Plenty of hope and no small measure of optimism
OFFALY football supporters have in general become a pessimistic lot in recent years. Since the heights of a Leinster Final appearance in 2006, there has been precious little to cheer with a year in Division 4 and a stint in the Tommy Murphy Cup doing little to buoy the spirits.
The most pessimistic are looking ahead to Offaly's National Football League campaign this year simply hoping that the team will pick up the six or so points that will be needed to stave off relegation from Division 3.
However the optimists, and there are markedly fewer of that species in the stands, are looking at a fixture list in the belief that the team can go one step further than last year and gain promotion this time around.
And the hope that Tom Cribbin's side can finish in the top two is not simply because the view from behind green, white and gold coloured spectacles as there is certainly a solid foundation for the belief that the 2010 team will be able to move Offaly football back in the right direction.
In the last five years, Offaly minor teams have reached three Leinster Finals ('05,' 06 and '08) while the '07 and '09 teams were unlucky to fall at the semi-final stage. In 2007, Offaly also reached a Leinster Under 21 Final.
That kind of a production line in recent years is the envy of many counties and there is little doubt that the potential is there within the county to field a team able to compete at this and higher levels.
In recent years there has been a trickle of younger talent into the senior team but it looks this year as if Tom Cribbin will open the taps a little bit more to give more younger players a chance. The Under 21s were held out of the two O'Byrne Cup games as they prepare for their own Leinster Championship campaign but there is every indication that at least some of them will be involved this weekend.
Speaking this week manager Tom Cribbin gave a strong indication that two players, Sean Pender and Brian Connor, are in line for a start. Other players that have already emerged from the crop of the last five years are Niall Smith and Ken Casey who now firmly establishing themselves as starters. A lot of pressure was heaped on St Brigid's star Casey as he emerged from the minor ranks but he is now showing his true potential and will be a key contributor in the league. Smith is probably the top midfielder in the county and his fielding ability will be key with the introduction of the new mark rule from kick outs.
Among the injured players unavailable this week are the Darby brothers, Brian and Niall as well as PJ Ward. Ward showed well in the qualifiers last year against Wexford at full-forward and his physical presence at the edge of the square will be missed.
Fermanagh are first team this Sunday in what could be one of the more difficult and physically demanding assignments of the campaign. The Ulster side have had four tough games in preparation for the start of the league through the McKenna Cup. They defeated Monaghan, UUJ and Armagh before succumbing to Tyrone at the semi-final stage. Meanwhile Offaly have had what amounted to a training session against Kilkenny and just one tough game against DCU.
In terms of match sharpness Fermanagh may be a step ahead and it will be key that Offaly hold there own in the opening exchanges.
When the sides last met, both were in Division 1 and Offaly won a thoroughly entertaining game by 4-13 to 2-12. This Sunday's game is unlikely to reach those high scoring standards but Offaly should have enough to come away with a win.
Two points this Sunday would set them up perfectly for the campaign ahead and with three more eminently winnable home games ahead, might get some of the pessimists believing that promotion might not be such a pipe dream after all.
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Weather for Tullamore
Wednesday 23 May 2012
Today
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