Dooley heartened by work rate
OFFALY manager Joe Dooley praised the work rate and commitment of his young charges after they got the better of Kilkenny in Sunday's Walsh Cup quarter-final.
Alan Walsh reports
"Any day you beat Kilkenny is a good day, particularly the way we did it. We didn't drop the heads or throw in the towel at any stage. We were behind for a lot of the game and it was the same against DIT. We fought for the seventy-five minutes and got there in the end. That's something we are working on.
"Yes, Kilkenny were short a lot of lads. At the same time about 12 of the 15 probably have All-Ireland medals in their back pockets," explained the satisfied 1985, '94 & '98 All-Ireland medal winner.
Joe told the assembled media, "We are delighted with the win. It is a great start to the year. If Kilkenny had a full team it might have been a different story but at the same time, psychologically, it is nice to win. Any day you beat Kilkenny, Cork or Tipp or any of the top teams is good for teams like Offaly that are trying to get up the ladder."
Offaly face Galway next Saturday in the semi-final and while it was the first time since '98, the 'Faithful' got the better of Kilkenny at senior level, Joe wasn't getting carried away either.
"It's only January still. We have to start somewhere. If we had lost by a point it wouldn't have been the end of the world. It's the performances you are looking for and the work rate over seventy minutes. In fairness to the lads they worked hard. It gives us another big game next weekend as well."
Offaly resumed training on January 3 and Joe commented, "We haven't much done. In the first couple of weeks it was very frosty but lads are doing their own programmes, as I'm sure they were in other counties. Collectively we only got back in January. It is encouraging. We have a lot of young lads and they are enjoying their hurling."
Joe explained that Diarmuid Horan and David Kenny were playing with DCU and UCD, respectively, and that five players featured with UL three times in the previous seven days.
"We also have a few lads with injuries. We have thirty on the panel and everybody (that is fit) got a game either today or yesterday so that is the important thing."
Offaly started tentatively and dropped a lot of shots short before they grew into the game. Joe agreed but said this was understandable and he credited the new players for stepping up to the plate positively.
"It took us a while to settle. We are training hard at the minute. For some of the lads it was their first game of the year. They didn't even play challenge games so it is understandable that their first touch might not be that great. We are trying different lads and trying out things. We were short the UL lads and David Kenny, David Franks and Brendan Murphy.
"It is giving other lads a chance to make a name for themselves and in fairness they are stepping up to the plate. It is early days yet and I wouldn't read too much into it but it's a boost for us. We are working hard to try and get back up there and a win against Kilkenny is a lift for everyone on the panel."
Kilkenny boss Brian Cody admitted he was disappointed but added that the attitude of his players impressed him.
"I am happy enough with the way we went for most of the game. Obviously Offaly came strong at the end. We are just looking at lads, trying to open up the panel and look at players to see how they go in a competitive game. Offaly had a lot of new lads as well. We would have learned a few things for sure.
"Obviously we put ourselves in a position where we could win the game and didn't. You will always be disappointed when you don't win but I was happy with the attitude of the players."
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Wednesday 23 May 2012
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