“Offaly need help” Loughnane

cms88

Ger Loughnane think Offaly will disappear from the hurling map completely if the GAA doesn’t intervene.

I dont understand this. When they were in the play off with Kerry two years ago it was a great result when they won because hurling apparently ''needs'' them, Why? Kerry, Westmeath and Carlow for eaxmple have put in huge work over the last few years so why shouldn't they get more funding? Why just because Offaly were once a top team be helped out when they clearly dont seem to be putting in the work. I would also have Antrim in this category.

Why do we have to have a ''strong Offaly or Antrim when it could be Westmeath or Kerry?

https://thegaelicgame.wordpress.com/2016/05/02/offaly-need-help-loughnane/

LeinsterDub

Once again the myth is reiterated that Dublin just got a bucket of money and everything was gravy. Dublin had a plan which the had already begun to put in place but the money came along. Offaly and Antrim have no plans for hurling.

nice_guy80

LeinsterDub - you are wrong on that one. They were promise funding by Bertie and the plan was put together.
Every county has looked for more funding with their own plans. Westmeath got 40,000 last year. That wouldn't cover costs for one coach for a year.

rebel girl 15

But do Offaly even have the plans?? Kilkenny didn't get huge amounts of funding, but look what they did after the put their plan in place in 1998!

Underage is where is starts, not a guarantee of success but it goes a long way!

corny

The question that Ger didn't ask or answer was will money help. The DublinCB have proven they have their **** together. I'm not qualified to comment on the structures within Offaly but any person i've ever talked to from there has left me in no doubt things are hardly in order.

I'm all in favour of not letting Offaly fall off the map but i wouldn't sign a check book without asking a few questions first.

rebel girl 15

corny wrote: »

The question that Ger didn't ask or answer was will money help. The DublinCB have proven they have their **** together. I'm not qualified to comment on the structures within Offaly but any person i've ever talked to from there has left me in no doubt things are hardly in order.

I'm all in favour of not letting Offaly fall off the map but i wouldn't sign a check book without asking a few questions first.

From my knowledge, I don't think it is a case of signing a check book. It would be a case of Offaly invoicing the GAA, or something along those lines. The GAA could provide funding for more schools coaches, look top down and bottom up. Money certainly would help, but not chucked for the sake of throwing it.

Dirty Dingus McGee

The real problem is that Offaly is a small county and had been poor at both codes for most of it's existence but seemed to get lucky whereby almost every top class player the county produced were all born within 20 years of each other and thus in both codes we had around 20 years of success 1960-1982 in Football and 1980 - 2000 in hurling and outside of those 2 periods we have been in the main quiet poor in both codes.

The idea that Offaly are one of the sports big boys and should be automatically challenging each year is only based on a small amount of our history.Offaly has a small population split between 2 codes and unfortunately no amount of money from Croke Park can change that.

It will be very difficult for us to get close to the success of the 80's and 90's again regardless of the investment put into hurling in Offaly and I think people need to have more realistic expectations.Why should Offaly be automatically better than Westmeath, just because it was that way in the past doesn't mean it will be that way in the future and I'm not sure Offaly need any more help that any other county.

Hesh's Umpire

Dirty Dingus McGee wrote: »

The real problem is that Offaly is a small county and had been poor at both codes for most of it's existence but seemed to get lucky whereby almost every top class player the county produced were all born within 20 years of each other and thus in both codes we had around 20 years of success 1960-1982 in Football and 1980 - 2000 in hurling and outside of those 2 periods we have been in the main quiet poor in both codes.

The idea that Offaly are one of the sports big boys and should be automatically challenging each year is only based on a small amount of our history.Offaly has a small population split between 2 codes and unfortunately no amount of money from Croke Park can change that.

It will be very difficult for us to get close to the success of the 80's and 90's again regardless of the investment put into hurling in Offaly and I think people need to have more realistic expectations.Why should Offaly be automatically better than Westmeath, just because it was that way in the past doesn't mean it will be that way in the future and I'm not sure Offaly need any more help that any other county.

Well explained. What Offaly achieved in the 70's, 80's and 90's was freakish. Will they ever do it again? Not sure but to have been around for it (even as a Laoisman!) was memorable.

nice_guy80

With a realistic well structured plan in place, with financial backing and with the right people involved it can only improve things.

I would have thought all counties needed a development plan at this stage, especially as the likes of Leinster council pay for many of the coaches around the counties

theoneeyedman

Hesh's Umpire wrote: »

Well explained. What Offaly achieved in the 70's, 80's and 90's was freakish. Will they ever do it again? Not sure but to have been around for it (even as a Laoisman!) was memorable.

A few families and Bord Na Mona /ESB providing big employment keeping lads in the area drove most of the success, and they made the most of it at the time

LeinsterDub

nice_guy80 wrote: »

LeinsterDub - you are wrong on that one.

The grant started in 2005

http://www.independent.ie/sport/hurling/dublin-answer-6m-question-26759948.html

It was one of his priorities to nourish hurling when he came into office in 2003 and he immediately set up a high-powered Hurling Development Committee that included such figures as Liam Griffin and Ger Loughnane

CrabRevolution

I don't really understand why only Offaly should be given a push. If Offaly, Kerry and Westmeath are currently around the same level, why should Offaly be the only county to get a leg up?

Hurling doesnt "need" a strong Offaly any more than it needs a strong Meath or Leitrim. If Offaly's decline is a "shame", is it not a much bigger shame that Westmeath or Carlow have never even been remotely close to AI success?

rpurfield

It's not nice to see how Offaly have fallen in both codes but why would they be singled out for funding? Antrim and Wexford have fallen back as well in hurling terms and you have a block of counties coming forward a bit too like Westmeath and Kerry to name two. From my own point of view I'd rather see money go to counties with a definite plan, in both codes, rather than just be thrown at a county because of their tradition. Dublin might have been well funded but they obviously had a plan because you can see results.

cms88

CrabRevolution wrote: »

I don't really understand why only Offaly should be given a push. If Offaly, Kerry and Westmeath are currently around the same level, why should Offaly be the only county to get a leg up?

Hurling doesnt "need" a strong Offaly any more than it needs a strong Meath or Leitrim. If Offaly's decline is a "shame", is it not a much bigger shame that Westmeath or Carlow have never even been remotely close to AI success?

Its actually an insult to the likes of Kerry and Carlow to say that because they are now better than Offaly that Offaly should be given help.

corny

Dirty Dingus McGee wrote: »

The real problem is that Offaly is a small county and had been poor at both codes for most of it's existence but seemed to get lucky whereby almost every top class player the county produced were all born within 20 years of each other and thus in both codes we had around 20 years of success 1960-1982 in Football and 1980 - 2000 in hurling and outside of those 2 periods we have been in the main quiet poor in both codes

Cumulatively 40 years is a long time. It shouldn't be dismissed as an aberration.

Also, i'm not one for players being 'born' or having such an innate gift that it can't be replicated. I'm sure you have 15 young lads in most counties you could mould into a good team, big population or not. Development plays a key (too often underestimated imo) role in the finished article.

The current generation are being short changed by the work behind the scenes. Its not that there's no Brian Whelahans being born they're not being developed. With the right work and funding 10-15 years they could easily repeat the achievements of yesteryear. Whether they deserve that treatment is of course up for debate.

blue note

cms88 wrote: »

Its actually an insult to the likes of Kerry and Carlow to say that because they are now better than Offaly that Offaly should be given help.

I'd be furious if I was kerry or carlow or Westmearh, but I can see value in giving offaly special attention. There is still interest in hurling in the county and if you got some structure in place they could be competitive again. You can say it's their own fault and let hurling rot in the county, but you'd probably get a big return from an investment there relative to most places.

PressRun

Daithi Regan just laid into the Offaly county board and the players on Off The Ball.

tcrilly52

Its no reflection of every Offaly man but I always seem to meet the bad eggs who jeer the other counties e.g Laois and Tipperary for Being Sh!t and for not being able to beat Kilkenny on a constant basis respectfully. There seems to be a sense of entitlement to just win because they are Offaly. Now Its a great county with lovely towns like Birr but they have been sliding in Hurling for a long long time, Brian Whelehan is simply one of the best of all time but they must be doing something wrong in the development of underage as Laois and Westmeth are years ahead of them in terms of underage structure considering they have less of a pick, not taking away the minor win recently but this cry for help will only be mismanaged by Offaly men in the county board who have tried, tested and failed for so many years

nice_guy80

9 years ago you were able to get challenge games against a range of clubs in north offaly

most of those clubs are no longer playing hurling
what does that tell you about the county?

toxicity234

A few things form my point of view.

Offaly 2 years ago there was Stage one of the recovery.
http://m.hoganstand.com/Home/Details/224051?county=National
That was 15 Aug 2014.
The idea that over 200 people turned up each night for 4 nights and the county board never followed up with stage Two and still haven't done the final report for there programme of recovery.
Half arsed is the best description of this.

We're a small county, We don't have a huge amount of hurlers so when we lose one it's a huge loss. The manager the county board have been appointing have been in response to the hurlers we had in the late 90's. a group of happy go lucky, Love to hurl but love to party. The mangers appointed have been coming to discipline the group of hurler we have at the moment who are not a party and drinking mad men.

The managers see players whose life is in the way of there training as lack of commitment. It’s bullsiht. We can't afford to let lads mess around with training but equal we can’t afford to let lads miss out of work and miss out of family life by forced them to driving for hours 4 or 5 days of the week in winter to trying and get into a panel and these lad are bollix for game at the weekend cause there doing so much driving.

Again we can’t be missing 14 or 15 of the best hurlers because the commitment required is impossible for them. Winter training especially with the hurlers we have at the moment can be done close to the players home as possible. Some players were driving for hours to do yoga this year. Yoga a great idea but it can be done in a players front room and the manager can you there xbox profile to keep track of the players progress. Then they can do two night of yoga from home and get much more value out of it. But in Offaly if you not will to driving your life away you’re not committed.

Development Squad in Offaly are sending out the wrong message. Most Development Squad is about taking good hurler in the county to get them to the next level. In Offaly the message when you get to Development squad in Offaly the message is the club are not production hurler so was trying to develop them. This message is pushed by local media as well. If you’re a good hurler in Offaly all you hear from County board and local media is that you’re useless. The problems grows and grows when you send out that message. Talking to lad in the development squad u-14 and u-15 there development is running up hill and hand passing.

Which bring up back to point one.
Getting a great coach and ignoring what he tell you.

That my 2 cent of what it worth.
From a huge Offaly hurling fan. Who goes to any Offaly game I can, Club or county. Underage or otherwise.

Dirty Dingus McGee

corny wrote: »

Cumulatively 40 years is a long time. It shouldn't be dismissed as an aberration.

Also, i'm not one for players being 'born' or having such an innate gift that it can't be replicated. I'm sure you have 15 young lads in most counties you could mould into a good team, big population or not. Development plays a key (too often underestimated imo) role in the finished article.

The current generation are being short changed by the work behind the scenes. Its not that there's no Brian Whelahans being born they're not being developed. With the right work and funding 10-15 years they could easily repeat the achievements of yesteryear. Whether they deserve that treatment is of course up for debate.

There is no doubt the underage has been poor for a long while and we are not up to standard in that regard but I don't think we would necessarily be back as all ireland contenders , we should be a bit better but I wouldn't fancy regardless of what good work at underage could be done that we could get back to our previous heights.

Bonniedog

PressRun wrote: »

Daithi Regan just laid into the Offaly county board and the players on Off The Ball.

I mentioned Regan before about some of the decisions they've made about money and whatever. Cork not be too different on the top level of funding. All vanity projects.

Now, as a Dub there are no doubt people who'll say its all very well for us to say, but per capita our funding is on same level as the rest.

Its what you do with it. DCB could have spent a whack of money doing up Parnell but instead put it into the clubs and coaching.

Realt Dearg Sec

Bonniedog wrote: »

I mentioned Regan before about some of the decisions they've made about money and whatever. Cork not be too different on the top level of funding. All vanity projects.

Now, as a Dub there are no doubt people who'll say its all very well for us to say, but per capita our funding is on same level as the rest.

Its what you do with it. DCB could have spent a whack of money doing up Parnell but instead put it into the clubs and coaching.

Sure why bother, when ye have the free run of croker? *runs away grinning*

Tombo2001

I think there is a lot of affection for Offaly in GAA circles as its a county that didn't follow the script.

If you are looking for a 'Leicester' moment in GAA history then its 1982 and the Darby goal. In Matt Connor, I couldn't say if they had the greatest ever footballer, but for a lot of people of my generation, he was/is their favourite to have played the game. In hurling they were the team with the never say die attitude in the 1990s; and the romance of being the dual county in the 1980s with Liam Currams winning alternative medals in 1981 and 1982.

I think its because of the affection people have for the county and its legacy that a lot of people outside the county would love to see them doing well, especially in hurling - though to be honest probably the Leinster football championship is more in need of strong competitors than the hurling.

I don't think its a question of Hurling needs a strong Offaly - more that because of the legacy, people would like to see them do well.

blue note

Tombo2001 wrote: »

If you are looking for a 'Leicester' moment in GAA history then its 1982 and the Darby goal.

Ah here, think that's doing a disservice to that Offaly team! The were runners up the year before, by all accounts a very good team. Not one that survived relegation like Leicester. If they won the all Ireland this year it would be similar to Leicester!

nice_guy80

That 1997 Offaly football team was great to watch. Vinnie Claffey!

I hate Dubs using 'per capita' funding as an argument.
Rural counties are a lot different to Dublin.
Dublin have had to spend very little on facilities - use DCU and UCD and now the national GAA centre.
A much higher % of rural counties play GAA and so their funding should reflect this.
Smaller clubs with much less financial resources
Smaller schools

Dirty Dingus McGee

nice_guy80 wrote: »

That 1997 Offaly football team was great to watch. Vinnie Claffey!

Claffey was pure class, he was 33 in 97 and he played until he was 40.

The full forward line in the 97 final scored 3-8

Roy Malone scored 2 great goals that day as well and Peter Brady got 3 points.

From 97-06 we had quiet a good team but we were very unlucky at times during that period but I always fancied we could get to a Leinster final every year in that period. We've been absolutely dreadful since then but that era showed to me that winning isn't everything and that team being competitive is the main thing and that's what we should be striving for in both codes.

nice_guy80

Dirty Dingus McGee wrote: »

Claffey was pure class, he was 33 in 97 and he played until he was 40.

The full forward line in the 97 final scored 3-8

Roy Malone scored 2 great goals that day as well and Peter Brady got 3 points.

From 97-06 we had quiet a good team but we were very unlucky at times during that period but I always fancied we could get to a Leinster final every year in that period. We've been absolutely dreadful since then but that era showed to me that winning isn't everything and that team being competitive is the main thing and that's what we should be striving for in both codes.

the old school Offaly jerseys are class

the Nutron Diet!!

Bonniedog

nice_guy80 wrote: »

That 1997 Offaly football team was great to watch. Vinnie Claffey!

I hate Dubs using 'per capita' funding as an argument.
Rural counties are a lot different to Dublin.
Dublin have had to spend very little on facilities - use DCU and UCD and now the national GAA centre.
A much higher % of rural counties play GAA and so their funding should reflect this.
Smaller clubs with much less financial resources
Smaller schools

Whinge, whinge whinge....


This is like the 1916 thing.

"Oh. we'd have done this and fkn that if only this and fkn that had happened..."


Well, we did, and do.

Realt Dearg Sec

Bonniedog wrote: »

Whinge, whinge whinge....


This is like the 1916 thing.

"Oh. we'd have done this and fkn that if only this and fkn that had happened..."


Well, we did, and do.

After listening to the thread about Dublin having to play in Kilkenny, it's a bit rich listening to ye complaining about others whinging at this stage.

Bonniedog

Realt Dearg Sec wrote: »

After listening to the thread about Dublin having to play in Kilkenny, it's a bit rich listening to ye complaining about others whinging at this stage.

Of course you will produce evidence of me or any other Dublin regular posters complaining about that, won't you

Realt Dearg Sec

Bonniedog wrote: »

Of course you will produce evidence of me or any other Dublin regular posters complaining about that, won't you

Yeah, look at the thread! Lads complaining about public transport, hotels, whatever you're having the dubs are complaining about it. On yer own thread ye have it down to such a fine art that you disguise it as taking the mick out of the red necks for daring to suggest that ye might be whinging a bit much.

Bonniedog

Realt Dearg Sec wrote: »

Yeah, look at the thread! Lads complaining about public transport, hotels, whatever you're having the dubs are complaining about it. On yer own thread ye have it down to such a fine art that you disguise it as taking the mick out of the red necks for daring to suggest that ye might be whinging a bit much.

Put it up Realt Dearg. Produce the evidence

Only references to the footballers playing in Kilkenny I've seen were about looking forward to it.

I've been down lots of times and only once in 40 years seen us beat you, but always enjoy it. Either be in O'Loughlins or the Park Inn.

and never heard a Cat whinge about anything

Realt Dearg Sec

Bonniedog wrote: »

Put it up Realt Dearg. Produce the evidence

Only references to the footballers playing in Kilkenny I've seen were about looking forward to it.

I've been down lots of times and only once in 40 years seen us beat you, but always enjoy it. Either be in O'Loughlins or the Park Inn.

and never heard a Cat whinge about anything

When we do it it's called registering substandard arrangements.

When ye do it it's whinging.

Bonniedog

Ha ha!

Baseball over so hitting the hay.

I shall never accuse another rural dweller of being a whinger ever again - even a Rathgar hurler (coming up here, trying to win our junior e championship :-)

Realt Dearg Sec

Bonniedog wrote: »

Ha ha!

Baseball over so hitting the hay.

I shall never accuse another rural dweller of being a whinger ever again - even a Rathgar hurler (coming up here, trying to win our junior e championship :-)

Well I still reserve the right to complain about the soft Dublin referees.

Bonniedog

Realt Dearg Sec wrote: »

Well I still reserve the right to complain about the soft Dublin referees.

Some of them are ridiculous in fairness.

Am convinced that reason we will never win All Ireland is that Dublin club hurling is way below the standard of probably ten other counties, including Antrim, Wex, Offaly and maybe even Laois.

Poor officiating is one reason. Dub players only play the game at a serious level when they are on county panels.

toxicity234

http://www.irishmirror.ie/sport/gaa/offaly-county-board-under-fire-7935236

14 Months collection dust. the recovery plan for Offaly hurling.

another day another mess.

from the same men that brought you.

http://www.irishmirror.ie/sport/gaa/offaly-county-board-botches-appointment-6868476


Document was sent to the local media from a e-mail address:
"Bizarrely the 'whistleblower' claimed to be Ger Loughnane, though we've verified he is not the source"
"The contents of the review and other documentation found their way to local media last week and a management meeting was called tonight"

This is the only reason it be put out at tonight meeting.
It just show the power the local media have to do both good and bad and the responsible they have.

Oasis_Dublin

People wondering why Offaly should feel entitled to some amount of investment, which county is more likely to be competitive if it receives funding? One with a rich tradition of recent(ish) success, or one that has never won a game in the Leinster Hurling Championship in living memory? I mean are we going to give it to the Longford hurling team over the Offaly one? Do we want a competitive Leinster championship, or one dominated by one team, but where all teams are given equal funding?

It's the same in football. The GAA needs to invest in teams with some tradition. Meath and Kildare could challenge Dublin, but Longford (sorry Longford!) or Louth never will!

Realt Dearg Sec

Oasis_Dublin wrote: »

People wondering why Offaly should feel entitled to some amount of investment, which county is more likely to be competitive if it receives funding? One with a rich tradition of recent(ish) success, or one that has never won a game in the Leinster Hurling Championship in living memory? I mean are we going to give it to the Longford hurling team over the Offaly one? Do we want a competitive Leinster championship, or one dominated by one team, but where all teams are given equal funding?

It's the same in football. The GAA needs to invest in teams with some tradition. Meath and Kildare could challenge Dublin, but Longford (sorry Longford!) or Louth never will!

How on earth would the all Irelands they won in the 1980s be of any use whatsoever to them now? The hurlers they have coming up now probably don't remember the last time they won anything of any note. Their minors and 21s definitely don't. I'm 34 and I'm starting to forget myself. Id like to see offaly improve but feeling entitled to funding because of tradition when your country board can't be bothered to make a plan for improving the game in the county kind of sums up the problem really. Funding without some competent people to plan how to spend it is useless, and memories of the 1990s aren't a plan. If Westmeath or heaven help us Longford had a competent county board and a plan, then yeah, they'll make better use of the funding than offaly watching old laochra gaels and dreaming of the good old days.

Bonniedog

There is a lot of nonsense about funding. Yes, Dublin hurling got a big break with the Sports Council grant a a while back, but as Realt Dearg as a cat hurling in Dublin will know, us juniors are still stripping out in bushes and running lottos to make a few bob.

Central funding is strictly on per capita basis and Cork have done best because they have the biggest number of players. What they do choose to do with it is another day's work!

it is a pity to see Offaly gone down, but sport is not a charity. Regan has it called right about the Offaly board and their responsibility in it all.

toxicity234

The Offaly county board is now refusing to answer question from the local media and newstalk.
Original cause they weren't submitted through the correct channels
So the journalist resubmitted through the correct channels and they still will not answers then.
Why cause the local lads broke this story this week

blue note

toxicity234 wrote: »

The Offaly county board is now refusing to answer question from the local media and newstalk.
Original cause they weren't submitted through the correct channels
So the journalist resubmitted through the correct channels and they still will not answers then.
Why cause the local lads broke this story this week

They said on newstalk that the Offaly county board contacted them to give out that they weren't contacted for a right of reply the first night they talked about it. So newstalk offered them the chance to come on the next night. And they said no.

I don't know what the answer there is, but I don't have any faith in them to come up with it.

Realt Dearg Sec

blue note wrote: »

They said on newstalk that the Offaly county board contacted them to give out that they weren't contacted for a right of reply the first night they talked about it. So newstalk offered them the chance to come on the next night. And they said no.

I don't know what the answer there is, but I don't have any faith in them to come up with it.

I wouldn't let these lads mind my dog while it's out taking a ****e, let alone give them responsibility for allocating funding.

bruschi

Oasis_Dublin wrote: »

People wondering why Offaly should feel entitled to some amount of investment, which county is more likely to be competitive if it receives funding? One with a rich tradition of recent(ish) success, or one that has never won a game in the Leinster Hurling Championship in living memory? I mean are we going to give it to the Longford hurling team over the Offaly one? Do we want a competitive Leinster championship, or one dominated by one team, but where all teams are given equal funding?

It's the same in football. The GAA needs to invest in teams with some tradition. Meath and Kildare could challenge Dublin, but Longford (sorry Longford!) or Louth never will!

I'm not sure why you think Longford or Louth wouldnt be able to challenge. Realistically, Longford and Louth would be on the same par as Wexford and Wexford were a formidable challenge to Dublin for a couple of years despite being very much second best to hurling in the county. Louth also themselves famously came close to winning the only Leinster in recent history that Dublin havent won. There is no reason a county is not able to compete with the top teams with the right motivation, coaching and financial input.

cantwbr1

Funding without a good plan is a waste. Offaly CB need to develop the plan, then look for funding to implement. For the plan, they should look to Dublin and KK for guidance as they are the leaders in this.
It's not only Offaly, all other counties who wish to maximise their resources should also do this

toxicity234

Realt Dearg Sec wrote: »

blue note wrote: »

They said on newstalk that the Offaly county board contacted them to give out that they weren't contacted for a right of reply the first night they talked about it. So newstalk offered them the chance to come on the next night. And they said no.

I don't know what the answer there is, but I don't have any faith in them to come up with it.

I wouldn't let these lads mind my dog while it's out taking a ****e, let alone give them responsibility for allocating funding.

Bingo. That the biggest problem.
They only thing these lads do well is blaming other people for there mistake.

nice_guy80

clubs are to blame

its the same few lads returned every year, for the last umpteen years
same in westmeath

until the clubs call for and demand change and then follow through on it, nothing will be done.

klairondavis

Bonniedog wrote: »

Central funding is strictly on per capita basis.

Is it?

"Per capita that means that Dublin get more than a euro whereas Meath and Kildare are on 24 cent and 20 cent."

http://www.irishtimes.com/sport/gaelic-games/unease-as-dublin-s-blue-wave-threatens-to-engulf-gaa-1.2519956

Oasis_Dublin

Realt Dearg Sec wrote: »

How on earth would the all Irelands they won in the 1980s be of any use whatsoever to them now? The hurlers they have coming up now probably don't remember the last time they won anything of any note. Their minors and 21s definitely don't. I'm 34 and I'm starting to forget myself. Id like to see offaly improve but feeling entitled to funding because of tradition when your country board can't be bothered to make a plan for improving the game in the county kind of sums up the problem really. Funding without some competent people to plan how to spend it is useless, and memories of the 1990s aren't a plan. If Westmeath or heaven help us Longford had a competent county board and a plan, then yeah, they'll make better use of the funding than offaly watching old laochra gaels and dreaming of the good old days.

How can past success influence modern teams? Sure look at what Wexford are attempting at the moment; some of the 96 team/management are involved in underage development. It's reaping dividends at underage level. Surely you can't argue that success in the past can be a hinderance in the future?

In terms of Offaly making a plan, I completely agree with you. They should be formulating a plan. By all accounts, the county board in Tullamore is a shambles.

Can I apologise to Longford also! Plenty of good underage work going on there. What they lack is belief at senior level!

Realt Dearg Sec

Oasis_Dublin wrote: »

How can past success influence modern teams? Sure look at what Wexford are attempting at the moment; some of the 96 team/management are involved in underage development. It's reaping dividends at underage level. Surely you can't argue that success in the past can be a hinderance in the future?

In terms of Offaly making a plan, I completely agree with you. They should be formulating a plan. By all accounts, the county board in Tullamore is a shambles.

Can I apologise to Longford also! Plenty of good underage work going on there. What they lack is belief at senior level!

I was just thinking I should address this very thing and then I saw you'd since posted. I do think building on existing success is important (although the window of opportunity is probably closer for offaly) but more generally I suppose the argument is one I'd look at the other way round. That we need offaly in the sense that we can't afford to be losing traditional hurling counties, and if we do lose places with that tradition, the job of growing the game gets harder because it's easier to maintain it where it's strong than build it where it isn't.

But there's still no point finding the clowns running the circus right now. But as nice guy said, that's the clubs business, they need to get serious about what kind of board they want or they'll get what they deserve. And money can't solve that.