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I have never been convinced by this group of hurlers or John McIntyre so I am not jumping on anyones back here. But I think however you look at it this looks like panic and abandonment of previously held views by the management.

Is it at all possible that the county board made the right decision first time round ?

Does anyone agree with me that O'Connor should be replacing Mullins??

Sometimes Breeder doesnt convince me enough and I think Shane is a much more natural hurler! I know Breeder can pull out the stops but Shanes puck outs are far more important! jaysus he can nearly puck it over the bar from one end to the other!!

It depends a lot on the game you want to play. If your goalie is to be a playmaker, then certainly there is every reason to pick O'Connor.

I'm all for the old school though - I'd find it hard to drop a keeper that keeps the ball out of the net.

To be honest, I don't particularly want a 'natural hurler' in goals. I want a bit of a looney who will lay himself out to save one on one shots, and who is reliable. Breeder has proven that before.

To change him now is one of two things.

a) Giving young O'Connor a taste of championship action in a hostile enough environment, which is fair enough.
or

b) Rearranging the deckchairs on the titanic.

I hope it's a) naturally enough, but I have a feeling, due to the other changes, that it is b).

So where will the Shark be on Saturday?

I'll be at a wedding unfortunately, in the wilds of East Clare itself, so an Offaly win would be most welcome on the news wire.

A right hiding can be ignored though


LS, BnM, I must get yer mobile nos to arrange meets before games.

EH, Hello whats the story,
Joe Brady is Useless. Whats he doin in there.
The man has as much courage as a killkenny Footballer. and the skill of a billy goat. we are gonna get hammered.

I'd say Joe Brady could be there to put manners on Brian Lohan (not that Joe Bergin can't!) and O'Connor's pucks should land around the house on top of Brady, who is a good fielder of the ball. Can't get to this match, unless anyone is offering a lift within the next hour????

From today's Indo

....Meanwhile, Offaly boss John McIntyre attempted to clear up any misunderstanding about Whelahan's place for the Clare clash when he said: "Brian Whelehan had indicated to the team management last week that maybe this was an opportunity to have a look at some other players.

"He hurled himself to a standstill the previous week against Limerick and we respect his situation and there's been a spin put on it that reflects poorly on the team management.

"But to be honest we would have picked him if he had so wished. He's been a marvellous servant to Offaly hurling and I think he deserves a better send off than he got tonight."

mmm... who was selecting the team ?
If McIntyre believed Offaly had any chance against Clare he was obliged to pick his best team and explain that to Brian if explanation was required. That he didn't, speaks volumes for the mental state of Offaly hurling at the minute.

Just a shame that Brian Whelehan gets got up in the inglorious fall of Offaly hurling.