hyland and many more played other non GAA sports before specialising in GAA. Every county has there own different issues. Limerick soccer scene and rugby scene has fallen off a cliff in last 8 years or so from where that was since Limerick hurling took over. GAA clubs just needs to ensure they run theirs well, that it is a positive experience for kids so that they want to keep playing through teenage years and keep coming back. One way of doing that is by not pissing parents off who bring those kids. Some clubs for some reason view soccer, basketball, athletics or rugby as a threat and arrange their trainings to clash, forcing kids to choose whereas the smarter, more successful underage clubs tend to work with the other sports, knowing that they are also helping them produce their next wave of talent. In fact, the days of GAA having some form of inferiority complex should be well gone with the facilities, the volume of people / coaches and players and opportunities involved in comparison to any other sport. Soccer might have one employee within Offaly and a neighbouring county with a limited number of decent facilities. The clubs in Offaly GAA trump that alone with maybe 10 or 12 employees and great facilities including many gyms, without even mentioning O Connor Park or Faithful Fields. GAA just needs to worry about itself, getting good coaching with most importantly, 'the very best talent' available. I just think it is the last part where we are falling down and there is no better example than the senior football team currently.

[Géill Slí]

Yea there might be a few outliers at times at underage where lads want to do both, but remember that our best footballers developed a lot through involvement in other sports. In fact, it is a scientifically proven fact that being involved in multi sports through development ages up to 16 or 17, when they need to start specialising, is actually beneficial to development as it helps with different elements of fitness, movements and skills and game reading ability.
[/quote]

Fair point. There is a famous/infamous story of Matt and Richie Connor, the Lowrys, the Fitzgerald’s, Johnny Mooney et al on a post All-Ireland holiday in Spain beating a local professional soccer team in a challenge match after a feed of beer the night before. The glory days!

[Anon11]

Our injury crisis is so bad they have to name injured players to make up the match day 26. Lee Pearson and Sean Conway both injured and named on the 26. There has to be a massive inquiry into why this injury situation has happened.

[greenairfield]

Our hurling team as bad of injury list.
Two very different coaching teams training both so unless your suggesting the pitches in faithful fields arw the cause im not sure what else ul find.

[faithfulfanatic]

Duignan was out a month ago blaming all the injuries on split season/clubs.

That ignores the workload placed on lads from
I/c setups nowadays and the fact that the Offaly footballers were back on training regimes on top of their club schedules before the club championship even started last year!

[Anon11]

That’s a great point. I actually remember that now. Players were over in the faithful fields while the club championship was still on. How clubs allowed that to happen is beyond me. There’s your starting point. They think they are getting a head start but it’s the complete opposite. IC players are being burnt out. They go straight from county to club and back to county. It’s a viscous cycle and it needs addressing.

[faithfulfanatic]

That’s a great point. I actually remember that now. Players were over in the faithful fields while the club championship was still on. How clubs allowed that to happen is beyond me. There’s your starting point. They think they are getting a head start but it’s the complete opposite. IC players are being burnt out. They go straight from county to club and back to county. It’s a viscous cycle and it needs addressing.

Very hard for clubs to do anything - if they say a word then they are the bad guys and risk alienating their players or landing them in hot water with the county - whatever about setting baseline targets or extra work for lads who may be at a lower level club to keep them up to speed, what went on was madness.

[Superhans75]

Our injuries as I have said have come from failure of clubs to treat injuries because of expense remember after you have recovered majority still need extra physio maybe contious no one talks about that elephant in the room
Who pays
Club or county?

[Superhans75]

Tyrone match in Dungannon next week

[Doon Exile]

Tyrone match in Dungannon next week

Wonder could we blame our management team for the change in venue

[faithfulfanatic]

Our injury crisis is so bad they have to name injured players to make up the match day 26. Lee Pearson and Sean Conway both injured and named on the 26. There has to be a massive inquiry into why this injury situation has happened.

Lee Pearson starts, well done

[biffinbanner]

not good viewing in derry.