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Yesterday we were very lucky Kildare left their shooting boots at home. We can talk about injuries all day long but realistic every team is in the same boat we are no exceptions. We seemed to have no tactics on kick outs or defensive shape in the last two games something that every senior club team have as a minimum.

A credit to the players they have tried hard the last two games and never rolled over but we have to be honest here and looking at the team and subs named this year its way off potentially what we should have and a lot of players in at the moment would not make a starter on the big 4 teams in offaly which is a worry. Unfortunately Declan has created this for himself. In my opinion he is an average club manger and is out of his debt at senior inter county and that’s nothing against the man he’s put a lot into offaly football.
I think from watching for several year’s I truly believe that if Liam kearns (may he rest in peace) got 3/4 years with the group of players he had we would of pushed on like Meath and Louth have done in the last three years. We have to remember we beat Meath and lost to Louth after extra time in a Leinster semi final in 2023.

Hopefully the week off gives the lads time to get recovery and a game plan in for the Cork game which is massive for us now and we’ll need all the support we can get. Not all doom and gloom still a lot of football to be played throughout the year and let’s hope we are competing at the business end of the year.

It's a case of swimming with sharks in Division 2. You have Meath and Kildare who are both on an upward trajectory after years on the floor, then Derry and Tyrone as seasoned campaigners. Louth are effectively a generational team by their standards, and Cork through sheer weight of numbers are capable of producing a very competitive team every 5 years or so while being dormant in between. Cavan were a few years like Roscommon yo-yoing between Division 1 and 2.
Offaly got a bounce from the u20 All Ireland, However, when you look at how Meath and Kildare have transformed themselves, they have athletic players but they also have clear systems built around the players at their disposal. It's going to need time and patience to build, and it's difficult to build in a division you're struggling in, especially if missing key players.

jimbob17 wrote: ↑Sun Feb 01, 2026 7:16 pm The injury thing is one issue and lets be honest, it is a factor. The selection beyond that is another issue and we should be making much better fist of what we do have available. Firstly, anybody watching Offaly or Edenderry football for last 10 years will know that Jordan Hayes is not a 6, nor never was. There were other options. For example, Pearson and Shane OTG have both played at 6 for their clubs. Daire McDaid must have done something to insult someone - one of our better lads in 25 and superb for Tullamore. He should be starting. Hayes to MF or 11 or wing forward could release O Neill to play further inside. Rory Egan at 12 while Cormac is at 5 makes absolutely no sense to me. Cormac is one of our better lads but needs must at moment. Rory could easily fill in at 5 and release Cormac to 10 or 11. With few of these adjustments, all of a sudden, our forward division is much stronger and much more threatening. That is before I mention Marcas Dalton and Harry Plunkett who are both better forwards than at least two of the starting forwards on Saturday - and signs on by scores got when they entered the fray. There is 5 better options in my opinion before you ever mention the injured players. So while injuries are a factor, they are not the only factor.

Agree with some of what you're saying but the injuries are catastrophic for this team and make it borderline impossible to even compete with some of the teams we'll be playing in a few weeks. Didn't see the kildare game but it's a big tough ask to win any of these league games
If Cormac Egan is moved out of defence the defence is dangerously weaker.
Rory Egan at 12 because there's not many options and he's the best one.
Hayes needed at cb because who else will play there. He seems to be one of our best most prominent players regardless if it's mf or cb.
Daire McDaid is partially injured with shin splints from what I heard.
Harry Plunkett not really a natural inside forward but would arguably do a better job than Sawyer and/or Bryant at the moment.

Rory Egan is not a forward, never was. Played all underage football from 8 back and mostly in half back line. Considered good enough to play championship for Offaly there. Just makes no sense. Cormac Egan played mostly in forwards until maybe 2 years ago. No rational reason to me whatsoever to have those in positions they are currently given forwards weakness.

Hayes is just not a 6 and is fish out of water there. Doesnt suit him. Anyone who knows anything about him or football would know and see this. He is good ghosting on to play, with athleticism and hurting opposition. That's his game and strength and he is bloody good at it. Play him at 7 or 12 or 8,9 or 11. He is not a 6. A 6 needs to sit and read the game and organise defence and mark a man when required. Dalton is more experienced at 6 than Hayes for God sake and he is only new to it also. SOTG has also played there at club level. Would also thing D Egan could do better job there than Hayes. Poland and Plunkett need to be started ahead of Sawyer or Bryant next time also id feel to be fair to them. Showed that on Saturday by all accounts. Remember last year there were couple of lads that had to play themselves on to team by doing well as subs in league games (Higgins and Tierney).

Don't know how McDaid is on bench if not right to be used. If he is OK to be on bench, should be OK for selection. Strange one that he is not playing.

As tough as it is without injured lads, not helped at all by team selection the last few days with so many out of position.

Ah lads, as stated in previous post we need stop saying get rid of management, Here's facts, supporters aren't going to games no more we are completely out numbered by opposition support at every game, there is a huge devide in the county now over management. Also if we loose every league game and don't win taligan cup declan kelly will still be the manager, if a manager can survive a beaten by London in tullamore a year after we been beat in extra time of a leinster final than I think he can survive lack of supporters and results this year so forget that argue, it will just go down as we had injured players give him another year....

jimbob17 wrote: ↑Mon Feb 02, 2026 1:35 am Rory Egan is not a forward, never was. Played all underage football from 8 back and mostly in half back line. Considered good enough to play championship for Offaly there. Just makes no sense. Cormac Egan played mostly in forwards until maybe 2 years ago. No rational reason to me whatsoever to have those in positions they are currently given forwards weakness.

Hayes is just not a 6 and is fish out of water there. Doesnt suit him. Anyone who knows anything about him or football would know and see this. He is good ghosting on to play, with athleticism and hurting opposition. That's his game and strength and he is bloody good at it. Play him at 7 or 12 or 8,9 or 11. He is not a 6. A 6 needs to sit and read the game and organise defence and mark a man when required. Dalton is more experienced at 6 than Hayes for God sake and he is only new to it also. SOTG has also played there at club level. Would also thing D Egan could do better job there than Hayes. Poland and Plunkett need to be started ahead of Sawyer or Bryant next time also id feel to be fair to them. Showed that on Saturday by all accounts. Remember last year there were couple of lads that had to play themselves on to team by doing well as subs in league games (Higgins and Tierney).

Don't know how McDaid is on bench if not right to be used. If he is OK to be on bench, should be OK for selection. Strange one that he is not playing.

As tough as it is without injured lads, not helped at all by team selection the last few days with so many out of position.

If you're going to make the case that Rory Egan and Jordan Hayes can only play in the position they've played up until this point then you can't also argue that diarmuid egan can play centre back considering he's never even played anywhere in the backs at club level and only played as an attacking wing back a short amount of time for Offaly. Also if you knew anything about Cormac Egan he only moved up corner forward as a county minor to get him closer to goal at underage level. He is a way more natural in a defensive role where he can attack and plays better out the field.
Rory Egan is a bit of a utility player. Plays wing back but isn't particularly good at tackling. He's very mobile and fit and I can certainly see the merit in playing him in the half forward line. Especially in early season league football. Cormac Egan could play there either but switching those two wouldn't make some dramatic difference you're making out.
Marcus Dalton has barely featured for the Offaly seniors there's no way they're going to start him centre back against seasoned inter county teams. If they did that and Offaly conceded a big score you'd be the first to slate the management. He's also another player that played all his underage football in the forwards. Take Cormac Egan and Hayes out of defence as you're suggesting and offaly would've conceded a lot more in the past two games.
Due to injuries management are forced to play more experienced players out of position. This is a better option than throwing in a Marcus Dalton at centre back for eg.

Dalton played at 6 for Clara for a year and was very good there - senior B player of year in fact. SOTG played there with Shamrocks previously. Pearson did it with Edenderry. Jordan Hayes has NEVER played there.

Cormac Egan has always been a forward. Moved to 13 as u20 fair enough but generally a half horward. He is a good half back for Offaly and in a full team, I'd play him at 5 possibly. Rory Egan is an athletic 5, not a scoring wing forward. His best asset is athleticism and straight line runner, not creative footballer, which you need as a forward. He is as good a defender as Cormac in my opinion but nowhere near as strong as a wing forward.

I accept, D Egan has never played 6 either, it was an aside comment and I had 3 lads recommended before him in Pearson and SoTG and Dalton. All I'm saying is that he is more abrasive and physical than Hayes and has as much to offer there as Hayes does. Hayes talents and strong areas don't get to be seen at 6 position. He has never played as a 6 and football people in Edenderry will tell you the same thing as I am. He strengths are wasted at No 6.

Listen, no matter what team is put out, it seems that you will agree with it for some reason. This is a discussion board to discuss these things and to best of my knowledge, people won't agree on everything. However, There is likely a reason the supporters are not going to these games and some of it is frustration with selections. How some of forwards are getting chosen over Harry P is one of them. There are a number of lads that were excluded who could offer something over and above others. The positioning of some players is another one. Offaly supporters know their football, know what's in the county and are not seeing it on the pitch. Yea injuries is factor but we still shoukd be making best of whats available and i dont think we are. Any time anybody suggests any thing legitimate of the sort on here, you seem to want to shut it down for some reason.

jimbob17 wrote: ↑Mon Feb 02, 2026 12:19 pm Dalton played at 6 for Clara for a year and was very good there - senior B player of year in fact. SOTG played there with Shamrocks previously. Pearson did it with Edenderry. Jordan Hayes has NEVER played there.

Cormac Egan has always been a forward. Moved to 13 as u20 fair enough but generally a half horward. He is a good half back for Offaly and in a full team, I'd play him at 5 possibly. Rory Egan is an athletic 5, not a scoring wing forward. His best asset is athleticism and straight line runner, not creative footballer, which you need as a forward. He is as good a defender as Cormac in my opinion but nowhere near as strong as a wing forward.

I accept, D Egan has never played 6 either, it was an aside comment and I had 3 lads recommended before him in Pearson and SoTG and Dalton. All I'm saying is that he is more abrasive and physical than Hayes and has as much to offer there as Hayes does. Hayes talents and strong areas don't get to be seen at 6 position. He has never played as a 6 and football people in Edenderry will tell you the same thing as I am. He strengths are wasted at No 6.

Listen, no matter what team is put out, it seems that you will agree with it for some reason. This is a discussion board to discuss these things and to best of my knowledge, people won't agree on everything. However, There is likely a reason the supporters are not going to these games and some of it is frustration with selections. How some of forwards are getting chosen over Harry P is one of them. There are a number of lads that were excluded who could offer something over and above others. The positioning of some players is another one. Offaly supporters know their football, know what's in the county and are not seeing it on the pitch. Yea injuries is factor but we still shoukd be making best of whats available and i dont think we are. Any time anybody suggests any thing legitimate of the sort on here, you seem to want to shut it down for some reason.

Hayes definitely played at 6 last year for Offaly more so moved there during a game rather than from the start. I agree his strengths are somewhat wasted there. He's arguably been offalys best and most influential player the past few years. That's why management trust and rely on him to play other crucial positions. If Pearson played there then there's a gaping hole in the full back line. Just can't afford to lose the players to injury that we did.

Dalton played at 6 for Clara for a year and was very good there - senior B player of year in fact. SOTG played there with Shamrocks previously. Pearson did it with Edenderry. Jordan Hayes has NEVER played there.

Cormac Egan has mostly been a forward. I never mentioned him to be put to inside line so don't understand relevance of your no 13 comment. And I know all about C Egan. Saw him play Rugby for Tullamore for your information as a kid and coached against him when he was only a chap playing for a different club before he moved to Tullamore so no need to question my knowledge on him. Yea he played at 13 as u20 fair enough but generally played withdrawn 13 role (as a half forward) running from deeper in half forward line. He is a good half back for Offaly and in a full team, I'd play him at 5 possibly. Rory Egan is an athletic 5, not a scoring wing forward. His best asset is athleticism and straight line runner, coming on to the play at pace, not as a creative footballer, which you need as a forward. He is as good a defender as Cormac in my opinion but nowhere near as strong as a wing forward.

The game has changed drastically. You cant just pack your defence and minimise scoring like you could in old rules. To win games now, you need to score. 16 points will not win most games now in way it did two years ago. You need a forward threat and at the moment to be honest our forward threat as a collective is fairly blunt. Our starting inside forwards scored 1 point between them the last day. The point is very simple. Cormac and Hayes are among our best attacking threats and offer us a hell of a lot more going forward than the positions they are afforded. Cormac can still do that from 5 I accept, but Rory offers little threat from 10 and Hayes just cannot attack from 6 too often, such is the nature of that role.

I accept, D Egan has never played 6 either, it was an aside comment and I had 3 lads ahead of Hayes recommended before him in Pearson and SoTG and Dalton. All I'm saying is that he is more abrasive and physical than Hayes and has as much to offer there as Hayes does. Hayes talents and strong areas don't get to be seen at 6 position. He has never played as a 6 and football people in Edenderry will tell you the same thing as I am. He strengths are wasted at No 6. In fact, Edenderry football people would play both Pearson and Rory Egan at 6 ahead of Hayes. Some would also have Harry Goulding there ahead of him too. Surely that says something or maybe they know nothing either!

Listen, no matter what team is put out, it seems that you will agree with it for some reason. This is a discussion board to discuss these things and to best of my knowledge, people won't agree on everything. However, we can agree to disagree, but there is likely a reason the supporters are not going to these games and some of it is frustration with selections - injuries aside. They are voting with their feet. How some of forwards are getting chosen over Harry P is one of them questions for certain. Poland did well when introduced by all accounts. Put him in the next day. There are a number of lads that were excluded from panel who could offer something over and above others. There are a few good players that will not play under present management. The positioning of some players is another one. The volume of non contact over-use injuries is another one that is completely avoidable! These are legitimate questions, particularly when you put them all together at the same time!

Offaly supporters know their football, know what's in the county and are not seeing it on the pitch. I've had such discussions with genuine supporters (some being former players and coaches) who know their football and the same themes keep coming up. Yes of course injuries are a factor currently (some of which are of our own making by the way), but we still should be making best of whats available and i simply don't think we are. Under any other circumstances at any other time with what is going on, there would be question marks over management decisions. There are lots of questions that genuine supporters would have.................. and i am not looking for their removal by the way in case you think I am. As a genuine football supporter, I like many others want us to do well. At the moment, we are not going well and we will not be competitive for most of this league. However, any time anybody questions anything remotely legitimate of the sort on here, you seem to want to shut down the argument for some reason. The paranoia is very obvious!

Wingbackassassin wrote: ↑Mon Feb 02, 2026 2:09 pm

jimbob17 wrote: ↑Mon Feb 02, 2026 12:19 pm Dalton played at 6 for Clara for a year and was very good there - senior B player of year in fact. SOTG played there with Shamrocks previously. Pearson did it with Edenderry. Jordan Hayes has NEVER played there.

Cormac Egan has always been a forward. Moved to 13 as u20 fair enough but generally a half horward. He is a good half back for Offaly and in a full team, I'd play him at 5 possibly. Rory Egan is an athletic 5, not a scoring wing forward. His best asset is athleticism and straight line runner, not creative footballer, which you need as a forward. He is as good a defender as Cormac in my opinion but nowhere near as strong as a wing forward.

I accept, D Egan has never played 6 either, it was an aside comment and I had 3 lads recommended before him in Pearson and SoTG and Dalton. All I'm saying is that he is more abrasive and physical than Hayes and has as much to offer there as Hayes does. Hayes talents and strong areas don't get to be seen at 6 position. He has never played as a 6 and football people in Edenderry will tell you the same thing as I am. He strengths are wasted at No 6.

Listen, no matter what team is put out, it seems that you will agree with it for some reason. This is a discussion board to discuss these things and to best of my knowledge, people won't agree on everything. However, There is likely a reason the supporters are not going to these games and some of it is frustration with selections. How some of forwards are getting chosen over Harry P is one of them. There are a number of lads that were excluded who could offer something over and above others. The positioning of some players is another one. Offaly supporters know their football, know what's in the county and are not seeing it on the pitch. Yea injuries is factor but we still shoukd be making best of whats available and i dont think we are. Any time anybody suggests any thing legitimate of the sort on here, you seem to want to shut it down for some reason.

Hayes definitely played at 6 last year for Offaly more so moved there during a game rather than from the start. I agree his strengths are somewhat wasted there. He's arguably been offalys best and most influential player the past few years. That's why management trust and rely on him to play other crucial positions. If Pearson played there then there's a gaping hole in the full back line. Just can't afford to lose the players to injury that we did.

Hayes was a named sub last year against Sligo in Tullamore from what I recall. I was at the game. He was getting little or no chances up to then to stake position on team. Whoever was named at centre back (likely Furlong) could not start for injury reasons. Hayes was thrown in at 6 for first half. It wasn't really working for Offaly and Sligo led well at half time. Hayes was moved to midfield at start of second half to best of my recollection. Offaly blew Sligo out of water in 2nd half in that game from what I recall. Might have filled in there for a part of one other match. Played all underage and club football as half forward, MF or 7, mainly due to his athleticism and his capacity to hurt opposition from those spots. The only people that have ever tried him at 6 are current Offaly management. His own club who know him best wouldn't ever play him there.

If Daire McDaid is fit enough to be on bench, what is wrong with him playing at corner back. He was deemed good enough to be a starter last year. If not fit enough to play he shouldn't be named on the bench.

Dalton is a natural fit at 6, especially when we haven’t looked great so far so why not try something? He won POTY in Senior B, yes there is a difference in standard to inter county, but the reason he is on the squad is down to his performances in that position for his club. Especially when you consider how badly we are going around the middle, it will allow us to move Hayes forward. When Furlong comes back, it gives you a potential half back line of Egan, Furlong and Dalton on the wing, this should be a very strong line. Maybe Rory Egan can go back to corner back then.

We are missing forwards/scoring threats, but that doesn’t mean you play a back at wing forward. I would much rather try a natural forward there, maybe get a decent look at one of the lads who hasn’t got much of a chance so far.

Some one a few posts back said they have been talking to coaches in offaly who know the scene and there are players hiding in plain sight that aren't been brought in ......magical mystical midfielders ......loads of lads kicking 7 and 8 points from play at senior grade that aren't been asked in......load of keepers better than paddy dunican ......loads of defenders better than what's in there ......please please you don't have to write them here but will u write them in a letter and post them to o Connor park to let the lads know..iv the pass for club games and my life is boring enough so I don't miss many games ..I for sure haven't missed senior county game for years ....I honestly can't think of loads of players that are being ignored that would make a difference in upcoming games v meath Tyrone etc ......please please write that letter with the names of these mystical players and post it to ocp..thanks

Not sure how many are midfielders but some are.......... and if others were in we could find a 6 out of them or possibly throw David Dempsey to 6 or MF and use Hayes at midfield..... and we would certainly score a bit more.

Anton Sullivan 33? Rhode
Ruairi McNamee 28 Rhode
Aaron Kellaghan 22 Rhode
Aidan Bracken 25 Ballycommon - could play 6
Adam Bolger 22 Daingean
Bill Carroll 24 Cappincur - could do MF
Cian Donohue 33 St Brigids - could do 6
Jamie Evans 29 Gracefield - Could do MF
Bernard Allen 33 Tubber
Chris McKeown 20 Clara - Could do 3 or 6
Cathal Mangan 28 Kilclonfert - Could do MF
Karl Stewart 29 Clara - Could do 6 or be an option.
Cian Farrell 26 Edenderry


Others to consider that could add to squad.
Declan Hogan 33 Tullamore. Injury may be factor for some of them....
Alan Heffernan 29 Shamrocks
Morgan Tynan 23 Ballinagar
Kyle Higgins 27 Ferbane
Kenny Chap 22 Ballycommon
Luke Plunkett 28 Tullamore
Cian Johnson 26 Ferbane

We will ignore the lads with the overuse injuries for now.....

That is 20 names and it is likely I am missing a few here also.....

If we got 10 of them in, we'd be better off.

You'll throw your eyes to the God's no doubt and suggest there is no merit to consider any of these names (that are not injured and rubbish others as you've done before) even if they are among the best 35-40 lads in the county in most people's opinions...............and you'll somehow continue your case to maintain the status quo and that there are no ongoing issues.....We know why some are not in there but imo, Offaly cannot afford to play politics with players if we are interested in improving as we simply do not have the depth.

Will leave to you to write that letter.

Sullivan 35
Mcnamee 30
Kellaghan 25
Bill Carroll 26
Aidan Bracken 26
Cian farrell 27
Alan Heffernan 30
Cian Johnson 27
Morgan Tynan 24
Age is irrelevant, but just for clarity,
Not disagree per se, but I think correct ages these players will all be this age in 2026

Tynan choose not to come in. ...presumably from lack of game time ..which is his right ...but he didn't deserve to get next nor near the team as of last year and also got plenty of opportunity I believe he even started at least two league games over last two years ....and just like roo MC and a few others ironically with all the injuries now he might have got a look in ....cian Farrell choose not to turn up for an Offaly league game last year after being subbed the previous game ....he's not David Clifford....that was wrong and shouldn't have happened ....now maybe he apologised then it is management for not accepting said apology and having him back ....cian Johnson done an interview with the Offaly express not 6 weeks ago saying he was back training with Offaly and was loving being back in the camp....maybe there's been a fall out since bit I heard he broke his finger ...but I absolutely stand to be corrected on this ....Keelaghan choose not to come in like tynan....that's his choice ....on last year's form do I think he was hard done by not to start over Tierney or Hyland in the corner forward positions no I don't and I don't remember arguing over that last year when we were flying ....Sullivan is 35....if ye really want to bring Anton back fair enough but sure why not just bring back in alan an Niall mc while we are at it ...Alan could stand in the middle and probably field a ball better than what's there but u have to move on lads ...bracken I believe pulled up injured last year didn't he ....I'm not sure where he is currently ....but as some one who started consistently last year I very much doubt it's because harte doesn't fancy him all of a sudden .....roo mc choose not to come in....his right. ..but that can't be put on harte ....Flynn was excelling at 11 as was Hyland and tierney at 13 and 15 last season....