www.uibhfhaili.com

A lot has been made of the appointment of Joe Dooley and the development of hurling in the county. None more so than myself have given my opinion. At this stage I would just like to report back on how I feel things have if at all moved forward.

The seniors seem to be going well, they trained a bit over the xmas. Joe Dooley has organised things correctly which is a 100% improvement on the last 3 years.
Time will tell if he is capable of managing the senior team but he has gone about things in the right way. My own opinion is that he isnt and wont be able to when championship time comes along.
The league will tell a lot, not results but performances. He needs to have at least 12 of the starting 15 in place by half way point in the league.
At this point in time I think they will struggle big time in the league for results, but if he can get a settled team and they are hurling well then that would be great.
The league is about preparing for the championship. Last year everyone was getting excited because Offaly bet waterford in the last game of the league, but Waterford were already through and trained 3 times that week. They were preparing for the championship while Offaly were going flat out for the league.

One thing I would be afraid of is that if Dooley goes flat out for the league and they don’t perform or even get to a league semi final and get hammered by Kilkenny/Galway or Cork then what state does that leave the team for the championship?
Not in a very good 1. Again all if's and but's at moment but that’s all it can be.

I'm glad for the players that they are getting an opportunity to train correctly this year, at intercounty senior level that is the very very least that should be happening. I hope they put the work in over the next few months. A united team and a team working for the one goal can achieve a lot. Limerick last year is as good example as you can get.

Moving Forward? Yes but so are the majority of the other counties. The big question really is are we moving fast enough?

Interesting times ahead that’s for sure.

Hi OF,

Thanks for the perspective here.

Interested in one of your comments there ... 'Joe Dooley has organised things correctly which is a 100% improvement on the last 3 years.'

Can you elaborate on the types of things you feel have changed from the last regime? I am removed from the scene and would be interested in any contrast you can paint.

Agree with performances vs results.

In regards to: 'One thing I would be afraid of is that if Dooley goes flat out for the league and they don’t perform or even get to a league semi final and get hammered by Kilkenny/Galway or Cork then what state does that leave the team for the championship?
Not in a very good 1. Again all if's and but's at moment but that’s all it can be.'

The manager needs to build up the group psyche to the point where the 'hammering' (should it come) has no relevance whatsoever on the outlook and approach of the members of the team the next day out and any day thereafter. The road back to respectability will be a long one and the path will not be straight. We will most likely need to run the gauntlet of a few beatings along the way. Having the fortitude to withstand the setbacks (should they come) will allow the plan to continue forward without collapsing unnecessarily. Here's hoping we've got and cultivate the stubborn, never say die - chip on the shoulder types ready to see this thing through.

Kevin wrote:
The manager needs to build up the group psyche to the point where the 'hammering' (should it come) has no relevance whatsoever on the outlook and approach of the members of the team the next day out and any day thereafter. The road back to respectability will be a long one and the path will not be straight. We will most likely need to run the gauntlet of a few beatings along the way. Having the fortitude to withstand the setbacks (should they come) will allow the plan to continue forward without collapsing unnecessarily. Here's hoping we've got and cultivate the stubborn, never say die - chip on the shoulder types ready to see this thing through.

What he has to do here is change the whole mentality of 30 players plus 10 Birr players that arent around until March.
It would really take a great manager and a strong character to do that. Something like that cant be achieved in a few months.

So not a minute to waste...

No matter how long it takes, it must be done.

OF,

You say that curent preparations are going well.

Who is on the panel of 30? Any fall offs yet or new additions?

Who is in chrge of training the team - is Dooley doing it himself?

How often are they training at the moment?

Hopefully we will be set ok for the league this year.

Team training twice a week, few challenge games lined up at the moment.
Not much else to say, best to just let them get on with it for the next month and half and see how they are fixed for the league opener against Tipp