Offaly Senior Hurlers 2025

[Wing Back]

A win v Westmeath promotes Offaly if Dublin beat Waterford. We would be maximum -3pts and hold head to head over Dublin, with Waterford at -4.

If Waterford beat Dublin, then Dubs are -4 and Carlow results come in to play.

What we don't want after beating WH is Dublin and Waterford to draw and us to lose to Waterford - and us to lose to Waterford - as it'd mean at least 3 teams on -3 where score diff comes into it.

So basically if Dubs or Waterford doesn't finish level, and we beat Westmeath, we are prob heading for promotion with guarantee of at least 2nd.... subject to maintaining higher score diff than Carlow, which we most likely will.

The Carlow score difference is something I'm concerned about. Carlow have the matches and motivation to show no mercy against Antrim or Westmeath. I don't understand why everyone is taking for granted that Offaly will have a better score difference, and writing off Carlow. Even if we win today, we still might not make the final. Our performance against Waterford will still be very important I think. There is still a lot of things that can happen in this division yet. Score difference will be important in most scenarios I feel.

[faithfulfanatic]

A win v Westmeath promotes Offaly if Dublin beat Waterford. We would be maximum -3pts and hold head to head over Dublin, with Waterford at -4.

If Waterford beat Dublin, then Dubs are -4 and Carlow results come in to play.

What we don't want after beating WH is Dublin and Waterford to draw and us to lose to Waterford - and us to lose to Waterford - as it'd mean at least 3 teams on -3 where score diff comes into it.

So basically if Dubs or Waterford doesn't finish level, and we beat Westmeath, we are prob heading for promotion with guarantee of at least 2nd.... subject to maintaining higher score diff than Carlow, which we most likely will.

The Carlow score difference is something I'm concerned about. Carlow have the matches and motivation to show no mercy against Antrim or Westmeath. I don't understand why everyone is taking for granted that Offaly will have a better score difference, and writing off Carlow. Even if we win today, we still might not make the final. Our performance against Waterford will still be very important I think. There is still a lot of things that can happen in this division yet. Score difference will be important in most scenarios I feel.

Carlow may have the motivation to rack up big scores on Antrim, Westmeath or Laois but I don’t know if they have the quality.
Antrim are 4/1 versus Carlow tomorrow and the handicap is 6 points, which seems mad.
Davy has to start getting a kick out of Antrim at some stage.

[Glendassaun]

As supporters it's easy to get wrapped up in the permutations in what is a very competitive division. There's any number of ways that we can slice and dice the possible outcomes, but ultimately it remains rather clear, certainly so from a players perspective. With two games to go the cards are in our hands. Two wins and we don't have to worry what anybody else does. First and foremost get a performance on Sunday against what will be a determined Westmeath, and anything else is a bonus.

Carlow will feel they're in a great position, however, having beaten Waterford and drawing with ourselves whatever element of surprise they might have held v Waterford is well and truly blown vs Dublin, with Dublin needing to win all their remaining games to gain promotion, and with the game v Carlow being in Parnell Park one would have to favour Dublin there. They'll also face Antrim and Laois, both vying to save their status in 1B, neither of which will feel overly phased by Carlow and both are capable of taking points off them.

Waterford know that a loss v Dublin and their hopes of promotion are gone, so expect them to throw everything on the line v Dublin this weekend. With Lyons and Gleeson still absent from the panel they could well come up short. That would mean their game v Offaly would count for little more than preparation for the Munster Championship just two weeks away by the time they meet in Fraher Field. Could that play in our favour heading into the final day? Only if we get our own house in order at the weekend v Westmeath.

Meanwhile Dublin themselves will want to get back on track v Waterford. They have the personal to do just that and they know perfection in their final three games is what's required of them to gain promotion back to 1A, something seen as vital for the development of that side. That would set up another must win game v Carlow, which would certainly work out in our advantage heading into the final day. A comprehensive win for Dublin v Carlow would do our chances no harm, and would offer some breathing room heading into the final day (provided we manage to beat Westmeath).

So, first and foremost, we are the captains of our own fate heading into the final two rounds of games. We cannot for one second get ahead of ourselves, something I believe the players won't allow themselves to do. From a supporters perspective, a Dublin win tomorrow, and a Dublin win v Carlow would be preferable. A Waterford win, and a Dublin win v Carlow would also do nicely. A draw tomorrow, and a Dublin win v Carlow still leaves our destiny in our own hands. But in such a circumstance if we lost to Waterford we'll need the calculators at the ready!

Hope to see a large home crowd in Tullamore tomorrow. A vitally important game for our progression as a side.

[Wing Back]

I just think its very odd, that Carlow who beat Waterford(a bigger scalp than Dublin if I'm honest), are not being spoken about, and are coming in completely under the radar, despite being unbeaten in 2 tough matches.

I worry that Waterford will beat Dublin, and then Dublin have nothing left to play for in their game versus Carlow......which could affect the score difference, or even the result. Waterford will have plenty of motivation against us, as they need to win, simple as that, also affecting our score difference. So this is why I think Carlow have everything going for them if Waterford (bookies fav) beat Dublin tomorrow.

Carlow really should not be underestimated in their remaining games.

Other commentators are correct, our destiny is still in our own hands, but a win against Westmeath (who would love to clip our wings) guarantees nothing at all.

I see the Sunday Game, The OTB Hurling POD and RTE hurling podcast all basically assuming Offaly will be in the final. Not one word about Carlow. It makes no sense to me, as we know better than most that Carlow are a decent outfit.

Complacency and ego need to be left at the door

[joe bloggs]

I just think its very odd, that Carlow who beat Waterford(a bigger scalp than Dublin if I'm honest), are not being spoken about, and are coming in completely under the radar, despite being unbeaten in 2 tough matches.

I worry that Waterford will beat Dublin, and then Dublin have nothing left to play for in their game versus Carlow......which could affect the score difference, or even the result. Waterford will have plenty of motivation against us, as they need to win, simple as that, also affecting our score difference. So this is why I think Carlow have everything going for them if Waterford (bookies fav) beat Dublin tomorrow.

Carlow really should not be underestimated in their remaining games.

Other commentators are correct, our destiny is still in our own hands, but a win against Westmeath (who would love to clip our wings) guarantees nothing at all.

I see the Sunday Game, The OTB Hurling POD and RTE hurling podcast all basically assuming Offaly will be in the final. Not one word about Carlow. It makes no sense to me, as we know better than most that Carlow are a decent outfit.

Complacency and ego need to be left at the door

Spot on about Carlow being written off. Its lazy analysis. I nearly soat my tea out last Sunday night when Joanne Cantwell said we only needef one more point.

Its plain and simple. Win tomorrow and hopefully with a few points to spare and take stock then and see what needs to be done.

[G91]

I don’t think anyone in Offaly is getting ahead iof themselves most genuine followers know Carlow are in the mix and Westmeath is a big game and Waterford equally

[oneshot]

a Dublin win or waterford win sunday will suite offaly with both losing two game's that's if offaly get the job done on sunday.
as for Carlow they are still there to go up but i think if the Dubs get a win again Waterford they will also clip Carlow. laois will also have to get another win to stay up and they have a good record again Carlow and could also take point's off Carlow.

Antrim are as good as gone as so will westmeath if offaly beat them. i still think offaly will be one of the two that go up.

[Géill Slí]

We are in the great (and, probably, unexpected) position of having everything in our own hands, so let’s just focus on getting the win vs Westmeath and see where we’re at tomorrow evening.
I expect that Carlow, at home, will beat Antrim tomorrow (I’ll probably head in to that game myself as we have a few club men involved); the Laois game vs Carlow I would see as 50:50. So yes, Carlow are still in the picture for promotion, but Offaly are in pole position, and anything other than a draw in the Waterford Dublin game is a good result for us.
But focus on the win vs Westmeath first, let’s not get ahead of ourselves.
Great to see Ben back, and we know now we have able deputies who have got some decent game time.

[ah lethimoutwithit]

We can scribble away here as much as we like.

They players will only have one target, get 2 points today against Westmeath, and Westmeath will fight tooth and nail for the same.
Any other thoughts and we could well come a cropper.

[Offaly_6738]

Is the match being televised on Anything today

[Lone Shark]

Is the match being televised on Anything today

Don't think so I'm afraid.

[Anonymous1]

Unless Carlow win their remaining three games or win two, draw one and finish with a better scoring difference than Offaly as well as Offaly losing to Waterford then Offaly will be promoted.

Essentially it would take a series of unfortunate events for Offaly not to be promoted at this point.

[Toxicity234]

9 points on the board - Well done. Westmeath are sticky.

Carlow have Dublin next Saturday in Parnell Park, then Westmeath and Laois to be play.

[joe bloggs]

I'd expect Dublin to win next weekend v Carlow as they still have a slim chance mathematically of finishing 2nd.
It would require Offaly beating Waterford who would then finish with 8 points.
Should Dublin win there last 2 games they would also reach 8 points, and if Carlow won their last two games they would reach 8 points. Thus a 3 way tie and scoring difference would decide it.

In saying all that, if the above unfolds, Offaly would be fulfilling a dead rubber in the last game, and therefore unlikely to win in Waterford, but Dublin will want to give themselves some chance anyway.

Alternatively a win for Carlow and their destiny in their own hands.

[Lone Shark]

I'd expect Dublin to win next weekend v Carlow as they still have a slim chance mathematically of finishing 2nd.
It would require Offaly beating Waterford who would then finish with 8 points.
Should Dublin win there last 2 games they would also reach 8 points, and if Carlow won their last two games they would reach 8 points. Thus a 3 way tie and scoring difference would decide it.

In saying all that, if the above unfolds, Offaly would be fulfilling a dead rubber in the last game, and therefore unlikely to win in Waterford, but Dublin will want to give themselves some chance anyway.

Alternatively a win for Carlow and their destiny in their own hands.

The other side of that is that if Dublin were to lose to Carlow, then all of a sudden they've one game left, away in Portlaoise, that more than likely would be a relegation decider. Obviously you would expect Dublin to win that, but it's absolutely not a situation that they'll want to be in. There's no danger of Dublin hurling at anything other than full pelt against Carlow.