Rory Hanniffy to captain the hurlers next year

Lone Shark · Post by **Lone Shark** » Thu Jan 18, 2007 9:12 pm

Taken from Hogan Stand .....

Birr hurler Rory Hanniffy has been chosen to captain Offaly for the coming campaign as the Faithful bid to bring the glory days back to the county.

Offaly’s standards have slipped in recent years and they are currently a long way behind Kilkenny and indeed Wexford in the pecking order for the Leinster championship.

Hanniffy’s displays for Birr and the county last year earned him the Offaly Hurler of the Year award as the club retained their senior crown once again.

The management team has also announced that there will be two vice-captains as David Franks and Kevin Brady have been named in these roles.

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Now, a couple of things I thought of out of this.

(1) Hard to argue with Rory as captain in the sense that he's our best player, likely to be in a pivotal position and generally should be easy to get behind. I've no idea what he's like as a person, never having met the man, so I'll leave it to others to say what he'd be like personality wise. Overall, an uncontroversial pick.

(2) Now as for the vice captains - here led to the raising of eyebrows. Firstly - why name two? Secondly, surely Kevin Brady is anything but a guaranteed starter? I'd have thought he was a 70% chance to start, but no more than that - he has had some hairy days in the Offaly colours in recent years.

(3) Finally, all these "leaders" and no-one in the forwards, where we lack leadership the most? Obviously the lack of any obvious candidate is a problem, but maybe something like this could have been a catalyst to maturing someone? Three of our six backs being captains and none of our forwards seems strange..... unless........

......does this make Franks more likely to start as a half forward than a corner back? Just a thought......

Plain of the Herbs · Post by **Plain of the Herbs** » Fri Jan 19, 2007 9:57 am

The significance of this is that it is the vice captain who captains the team the following year.

Rory was vice captain last year and stood in for Brendan Murphy when he was unavailable last year.

Which of the two will be captain next year? Is it Franks' turn but they didn't want a captain playing his club hurling outside the county perhaps?

borderfox · Post by **borderfox** » Fri Jan 19, 2007 11:07 am

Kevin Brady is a cert to start for offaly, Probably the most consistent defender in offaly last year. Saw franks playin half forward in the final of the railway cup...he was taken off before halftime and it didnt look like he was injured.
Rory is a great hurler and hopefully he`l b a good leader too.

Rynaghs Biffo · Post by **Rynaghs Biffo** » Fri Jan 19, 2007 11:27 am

I reckon this is a clear sign that Franks will be starrting at wing forward this year, who is badly needed on the half forward line. As for Brady, definatly a starter, very consistant and good in the air. We havent had a great half back line in the past few years compared to our counties, but Kevin always puts in 100%.

Overall, I dont like the idea of 2 vice captains, or even one, can lead to disputes and fall outs, but thats just my reckoning!!

green&white · Post by **green&white** » Fri Jan 19, 2007 1:02 pm

observin the practise game vs nuig last saturday showed that offaly management have intentions of playin franks in the backs, where he lined out half back.. tis all fine playin at club level in the forwards but when presented with a challenge vs connacht ( and a poor outfit on the nite) he was found wanting... corner back is his best position, why fix if its not broken!

rory is porobably obvious choice as captain,best hurler by far!! but his view on hurlin is to treat it like a hobby ( and he's not afraid to express this)... not exactly inspiring stuff as a captain!!

problem is, was their any other likely candidate?? prob not!

k brady a cert, most consistent defender last yr!

offaly's choice of two vice captains is strange.. never realyy heard of before!

offaly need their two best hurlers in carroll and rory performing in the summer, not in the league like last yr!

we arte the faithful county, so lets all live up to that and not lose complete faith!!
to qoute munster's slogan:

" To the Brave & FAITHFUL - Nothting is Impossible"

Lone Shark · Post by **Lone Shark** » Fri Jan 19, 2007 1:12 pm

Accepting the votes of the majority of the people, I will concede the Kevin Brady point. I reserve the right to pipe up again if he's ever let near a corner back position again though.

Muck Savage · Post by **Muck Savage** » Fri Jan 19, 2007 6:52 pm

Any reports on the NUIG game? Seen a lot of new lads given a chance, how did they do?