RELATIONS BETWEEN STEPHEN Wallace and the Offaly players have reached an all-time low in the wake of their Leinster SFC defeat to Wicklow on Sunday.
The42 understands a number of players have left the panel ahead of their round 1 qualifier on 9 June. The squad are set to resume training tonight in Kilcormac, after which the situation of Wallace’s future and the departed players will become a little clearer.
Wallace was appointed Offaly boss in last September, but his short tenure in charge has reached crisis point after several unsavoury incidents over the last month.
The Kingdom native watched Sunday’s 1-20 to 1-15 extra-time defeat from the stands due to the eight-week suspension handed down for his involvement in a melee during a Kerry IFC club game between Ardfert and John Mitchels in April.
Footage of the incident showed Wallace throwing a punch at a member of the John Mitchels coaching staff after a brawl broke out near the sideline during the game, and he was subsequently handed the lengthy ban by the Kerry CCC.
Offaly led Wicklow by 1-5 to 0-5 at half-time in the Leinster opening round, but an argument broke out in the dressing room which saw forward Nigel Dunne leave for the O’Moore Park car park. He returned to the substitutes bench for the second-half.
Dunne, Offaly’s free-taker, had been surprisingly withdrawn in the 28th minute after a nervy start to the game where he missed three scoring opportunities.
He voiced his frustrations with management after his early withdrawal, as did 2017 captain Sean Pender who was called ashore for debutant Gerry Spollen four minutes into the second-half.
Dunne was reintroduced in the 53rd minute but missed a penalty five minutes later. On Twitter last night he refuted widespread reports that he was headed for his car after leaving the changing rooms at the interval.
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After the game, former Offaly players Alan McNamee and Ruairi Allen voiced strong criticism of Wallace on Twitter, with their tweets liked by several players who were involved on Sunday.
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Wallace’s reign has been marred by the absence of many of the best footballers in the county.
Veterans Niall McNamee and Brian Darby retired from inter-county duty last winter, while for various reasons Johnny Moloney, Graham Guilfoyle, Richie Dalton, Ken Casey, David Hanlon and Allen are not involved.
Injuries to key men Eoin Carroll, Peter Cunningham, Eoin Rigney and Joey O’Connor further weakened Wallace’s hand.
The Offaly manager made the curious decision to hand Ruairi McNamee his first championship start against Wicklow, despite the fact the Rhode youngster only returned weeks earlier from a stint in Australia.
There was another controversy in the form of Cian Johnson’s eligibility. The teenage star, who recently bagged 3-6 from play for his club Ferbane in an Offaly SFC game, was blocked from playing championship with the seniors this summer after an internal county board ruling stated he must play with the U20s instead.
Wallace made a big push for the county board to revise the ruling, but it his request was turned down.
Wallace’s behaviour on the sideline has also irked supporters. During the league draw with Sligo in Tullamore, he could be heard from the stands shouting verbal abuse at his team, something that did not sit well with the players.
Pressure is mounting on Wallace, but the Offaly county board are unlikely to remove him from his position at this stage of the season – unless there’s a significant player heave against him. Training tonight is likely to reveal more.
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Roy Keane has turned into the very thing he hates – a show clown!
@Pat Rascal: you’re obviously a poo fan
@anthony davoren: a poo fan? Anto try get it right ! Roy be disappointed with your feeble comeback.
@anthony davoren: idiot alert.
@anthony davoren: seriously – what age are you?
@Graham: jaysus ye are all out tonight
@colin coady: hardly a comeback,.just stating the obvious based on his cynical comment
@anthony davoren: You left out the letter L but still managed to touch a nerve.
@Pat Rascal: And I haven’t forgiven him for Saipan, when push came to shove he fu€&ed off in the one tournament that we had a real chance in if any one is old enough to remember.
Most entertaining maybe but not the best, give me a sadlier or kerr anyway. They provide such indepth analysis that rue football fans love. Roy is for the casual fan
@Phil: anyday*
@Phil: Sadlier is the best imo. Kerr good also. Keane doesn’t come close to these guys.
@Phil: damian Delaney is excellent
@Ray Ridge: Sky aren’t interested in in-depth analysis of the game. They’re interested in stats and sensationalism. Keane does what he’s told because they pay his wages. That’s about the size of it. Kerr, Delaney and Sadlier are by far the better “pundits” imo.
Roy has become the king of sound bites.
And the worst – winner by a country mile. Ex red Mr Spitty who shows zero balance in his alleged analysis. Should have been sacked!
What a nonsense article! Keano is a United legend but average pundit. Mostly he’s there to get a reaction from the other pundits. Oh and it’s TP (initials of player from previous article)
@G Bot: Gavin talking out of his hole.To much snow (actual snow )
It’s great to see Keane find success/happiness after retirement as a player. For years he was bitter about how he was fired until he became a much loved pundit.
But Gary Neville, Jamie Carragher, Ian Wright and Micah Richards are equally as interesting to listen to as Keane.
@Caolan Z: “big meeks” is dreadful to listen to.
He comes out with the same guff every week.
Not getting stuck in
Not wanting it enough
He has to do better.
@Brendan Coleman: That’s exactly the issue Amorim has with Rashford since he joined the club recently, not doing enough and not getting stuck in, so what’s wrong with Roy Keane as a pundit exposing the same shortcomings in Rashfords and others game. By his own admission Keane never regarded himself as a gifted footballer but he showed leadership, got stuck in and done enough to help Man. Utd, have so much success. As a manager he took Sunderland from the bottom of the Championship table to winning it the same season. Just name me another Irish born soccer player that achieved more success in their football career than Roy Keane?
Brian Kerr and Richie Sadlier far better at analysing the game. Keane is there for the novelty factor.
But that’s his job !!
@ Robert conway. Agreed about Carraher. That a h**e Neville as well so bias towards the other team in red.
The ManUre fans love him.
Best pundit…….No. Most entertaining… Yes.
He’s become everything he pretended to hate
He is probably the most famous pundit based on his quick wit and playing career. He is also probably the most entertaining pundit.
I think the likes of Delaney and Kerr are better pundits and can explain tactical stuff in an easy to understand way.
Worst pundit for anyone who knows anything about the game , great for the clueless masses