Was doing a bit a work with my cousin yesterday who is hurling obsessed and we said if we could get our panel fit this is the team we would like to go with on saturday.
1 Breeder
2 Hernon
3Cleary
4Verney
5Kenny/Horan
6Kenny/Horan
7Franks
8Murphy
9Teehan
10Hanniffy G
11Hanniffy R
12Molloy
13Carroll/Parlon
14Bergin
15Egan
Unfortunately Verney and Horan are still unavailable so we will have the same 1-15 i would say but i find it hard to fathom how we can justify Murrays inclusion and Brain Carroll seriously has to get the finger out. Saturday could be his last chance for the year because Parlon and Egan are hurling very well for th U21's
Hurlers
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Plain of the Herbs
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A few thoughts before the ‘Trip to Tipp’ on Saturday.
1. Offaly should approach this one as a match that HAS to be won in order to advance to the quarter final, rather than an opportunity to settle 120 year old sores with Tipperary. If they lose focus on this they will come unstuck. While challenge match form can be unreliable, the recent win over Clare is a sign of a camp in good form. The under 21’s win in Kilkenny should serve as a boost with some of the u21 forwards pushing for places.
2. Offaly should not be expecting Tipperary to wilt from the fatigue of their Limerick trilogy. If anything, Tipperary will see this as a great chance to get their year back on the road. They wouldn’t be the first county who suffered a big setback and recovered with a win over this Offaly team. Instance Limerick in Tullamore last year.
3. Still, Tipperary will have laid all their cards on the table over the course of those Limerick encounters. I can’t see them coming up with any more surprises on Saturday. Their team will pick itself, really. Any Tipperary fatigue will only come against them later in the year (perhaps at the quarter final stage). At the moment they’re in a routine of match – recovery – light puckaround - match.
4. The Offaly backs should do OK against the Tipperary attack. I would have David Franks pick up Eoin Kelly, even if Kelly hurls at full forward Conor Hernon should be well able for Corbett. It all depends on the quality of the supply from outfield. Offaly’s half back line will need to repeat the zest they displayed against Kilkenny. Ger Oakley won’t be bullied by John Carroll either.
5. I would pick Teehan to partner Murphy at midfield. A defender to complement an attacker. The Offaly half forward line is capable of winning enough ball in the air. Gary will be fine. He needs more help from Rory this time though. While Eamon Corcoran is good in the air, Derek Molloy won’t be standing back, either. The scoring forwards will need to improve. To make best use of space (and there will be plenty in Thurles Sportsfield) I would be inclined to use Brian Carroll as a roving corner forward leaving space for Bergin to run into onto a diagonal ball.
6. Nagging doubts remain about Offaly – in particular performing in the second half. I think a likely scenario is that Offaly will build up a decent lead by the forty-minute mark and then Tipp will call on the grit and drive that kept them in it against Limerick to stage a comeback. This match will be there to be won in the last ten minutes. At this stage Tipp, though leg weary and playing from memory, will have the experience of three tight matches to call on. This may see them through. It will be a high scoring game. Qualifiers often are.
7. Going to Thurles should hold no fears for Offaly. It’s everybody’s favourite ground and the space it provides will suit Offaly’s forwards. Remember 1998, the third of the Clare trilogy and the Birr – Clarecastle draw and replay? The only way to make those doubts go away is the tangible reward of taking the scalp of a top hurling county.
1. Offaly should approach this one as a match that HAS to be won in order to advance to the quarter final, rather than an opportunity to settle 120 year old sores with Tipperary. If they lose focus on this they will come unstuck. While challenge match form can be unreliable, the recent win over Clare is a sign of a camp in good form. The under 21’s win in Kilkenny should serve as a boost with some of the u21 forwards pushing for places.
2. Offaly should not be expecting Tipperary to wilt from the fatigue of their Limerick trilogy. If anything, Tipperary will see this as a great chance to get their year back on the road. They wouldn’t be the first county who suffered a big setback and recovered with a win over this Offaly team. Instance Limerick in Tullamore last year.
3. Still, Tipperary will have laid all their cards on the table over the course of those Limerick encounters. I can’t see them coming up with any more surprises on Saturday. Their team will pick itself, really. Any Tipperary fatigue will only come against them later in the year (perhaps at the quarter final stage). At the moment they’re in a routine of match – recovery – light puckaround - match.
4. The Offaly backs should do OK against the Tipperary attack. I would have David Franks pick up Eoin Kelly, even if Kelly hurls at full forward Conor Hernon should be well able for Corbett. It all depends on the quality of the supply from outfield. Offaly’s half back line will need to repeat the zest they displayed against Kilkenny. Ger Oakley won’t be bullied by John Carroll either.
5. I would pick Teehan to partner Murphy at midfield. A defender to complement an attacker. The Offaly half forward line is capable of winning enough ball in the air. Gary will be fine. He needs more help from Rory this time though. While Eamon Corcoran is good in the air, Derek Molloy won’t be standing back, either. The scoring forwards will need to improve. To make best use of space (and there will be plenty in Thurles Sportsfield) I would be inclined to use Brian Carroll as a roving corner forward leaving space for Bergin to run into onto a diagonal ball.
6. Nagging doubts remain about Offaly – in particular performing in the second half. I think a likely scenario is that Offaly will build up a decent lead by the forty-minute mark and then Tipp will call on the grit and drive that kept them in it against Limerick to stage a comeback. This match will be there to be won in the last ten minutes. At this stage Tipp, though leg weary and playing from memory, will have the experience of three tight matches to call on. This may see them through. It will be a high scoring game. Qualifiers often are.
7. Going to Thurles should hold no fears for Offaly. It’s everybody’s favourite ground and the space it provides will suit Offaly’s forwards. Remember 1998, the third of the Clare trilogy and the Birr – Clarecastle draw and replay? The only way to make those doubts go away is the tangible reward of taking the scalp of a top hurling county.
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Lone Shark
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I'd love to believe that this Offaly team could put their best foot forward in a crucial summer championship game, but it's so long since I've seen it now that I'm sceptical about whether it'll happen or not.
The funny thing is that for all Babs' complaints about his players, I think that they are one of the weakest panels among the big counties. Eoin Kelly obviously gives them a serious touch of class, but they are one of the few counties that Offaly would have six or seven players that would make their team. There is no reason whatsoever for us to stand off them, except for that nagging feeling that we'll just have a bad day.
The biggest thing to take advantage of from the Limerick trilogy would not be any loss of fitness in the Tipp team, but the nagging doubts that will enter their mind if they go in front. If Offaly make any kind of charge in the second half, particularly if accompanied by the intensity that Limerick brought to the table, Tipp will wobble. They've lost leads in every game now, albeit not much of a one in the third game, and unlike last year when a mentally brittle Limerick team came to Tullamore, we can't let them off the hook so easily.
Player wise, I'd say POTH has hit on most of what has to be done. I'd have faith that McIntyre will see through Cordial's "busy-ness" the last day to see how much he left Cha unmarked for easy scores. Teehan has hurled well all year and would be very hard done by if he wasn't picked.
And to top it all off, RTE have broken from their schedule to decide to broadcast Dublin and Cork - so I don't get to go.
Shout hard for me lads.
The funny thing is that for all Babs' complaints about his players, I think that they are one of the weakest panels among the big counties. Eoin Kelly obviously gives them a serious touch of class, but they are one of the few counties that Offaly would have six or seven players that would make their team. There is no reason whatsoever for us to stand off them, except for that nagging feeling that we'll just have a bad day.
The biggest thing to take advantage of from the Limerick trilogy would not be any loss of fitness in the Tipp team, but the nagging doubts that will enter their mind if they go in front. If Offaly make any kind of charge in the second half, particularly if accompanied by the intensity that Limerick brought to the table, Tipp will wobble. They've lost leads in every game now, albeit not much of a one in the third game, and unlike last year when a mentally brittle Limerick team came to Tullamore, we can't let them off the hook so easily.
Player wise, I'd say POTH has hit on most of what has to be done. I'd have faith that McIntyre will see through Cordial's "busy-ness" the last day to see how much he left Cha unmarked for easy scores. Teehan has hurled well all year and would be very hard done by if he wasn't picked.
And to top it all off, RTE have broken from their schedule to decide to broadcast Dublin and Cork - so I don't get to go.
Shout hard for me lads.
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Mighty Pair O' Hands
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Re: Hurlers
It is essential to have a reliable free taker because we do not have many natural scoring forwards from play.kinnittyman wrote: i find it hard to fathom how we can justify Murrays inclusion and Brain Carroll seriously has to get the finger out. Saturday could be his last chance for the year because Parlon and Egan are hurling very well for th U21's
The U21 semi against Kilkenny was a warning here as Bergin's wides from frees left Offaly open to a late goal from KK.
This alone justifys Murray's inclusion.
I agree that Brian Carroll's position is under serious threat from Parlon and Egan.
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kinnittyman
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The way i look at this is if we could get a free taker with a 1% influence on the game he would be a better bet than Murray because his contribution from open paly is zero. Lets be honest Diarmuid Horan could be a better option as he might offer something, anything, as Murray isnt mand he would hit the frees probably just as well as Murray.
I dont think Carrolls place is under threat from Alan Egan as he just wouldnt work in the right corner. Parlon would be a more realistic candidate for 13.
I dont think Carrolls place is under threat from Alan Egan as he just wouldnt work in the right corner. Parlon would be a more realistic candidate for 13.
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Plain of the Herbs
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"Knocknagow's" preview on Premierview.
Looks like they're not expecting too much hassle on Saturday, except from the Claffeys!
Looks like they're not expecting too much hassle on Saturday, except from the Claffeys!
Tipperary v Offaly (30/06/07) preview Knocknagow
Tipp and Offaly meet in the first round of qualifier games in Group B on Saturday next at 3.00 in Semple Stadium Thurles. A ref for the game has not been appointed yet. Tipp and Offaly last met in the 2006 League Quarter Final in Thurles, it was a high scoring free flowing game of hurling. Tipp lead 2-7 to 1-8 at the break with Eoin Kelly and Darragh Egan scoring the Tipp goals. Offaly pulled back in the second half and drew level with 15 minutes to go 2-15 to 3-12, but points from Kenny Dunne and Webster saw Tipp home by 2-21 to 3-14. One interesting aspect of that game is that of the only 6 of that starting 15 that day started last Sunday! The last Championship meeting was in the All-Ireland Quarter Finals in 2003 in Croke Park, a Brian O’Meara goal and some good Brendan Cummins save saw Tipp lead 1-8 to 0-5 at the break. John Carroll goaled for Tipp and they seemed in control as they lead 2-15 to 0-10 as the game seem to peter out, but Offaly with late goals from Gary Hannify and Neville Coughlan left Tipp hanging on for a 2-16 to 2-11 win. Again only 5 of those players started last Sunday.
Offaly have played 2 Championship match to date, firstly against Laois in the quarter final where they won comfortably 1-26 to 0-10. Offaly were always in control of the game and never looked in trouble as the booked a semi final spot against Kilkenny. The Kilkenny game was played in Portlaois 3 weeks ago and Offaly lost 1-27 to 1-13. The game was close until half time as Offaly won a 21 yard free and Damien Murray blasted past PJ Ryan as they only went in a point down at the break 0-14 to 1-10. However once Kilkenny goaled in the 57th minute through Eoin Larkin there was only going to be one winner as Kilkenny chalked up and impressive 1-13 in the second half. Offaly put it up to Kilkenny in the first half mainly though strong forceful hurling but once Kilkenny stepped it up in the second half there was only ever going to be 1 winner as Offaly faded badly. Consolation will have come to Offaly last Wednesday when their U21’s with 10 of the senior panel overcame Kilkenny in the Leinster U21 Semi final.
Tipp are now playing their 4th game in a row and will go into this game with very little build up and hype. Indeed the attention will be focused on the management as John Leahy will find out today when his 8 week ban for abusing a lineman at the drawn game will start and Babs may also be in trouble for his comments after that game as well. It remains to be seen what physical effect these games and more importantly what physiological effect the loss to Limerick will have on the Tipp mindframe. Tipp are lucky in the way that the games are falling. Home to the 2 strongest teams and away to Dublin. Also at home the first game and having Cork in the last game. While the game against Cork is not crucial the loser faces Kilkenny and the winner faces Wexford in the Quarter Final, (assuming that Wexford don’t win the Leinster Final on Sunday!)
The Tipp team will not be announced until Thursday night after training. There will be a few changes considering the exertions of the past 3 weekends. Paul Curran is fit to start and given the game to come against Cork in 2 weeks time is likely to play, although after Declan Fanning’s outstanding display last week he may have to revert to corner back. Paul Kelly will not feature. Willie Ryan who took a heavy belt just before half time in extra time and Shane McGrath who has come off injured in both of the last 2 games are both struggling to be fit. If Shane McGrath is not fit I hope that Hugh Moloney is moved to midfield, Diarmaid Fitzgerald to wing back and Curran in the corner. While High Moloney is a classy hurler he struggled at times with the Limerick half forwards as they scored well off him last week. Thomas Stapleton is also another option and would benefit for a start. I expect a few changes in the forwards with Danny O’Hanlon and Ryan O’Dwyer to start. At least 1 change has to be made in the half forward line where they were completely outplayed and physically destroyed by Limerick last Sunday. I think that Egan should be kept but only on the wing. While he doesn’t use his size he is still a great player to poach points but he needs a ball winner beside him to win the ball throw him the ball in space and he will use it.
Saturday will also be ideal for Pa Bouke to start. In his home stadium away from the glare of the media. I know he started the first day but he was physically not at the races with the stupid ball that was driven in to him. Last Sunday he came on midway through the half and with only 1 chance scored a good point. He is also another possible candidate to solve the wing forward problems. It should be remember that a despite all the doom and gloom in Tipp last week, (and there was good reason considering the inaction on the sideline during the game), that Limerick are only in the quarter final and if Tipp win the next 2 games they will also be in the quarter finals.
In order to avoid Kilkenny in the quarters Tipp have to finish top of the group they will have to win all 3 games. So on Saturday while a performance is not critical a win is a must. Nothing will be got easy off Offaly who with John McIntyre, (a Lorrha man who has been turned down as Tipp boss the past few times the job was on offer), this game represents a chance to get one over on Tipp. While Offaly will not have the same physical threat that Limerick carried the past 3 games they fairly lowered the blade to Kilkenny in the first half of the Leinster semi final and it worked as they only went on 1 point down at the break. This Tipp team has to learn to win and close out games. In the first 2 Limerick games they were leading as the game entered the closing stages and failed miserably to close out the game. Last Sunday it was Tipp who conjured up 3 points to force a scarcely deserved draw and force the game into extra time. In both extra times Tipp did not score in the second half when they had Limerick under pressure both times.
While Tipp will be shattered and confidence if they can stick with Offaly and their initial burst then Tipp should have enough hurling to pull through, although Tipp have struggled to cope with the Claffey’s in recent meetings. Offaly also have a proven scorer in Damien Murray and at the back have the imposing figure of Tipp man Ger Oakley and impressive Birr goalie Brian Mullins who pulled off a string of great saves against Kilkenny. So Tipp to just about get over the line and get back in track with a 3 point win.
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Offalys Future
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Right here is my view on Saturdays game:
While many people seem quiet optimistic about this game i would not be so confident.
In games like this individual excellence is usually the difference between the sides.
The question we have to ask is do we have players that can really take the game by the scruff of the neck and do we have a plan to stop Tipperarys Individual Excellence in Eoin Kelly.
Kelly to many of you might seem out of form, but do not forget that he is a five time allstar and has been the best forward in the country consistently for the last 5 years with the exception of Henry Shefflin.
Kelly to me is a top class forward, and singlehandly on his own could destroy Offaly on Saturday.
In the games against Limerick alot of the time he was left in a two man full forward line, where his pace was exploited against two very good defenders in Damien Reale and expecially Seamus Hickey, but you could not come away from any of the 3 games and say he hurled bad, he scored from play, setup alot of scores and won frees.
Against Limerick in the 3rd game Tipperary tried to counteract Limericks tactics and moved lar corbett out the field and isolated Kelly and Butler inside.
While i dont think Tipperarys management are very astute and made a huge blunder in allowing this to happen.
But against Offaly what happens if Corbett goes out the field again?
Whos going to be left in the 2 man full back line?
Whos going to follow Corbett?
From the start Saturday who is going to start on Eoin Kelly?
History will tell you that David Franks has done pretty well on him in any of their meetings. Will he start on Kelly wherever he is playing?
If Kelly starts full forward will Franks mark him? If so then Cleary is straight away going to be exposed on the corner by either Butler or Corbett.
If Kelly starts full on Cleary, and Corbett and Hernon go out the field then Kelly and butler will expose Cleary again in the full forward line.
If Tipp start with Corbett, Kelly, Butler and Offaly start with
Hernon, Cleary, Franks
then both Franks and Hernon are going to have their work cut out because in my opinion Lar Corbett if given half a chance wll destroy many teams.
Hernon if on butler will have to be out in front and let him know from the start whos boss. If hernon comes from behind then he will be in trouble.
What i think will happen is that kelly will start on the corner and corbett full, they will want to expose Cleary as quickly as they can.
You can only judge Offaly on their last performance, in the match against kk to me 4 of the backs hurled very well. Can they do the same this time? Will Kenny have the knowledge and experience to hold the centre and not allow carroll, Woodlock (if he starts), mcgrath and egan to run through the centre. If kevin brady picks up benny dunne will he mark him? At end of day brady might clear alot of ball, but dunne hurls loose so he needs to be tight on his man.
How will midfield go? Teehan will be out to prove a point, at midfield and half backs is where Tipperary give away most of their frees, will offaly exploit this?
Tipps full back has been hurling well, but you have to get at their weakness and that is speed.
Offaly need to expose fanning and fitzgerald and play a two man full forward line, Buckley is the quickest of the 3 take him out the field and get ball into this line.
The genral opinion is that conor o'mahony is not going good at centreback, but dont be fooled, ollie moran got his scores in fits and starts and while he did get them, o'mahony to me is a very good hurler.
Its been rumoured that we are going to have a new full forward, i wont name him but it will be a big move to make and one that i cant see paying off. If it does pay off it will have been a great move by the management. But you dont experiment with players in the most important game of the year.
Alot of pressure will be on tipperary going into this game, firstly they dont know how their players will react, secondly what they might do is revert back to 15 on 15, this could work to offalys advantage.
In normal situations i would think that we have a good chance but i just feel that we dont have the management astute enough to have a game plan or tactics to exploit tipperarys weaknesses or to counteract their positional switches.
I hope again i am proved wrong.
While many people seem quiet optimistic about this game i would not be so confident.
In games like this individual excellence is usually the difference between the sides.
The question we have to ask is do we have players that can really take the game by the scruff of the neck and do we have a plan to stop Tipperarys Individual Excellence in Eoin Kelly.
Kelly to many of you might seem out of form, but do not forget that he is a five time allstar and has been the best forward in the country consistently for the last 5 years with the exception of Henry Shefflin.
Kelly to me is a top class forward, and singlehandly on his own could destroy Offaly on Saturday.
In the games against Limerick alot of the time he was left in a two man full forward line, where his pace was exploited against two very good defenders in Damien Reale and expecially Seamus Hickey, but you could not come away from any of the 3 games and say he hurled bad, he scored from play, setup alot of scores and won frees.
Against Limerick in the 3rd game Tipperary tried to counteract Limericks tactics and moved lar corbett out the field and isolated Kelly and Butler inside.
While i dont think Tipperarys management are very astute and made a huge blunder in allowing this to happen.
But against Offaly what happens if Corbett goes out the field again?
Whos going to be left in the 2 man full back line?
Whos going to follow Corbett?
From the start Saturday who is going to start on Eoin Kelly?
History will tell you that David Franks has done pretty well on him in any of their meetings. Will he start on Kelly wherever he is playing?
If Kelly starts full forward will Franks mark him? If so then Cleary is straight away going to be exposed on the corner by either Butler or Corbett.
If Kelly starts full on Cleary, and Corbett and Hernon go out the field then Kelly and butler will expose Cleary again in the full forward line.
If Tipp start with Corbett, Kelly, Butler and Offaly start with
Hernon, Cleary, Franks
then both Franks and Hernon are going to have their work cut out because in my opinion Lar Corbett if given half a chance wll destroy many teams.
Hernon if on butler will have to be out in front and let him know from the start whos boss. If hernon comes from behind then he will be in trouble.
What i think will happen is that kelly will start on the corner and corbett full, they will want to expose Cleary as quickly as they can.
You can only judge Offaly on their last performance, in the match against kk to me 4 of the backs hurled very well. Can they do the same this time? Will Kenny have the knowledge and experience to hold the centre and not allow carroll, Woodlock (if he starts), mcgrath and egan to run through the centre. If kevin brady picks up benny dunne will he mark him? At end of day brady might clear alot of ball, but dunne hurls loose so he needs to be tight on his man.
How will midfield go? Teehan will be out to prove a point, at midfield and half backs is where Tipperary give away most of their frees, will offaly exploit this?
Tipps full back has been hurling well, but you have to get at their weakness and that is speed.
Offaly need to expose fanning and fitzgerald and play a two man full forward line, Buckley is the quickest of the 3 take him out the field and get ball into this line.
The genral opinion is that conor o'mahony is not going good at centreback, but dont be fooled, ollie moran got his scores in fits and starts and while he did get them, o'mahony to me is a very good hurler.
Its been rumoured that we are going to have a new full forward, i wont name him but it will be a big move to make and one that i cant see paying off. If it does pay off it will have been a great move by the management. But you dont experiment with players in the most important game of the year.
Alot of pressure will be on tipperary going into this game, firstly they dont know how their players will react, secondly what they might do is revert back to 15 on 15, this could work to offalys advantage.
In normal situations i would think that we have a good chance but i just feel that we dont have the management astute enough to have a game plan or tactics to exploit tipperarys weaknesses or to counteract their positional switches.
I hope again i am proved wrong.
" In The Presence Of Confidence Doubt Cannot Exist "
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Lone Shark
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You'd like to think that if Tipp do try and pull one of the inside three out that Offaly have the cop on to let him off, maybe just dropping Rory H a bit deeper to offer the midfield a bit of cover in general play (i.e. not puckouts). A bit of sense from the midfield in not charging forward at every opportunity (read: Cordial not buzzing around like a fly with no particular sense of direction) and I'd let Butler/Corbett off out there. I'd say that our management would be clever enough to make sure that Cleary has a man either side of him at all times, and if Tipp want to try and beat us by taking pot shots from 80 yards out, then so be it. We have a lot better chance that way than if we concede goals.
Kenny will hold - the key will be not to let Carroll get a run up. Carroll is unusual in wing forward runners in that he likes to take the path of most resistance through the middle rather than rounding his man and cutting in after he's beaten him, so the danger will be that he'll draw Kenny over to him after getting past Ger, leaving Darragh Egan free. Ger has to stamp his authority on the game fairly sharpish, so to speak. If Carroll doesn't knock his man over inside the first five minutes he gets a little distracted - Ger standing his ground could throw him off his game.
Kenny will hold - the key will be not to let Carroll get a run up. Carroll is unusual in wing forward runners in that he likes to take the path of most resistance through the middle rather than rounding his man and cutting in after he's beaten him, so the danger will be that he'll draw Kenny over to him after getting past Ger, leaving Darragh Egan free. Ger has to stamp his authority on the game fairly sharpish, so to speak. If Carroll doesn't knock his man over inside the first five minutes he gets a little distracted - Ger standing his ground could throw him off his game.
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Offalys Future
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you would think that alright that they would leave 3 in the full back line but two things then
If Tipp have a spare man out the field Offaly will have to counteract this? Has this been talked about? - time will tell
Secondly against Limerick when Corbett went out the field the Limerick two backs did pretty well considering.
If franks and hernon were left with kelly and butler i would have alot of confidence in them, but Offaly have to facilate Cleary so they cant do this.
If Tipp have a spare man out the field Offaly will have to counteract this? Has this been talked about? - time will tell
Secondly against Limerick when Corbett went out the field the Limerick two backs did pretty well considering.
If franks and hernon were left with kelly and butler i would have alot of confidence in them, but Offaly have to facilate Cleary so they cant do this.
" In The Presence Of Confidence Doubt Cannot Exist "
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Lone Shark
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True, but you could flip that and say that if Cleary wasn't on the team, then Tipp can just throw in Danny O'Hanlon on the edge of the square and revert to a three man full forward line.Offalys Future wrote:you would think that alright that they would leave 3 in the full back line but two things then
If Tipp have a spare man out the field Offaly will have to counteract this? Has this been talked about? - time will tell
Secondly against Limerick when Corbett went out the field the Limerick two backs did pretty well considering.
If franks and hernon were left with kelly and butler i would have alot of confidence in them, but Offaly have to facilate Cleary so they cant do this.
The benefit for most teams of a two man full forward line is the space it leaves. Offaly leaving three men back there negates that. It gives Tipp more ball out the field but leaves us less open to man over situations which could easily arise with the likes of Carroll running at us. All in all I'd be happy with that overall balance.
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Offalys Future
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Would Cleary be able to follow a man out the field and play as an auxilliary half back or centre fielder. I'd personally just leave him hanging around sweeping in front of the other two, like Kilkenny did when we move Brian Carroll back to midfield/half back.
And Offaly's Future
And Offaly's Future
Q'uelle SurpriseWhile many people seem quiet optimistic about this game i would not be so confident.
Shane Gavin. Signed out of respect for players and all involved with Offaly.
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Bord na Mona man
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When Offaly have met Tipp in the last few years, Eoin Kelly has never made hay against us. He's never had to, as Tipp have been fleecing Offaly on the half forward line and midfield. The likes of Mark O'Leary, Brian O'Meara and John Carroll have spent whole matches taking uncontested pots at the Offaly goal from out the field. Luckily in games like the 2002 qualifier and last year's league quarter final, Tipp's long range shooting yielded a ridiculously high wide count.
Tipp mightn't be playing particularly well, but I'd see them creating enough chances from puck outs and better break winning to give them a good platform. Offaly will work very hard and force every score, but that's hard to do that for 70 minutes. My fear would be that the first half against Kilkenny was all Offaly had in the tank and the players will find it hard to lift themselves to that level again. Hopefully that's not the case and Offaly have ratcheted their intensity up a notch.
Tipp mightn't be playing particularly well, but I'd see them creating enough chances from puck outs and better break winning to give them a good platform. Offaly will work very hard and force every score, but that's hard to do that for 70 minutes. My fear would be that the first half against Kilkenny was all Offaly had in the tank and the players will find it hard to lift themselves to that level again. Hopefully that's not the case and Offaly have ratcheted their intensity up a notch.
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Offalys Future
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Plain of the Herbs
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Some final thoughts:
Some final thoughts:
T – 21 hours.
I watched the third instalment of the Limerick / Tipperary saga on Setanta last night. While it was tough, the standard of hurling was poor, understandably I suppose due to the tension and what was at stake.
The full back line is the best line on the Tipperary team. All three are good hurlers and can defend resolutely. It isn’t a line I’d go targeting or anything like that. Brian Carroll must gt out in front of his man. Their half back line got it tough. Then again, the half forward line was where Limerick did best where the two Morans and Mike O’Brien were dominant. Any good ball into the full forward line from this sector was delivered in by Hugh Moloney.
James Woodlock looked the best of the midfielders. He seems to cover the ground while Shane McGrath holds the centre. I would go with Barry Teehan picking up Woodlock here.
Their half forward line don’t attempt to catch much ball. I’d say John Carroll only caught one puck out the whole match. But they are good at contesting the breaking ball. The full forward line, as we know, is a dangerous unit. Seamus Butler, at 13, looked lively and is able to take a score. Offaly might need the watchful eye of David Franks to pick him up. Corbett will run outfield to get space where he can turn onto his right side. If Conor Hernon is aware of this he should be OK. Eoin Kelly, as well as being the star player, is also the grafter up front, who is distributing more than he did. Given the scoring threat from Butler, I’d start Paul Cleary on Kelly and see how it goes. Cleary is still good on the ground; it’s in the air where he struggles. As always, defenders should avoid rushing in to help out the man in trouble, leaving a loose man available for a pass.
I see Michael Haverty is the appointed official. As we know, Haverty is exact on the ‘tackle from behind’ flicking the ball away from an opponent. Again, Offaly will need to be aware of this.
While I’ve a good feeling about this, as has been said previously, that feeling is clouded by those doubts over whether this Offaly team can keep the pace of the game throughout. All fifteen will need to make a telling contribution and Tom Semple’s field on Saturday is as good a place as ever to start. It’ll all come down to the last five minutes, plus the three minutes added on time.
Most important of all, a safe journey to all faithful followers who are making the trip on Saturday.
T – 21 hours.
I watched the third instalment of the Limerick / Tipperary saga on Setanta last night. While it was tough, the standard of hurling was poor, understandably I suppose due to the tension and what was at stake.
The full back line is the best line on the Tipperary team. All three are good hurlers and can defend resolutely. It isn’t a line I’d go targeting or anything like that. Brian Carroll must gt out in front of his man. Their half back line got it tough. Then again, the half forward line was where Limerick did best where the two Morans and Mike O’Brien were dominant. Any good ball into the full forward line from this sector was delivered in by Hugh Moloney.
James Woodlock looked the best of the midfielders. He seems to cover the ground while Shane McGrath holds the centre. I would go with Barry Teehan picking up Woodlock here.
Their half forward line don’t attempt to catch much ball. I’d say John Carroll only caught one puck out the whole match. But they are good at contesting the breaking ball. The full forward line, as we know, is a dangerous unit. Seamus Butler, at 13, looked lively and is able to take a score. Offaly might need the watchful eye of David Franks to pick him up. Corbett will run outfield to get space where he can turn onto his right side. If Conor Hernon is aware of this he should be OK. Eoin Kelly, as well as being the star player, is also the grafter up front, who is distributing more than he did. Given the scoring threat from Butler, I’d start Paul Cleary on Kelly and see how it goes. Cleary is still good on the ground; it’s in the air where he struggles. As always, defenders should avoid rushing in to help out the man in trouble, leaving a loose man available for a pass.
I see Michael Haverty is the appointed official. As we know, Haverty is exact on the ‘tackle from behind’ flicking the ball away from an opponent. Again, Offaly will need to be aware of this.
While I’ve a good feeling about this, as has been said previously, that feeling is clouded by those doubts over whether this Offaly team can keep the pace of the game throughout. All fifteen will need to make a telling contribution and Tom Semple’s field on Saturday is as good a place as ever to start. It’ll all come down to the last five minutes, plus the three minutes added on time.
Most important of all, a safe journey to all faithful followers who are making the trip on Saturday.