Looking forward to the year ahead. I am encouraged by a few things:
1. I read the interview with Baker in the weekend papers - and he said that he was building on what Joe Dooley had done and was not starting from scratch. That is good to hear. I really hate when a manager comes in, brings in 8 U21s and says we are rebuilding AKA there is my excuse already. At least the lads that are there, now have some solid work done in recent years in terms of how to train properly and a lot of them are well developed in that sense at this stage.
2. I am encouraged to see that Offaly have a full squad to pick from
3. I am encouraged that Offaly ignored the training ban this year, as they were training away both in the gym and on the field in November and December, so they should hit the ground running. Not trying to stir anything here, as this is fact. Actually, reading the Indo over the weekend, Anthony Daly also confirmed the same for Dublin and Offaly. Direct quote from the article about O'Carroll: "I think it was a busy year for him last year in college and he still has certain commitments in that line. So he played in a challenge against Offaly before Christmas and in another against Clare. We asked him would he be interested in having a cut.
4. Talked to a player and said that the reaction to training so far has been excellent, with the players really believing in and impressed by what Baker has to say so far.