Offaly vs DIT match report

[Muck Savage]

POTH, I agree things went well last year with the two men inside and I know extra space is what we need etc. and I agree that having the extra man in the middle is an advantage to us.
I'm really asking about alternatives. Everyone knows We play a two man FF line, so if I'm an opposing manager I say Keep my full back at home. That will mean two things looking at the current Offaly team or way they play,
1) Fills the space in the full backline and makes the two danger men less effective. We all know scores win games and these lads need space.
2) Means Offlay have an extra man out the filed (probably midfield), but if I've got a strong midfield like say Dublin, I may be able to come out 50/50 with them which is good if you an opposing team. So you get 50/50 in the middle and contain their FF line better.

What do we do here? I think we need an alternative way of playing if something like this happens and right now I don't see one. You obviously try and force your game plan on the opposition but we also need to be able to counter what they do. I'd hate to be walking out of Croke Park this year and saying "we had no plan B".

If this did happen then we'd need a ball carrier to carry the ball into scoring range and maybe try force them to push their Full back out a bit. Could Deehan or Casey do this? Maybe this is a job for Slatts, Trevor Phelan, Hunt etc.
I'm just wondering if this senario has been considered and what our options would be.

[Lone Shark]

In that situation I would say that you leave the two man inside line as it is, highly mobile and still dangerous, but you try and introduce some real pace into the half forward line, lads that can carry the ball and create space by drawing defenders out of position. Trevor was one such option, but he's gone off the panel now, while Damien Hunt is more of a playmaker than a fast ball carrier.

Guys I'd like to see in this role would be either Sean Ryan or Aidan Keenaghan. Fellas like that cutting into a defence at pace causes confusion, and our two scorers in chief could thrive again. Personally I'd be playing at least one of these lads in the half forward line anyway. Up to now I'd have said Neville could play this role, but I don't think Neville's able to outpace 90% of wing backs any more.

[Hyper]

Niall is starting centre forward on Sunday.

[True Red]

Niall Mcnamee??

I assumed he was part of the Rhode contingent that is travelling to Newcastle for the weekend.

[Bord na Mona man]

So now it seems the first 3 games under Pat Roe has given up Reynolds, Ward and McNamee starting at centre forward. Not the first 3 players that would have sprung to mind.

[Hyper]

Yep, dedication or what!!! I presume he will captain the team seeing that Alan is not playing Sunday.
team for Sunday goes something like
KM,NG,JQ,GR,SC,AK,KS,MAC,KH,TC,NMC,SB,TD,NC,KC

[Bord na Mona man]

Long hand:
Kevin Meehan
Nigel Grennan
Joe Quinn
Ger Rafferty
Aidan Keenaghan
Sean Casey
Karol Slattery
Ciaran McManus
Keiran Hogan
Thomas Coughlan
Niall McNamee
Scott Brady
Thomas Deehan
Neville Coughlan
Ken Casey

[Bord na Mona man]

I think we could get outplayed at midfield without Alan McNamee. I don't expect Kieran Hogan and McManus to do well against Leix's beanpole midfielders.

[Rynaghs Biffo]

Long hand:
Kevin Meehan
Nigel Grennan
Joe Quinn
Ger Rafferty
Aidan Keenaghan
Sean Casey
Aidan Keenaghan
Karol Slattery
Ciaran McManus
Keiran Hogan
Thomas Coughlan
Niall McNamee
Scott Brady
Thomas Deehan
Neville Coughlan
Ken Casey

Even tho the midfield might be a bit weak, I dont think 2 Aidan Keenaghans is the answer!!!!!!

[Bord na Mona man]

Even tho the midfield might be a bit weak, I dont think 2 Aidan Keenaghans is the answer!!!!!!

I've just dropped one of them!