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I think that there has to be a line you draw somewhere, and for me, I would try and facilitate dual players at minor level. That mightn't be optimal for that player in that season, but in the long run, I think it'll work out better for them if they're accommodated, particularly when so much of the strength and conditioning work would overlap.

Now if it's a very marginal decision as to who goes into your squad and the choice is between a single code player and a player who will be splitting their time between two sports, then yeah, I think it's best to go with the single code player and let the dual guy just focus on the other sport that year, but when you have a guy who's going to contribute meaningfully to both teams, such as Eamon Maher and Ruairí Woods did last year, then my gut feeling is that you allow them to continue to develop at minor, and then at U-20, you're into more adult standards there.

From Offaly's point of view, I wouldn't say I know Eamon well, but I have spoken with him a bit, and he's genuinely into both sports, with no strong preference right now. It's not unreasonable to say that if he had been forced to pick one or the other, it's 50/50 or close enough which direction he would have gone in 2025. And would we win that Leinster title without him? Honestly, I don't think so.

At the point of U-20 I think it's reasonable to ask a player to choose which county team he wants to completely buy into, because what you're asking of players now is on another level, and it's not fair for anyone to look around and see someone that is hedging their bets when you're all in - but minor is very clearly a developmental grade, so I would say that playing dual at that level is fair enough.

Having a player half committing to 2 sports means he wont develop full potential in either, he'll also struggle with full integration in the team and the team will suffer as a result, he also takes up a squad place where we could be developing a fringe player.. he'll also piss off a player thats close to making a team and we are potentially losing a player because we think this dual player is so important and is gonna be the next big thing.. of course potential isnt always everything and we dont want other players missin out, just because a player isnt top class at minor doesnt mean he wont be and shouldnt miss a chance at development to keep a dual player. And we are a dual county so its part of life and he will play one or the other so we wont lose out, arguably the sport he chooses the senior team will benefit as he is more likely to reach full potential focussing on one as opposed to the other. Important to remember that underage teams and competitions are about development for future senior teams more so than winning. Where there is an opportunity to develop an extra player or 2 and give them a chance this should be prioritised over winning an underage competition.. if we win an underage hurling title because we played a dual player but lost a squad player and maybe a fringe player and then the dual player decides to play football what use is the underage title to us only a bit of glory? now the senior hurlers have potentially lost 3 for future and the senior footballers are getting a player who was dual and less developed than he might have been had he focussed on one.. the day of the dual player is over at county level, demands are too high and add in tactics etc and its impossible for a player to tune in to both.

Just to be clear, I’m not advocating for dual players at county level. The point I’m making is essentially in response to whenever we have a poor result, the inevitable response is what’s going wrong with Offaly and everyone from county board to team management get the blame.

But the reality is that we are one of the few genuine dual counties and our talent in the respective codes are thinner as a result, notwithstanding we have one of the smaller populations in the country to begin with.

A few examples:
Donal Shirley - Tubber
Joe Furey - Edenderry
Sean Óg Foley - Doon

All from traditional football clubs but committed to inter county hurling, which is absolutely their prerogative by the way. But each are fantastic football players and my point is that if were a one code county, and had these type of lads on the football teams, we’d be more competitive.

Finbarr Cullen won a minor all Ireland hurling title in 1989 but concentrated on football then.
Sean Grennan the same albeit he played a little hurling with the county afterwards.
John Ryan Shannonbridge won a hurling all Ireland and played minimal football with the county and would have been a huge asset at that time.
Cormac Egan is a fabulous hurler but playing football now.

Is this anyone’s fault, absolutely not and should never be. But it is a factor when we are not as successful as we’d like in alternative codes.

Overall, I’d still argue that we punch above our weight over all of teams from underage to senior and I would be fully supportive of the work happening at development squads across both codes.

Doon Exile wrote: ↑Sun May 10, 2026 9:09 pm Just to be clear, I’m not advocating for dual players at county level. The point I’m making is essentially in response to whenever we have a poor result, the inevitable response is what’s going wrong with Offaly and everyone from county board to team management get the blame.

But the reality is that we are one of the few genuine dual counties and our talent in the respective codes are thinner as a result, notwithstanding we have one of the smaller populations in the country to begin with.

A few examples:
Donal Shirley - Tubber
Joe Furey - Edenderry
Sean Óg Foley - Doon

All from traditional football clubs but committed to inter county hurling, which is absolutely their prerogative by the way. But each are fantastic football players and my point is that if were a one code county, and had these type of lads on the football teams, we’d be more competitive.

Finbarr Cullen won a minor all Ireland hurling title in 1989 but concentrated on football then.
Sean Grennan the same albeit he played a little hurling with the county afterwards.
John Ryan Shannonbridge won a hurling all Ireland and played minimal football with the county and would have been a huge asset at that time.
Cormac Egan is a fabulous hurler but playing football now.

Is this anyone’s fault, absolutely not and should never be. But it is a factor when we are not as successful as we’d like in alternative codes.

Overall, I’d still argue that we punch above our weight over all of teams from underage to senior and I would be fully supportive of the work happening at development squads across both codes.

I agree 100% with this. Well put.