THE FALL-OUT from Offaly’s relegation to the Joe McDonagh Cup last weekend saw a debate rage over the consequences of their demotion to the second tier.
The majority of pundits fretted over the potential damage relegation would have for hurling in Offaly. For a county that annexed four All-Irelands and nine Leinster titles between 1980 and 1998, there are real concerns that banishment from the Leinster championship will be highly damaging for the small ball code over the coming years.
The Sunday Game panellists Ger Loughnane and Brendan Cummins took a different stance in the wake of the 17-point defeat to Dublin that confirmed their relegation.
Loughnane said a PR campaign had been waged to save Offaly’s top-tier status and that results proved the McDonagh Cup is simply their level. He argued that Kevin Martin’s squad could benefit from rebuilding at a lower grade and if they’re good enough, they’ll be back competing for the Bob O’Keeffe Cup in 2020.
Loughnane’s view has its merits, but there’s a real danger the best hurlers in the county won’t commit to play in the McDonagh Cup next season, even if it has a path to the All-Ireland quarter-final preliminary stage.
One of Martin’s early achievements in his reign as Offaly boss was to entice experienced men like Conor Mahon, Dan Currams and Colin Egan back into the fold this year. Will the McDonagh Cup hold the same allure for these players in 2019?
It’s well documented at this stage, but the current format that sees Leinster’s bottom team automatically relegated is grossly unfair given there’s a different set of rules for Munster.
It was a mistake not to give Leinster’s bottom-placed team a play-off against the McDonagh Cup champions, as is the case in Munster if Kerry win the second tier competition.
When the current structure was voted through at a Special Congress last September, it was surprising the Offaly delegates didn’t object to the automatic relegation from Leinster – given the Faithful were the clear favourites to finish bottom of the round-robin series.
They even co-sponsored the Meath and Laois motion that proposed the two McDonagh Cup finalists would enter the All-Ireland race at the preliminary quarter-final stage, which indicates where their priorities lay.
But an examination of Offaly’s recent championship record makes it impossible to argue that the McDonagh Cup isn’t their level. Their last senior championship win over a Liam MacCarthy Cup side came against Limerick in 2010, while Offaly haven’t registered a victory against a traditional hurling county at minor or U21 level in over a decade.
Much of the blame must be laid at the door of the county board, who failed to implement proper underage structures until the slide was well underway. Offaly’s last All-Ireland win was in 1998 and their last appearance in a September decider three years later. The cracks papered over by senior success soon began to show.
Another worrying sign was the resignation en-masse of the hurling review/implementation committee last year. Chair Liam Hogan and several former county players were involved, but they walked away “in total frustration” at a “lack of support and progress from the Offaly county board.”
There have been some steps in the right direction in recent times, with the opening of the Faithful Fields centre of excellence a significant boost. But with key players such as Shane Dooley, Joe Bergin and Currams all on the wrong side of 30, the same quality of player is not waiting in the wings. That’s the big issue.
Martin’s first year in charge ended in disappointing fashion, but he did about as well as could be expected under the circumstances. Offaly endured a punishing schedule with four championship games in four weeks, which really penalizes smaller squads.
While the Faithful gave spirited performances against Galway and Kilkenny, they badly faded in the final two games against Wexford and Dublin. Had the fixtures been flipped and they started opened their campaign against Dublin, things might have gone differently.
In his post-game briefing after the loss to Dublin, Martin gave the impression he’d be willing to stay on next season and for Offaly’s sake they must do everything to keep the Tullamore native at the helm.
His primary focus will be on gaining promotion from the McDonagh Cup, unless the higher powers in the GAA decide to make Leinster into a six-team competition next season. Liam Sheedy, the chair of the committee which devised the new structure, floated that idea over the weekend.
Even if the GAA did reconsider the situation and extend an olive branch to the Faithful as part of a six-team Leinster SHC, the outlook isn’t great for Offaly hurling.
Unless the green shoots of recovery start showing at underage level, they’ll find themselves in the McDonagh Cup eventually.
The42 is on Instagram! Tap the button below on your phone to follow us!
It’s always in those last 15 minutes that Kilkenny reaaaaally squeeze the life out of you
I like th ed reference to Squeeze there Mr Unknown. They even played “Cool for Cats” over the PA system at Croker !!!
A friend “told” me this morning that Galway would win, “how” I replied, “they are playing against a county whose players begin their hurling careers in the womb.”
Frank how is that supposed to help Galway win?? ;)
I don’t get your point friend?
Oooh sorry, I thought your friend replied with the womb comment
I would only have given Galway a chance if they some managed to get 10 points up with 5 minutes to go. Even then it would be 50/50
Galway has womb for improvement.
…as do your jokes Diarmuid !!!
No matter your level of interest in hurling, and I’ve very little, you can’t help but have massive admiration for Brian Cody.
The greatest team GAA history.
galway blown away by kk physicality in second half had no answer to it , Joe canning went missing in second half when galway needed leaders
was holding his jaw at the end of the first half. i reckon he got a little dig . there was no good ball going into the forwards in the second half. not his fault. needed to be better prepared for the kk backlash at the start of the 2nd half.
I reckon he had a toothache
Jaysus, even the Kilkenny fans look bored of winning. The most lifeless all Ireland celebration ever, an awful shame Galway weren’t good enough
Galway completely collapsed in the second half. Very disappointing. That’s not Kilkenny’s problem though so well done to them. I suppose they’re already odds on to win it again next year.
we’ll see how lifeless it is in the marble city this evening. We never get tired of winning.
Hope you all have a marbleous time Kevin !!!
Kilkenny are like snakes and not cats. Specifically they are like boa constrictors. Struggling against them just allows them to tighten their grip…
Yawn…..it’d be nice if all those big men, at least played or tried another sport!
Are you by any chance from Cork?
All u thumbs down must be from Kilkenny. Rugby? Darts, boxing, rowing, football……anything anything…..does it get a little tedious….
Yeah……I’m from Cork….we need to focus in Cork, just like Kerry does on football and Kilkenny does on hurling. Of corse guys lets face it….Dublin are only good after they get an injection of culchie blood!
Sure all they know is hurling, no football, rugby, soccer. Is it the way the g a a won’t allow those sports in that county???
This is Cody’s finest hour,he has rebuilt a team in twelve month having lost 38 all Ireland medal holders over the winter and still wins another title.Pure genius.We may be hated by the rest of the counties but I’ proud to be from Kilkenny.Black and Amber forever.
Oh Galway…. It was yeres. Ye seemed to go to sleep at half time.
It’s a boring championship now with kk winning over and over. Obviously I sound bitter (and I guess i am). But it’s all a bit dull how.
Well done kk.
Yes mary.. its boooooorrring to see kilkenny winning every year. But they are fantastic it has to be said. Maybe too fantastic
Kilkenny are supreme champions. All the other counties have to up their game. Kilkenny start at the grass roots, Its not one bit dull, only sour GRAPES. KIKENNY ABU SUPREME CATS.
Fair play ye deserve it. Coming form a cork men. Well done.
some contrast between first and second half
Kilkenny and Dublin/Kerry again. Yawn.
Dublin again?? It’s not like they win with the same regularity as Kilkenny and Kerry in fairness.
Dublin? Dublin have been in 2 All Ireland Finals since 2000. Kilkenny have been in 12 and Kerry 10. Not sure how you can compare the 3.
Actually 2 weeks time will be Kerry’s 11th final since 2000.
Meow
Some celebration in Kilkenny tonight. What a class team they are. Congrats Kilkenny and unlucky Galway.
Celebration in Kilkenny I doubt it. As a Galway fan I left as the cup was being presented along with hundreds of Kilkenny fans. If Galway had won you’d have to drag me out of there at 9pm. At this stage it’s the norm for them and hence very little celebration.
You’re obviously never in Kilkenny on an All-Ireland weekend
No Jamie I’d be at the game
Gutted Galwayman here but you cant knock Kilkenny best team won.
As a Galway man I’m disappointed but as a sports fan I’m in awe of Cody and Kilkenny. Maith sibh. Beidh lá eile ag Gaillimh. Ná cáilligí misneach.
You have to hand it them, but I’m so sick of Kilkenny winning all the time. Their dominance is destroying this game.
This year was a little flat but it came on the back of 4 straight years of some of the most exciting championships in recent memory.
Yeah, you’re right in fairness. Probably overstated that. Just sick of KK, that’s all
Problem solved try and beat Kilkenny, not Kilkennys fault they like to win All Irelands, I’m sure the other teams like to win All Irelands too?,
Just turned off at the end far too used to kilkenny acceptance speeches
You’ve said,I said to those moaning about another Kilkenny win is,put fifteen guys on the pitch for seventy minutes and score more than we do and the cup yours.Simples.
So many wides by Galway when they had the momentum. Feck all of ye, I hope we go on and get 5 in a row. Cody is a hero. Kilkenny are making history and it will never be equalled again. Let’s just enjoy it!
If Galway had won there wouldn’t have been a single post on here lamenting the state of hurling, even though the health of the game is no different now than it was at 15:30 today
Same as always, Kilkenny dominate a second half after being outplayed in the first and do what Galway couldn’t when on top, take advantage. The best team have obviously won again but for the general overall interest in the championship nationwide, we need Kilkenny to be beaten for a while. Doesn’t look like it’s going to happen quite yet unfortunately.
Feckin Cats!! I mean Fair play!!
We are the bench mark, it’s yer job to rise to it!
God be with the day when it was great to see a team win an All Ireland. The best team won but it’s a pity for everyone else. They had to stage a celebration photo and then the team had to run around an empty stadium. Great to see you win another All Ireland, MY ARS and I’m a Westmeston man.
Where in Westmeston are you from?!
East Westmeston.
Hi Barry
Is there any other Westmeston?
Kilkenny overpowering everyone with physicality. could have been a lot closerif Galway were less wasteful with wides. gaa should be ashamed of themselves, doubling ticket prices for a final. rip off
The money is well spent. Give it up
I looked to go to the Ireland wales rugby game. 60 quid was the cheapest for a challenge game ? try other sporting events pricing and its clear that 70 quid for an all Ireland ticket is not that bad
you can’t compare Brian cody to Alex ferguson I can understand when cody talks
Very poor second half
or the 2nd half didn’t go the way you wanted?
I’m sure if Galway were winning by 12 points in the 2nd half it would be the greatest 2nd half of all time?
Kieran is right William, the second half was poor as a spectacle when compared with the first half, irrespective of who won. How many times did the ref have to throw the ball in following a ruckus? The game developed into a dog fight and there was only ever going to be one winner. KK not only superior hurling skills but we’re physically a lot stronger than Galway.
I’m not sure what people were expecting most big hurling games these days are very physical encounters, Galway knew they had to match Kilkenny with intensity and more which they did in the first half, but once they started to wilt Kilkenny ruthlessly finished them off.
In stature I’d say Galway pack much more physique than Kilkenny sloop?, a lot of this Kilkenny team are not giants.
Its been said before but hurling needs to be changed, get rid of the provincial championships.They have been pointless in Lenister for a long time and even in Munster it has lost its appeal small crowds etc.Go for open draw and then maybe if killkenny had to play a Clare in Thurles or Tipp in limerick in June maybe slowly things might change.
Well you Munster guys got a connaught team shoved into Leinster in your usual roundabout way to stop Kilkenny it hasn’t worked, what next .
Barry Kelly tried and done his level best but even the biased refereeing can’t stop Kilkenny which makes Kilkennys achievements all the more admiral because they’ve been playing 16 m3n for a long time now.
Red thumb away you Cork and Tipp men but its the truth
Well said
Nothing like a gracious victor. Should be off celebrating you sad man.
stupid comment.
Galway probably would have won if it had not been the clear second half bias towards Kilkenny>
Jasus some of the stuff Kilkenny got away in the 2nd half was ridiculious and that free that was given for tj reid falling in smith was a joke. and the tackle on collins when he was wrestled to the ground was another disgrace. Galway at the other end then had to be decapitated to win a free.
Love to see free count in 2nd half, clearly favoured kilkenny.
kilkenny dominated 2nd half cause ref allowed them away with murder.
I counted 6 frees galway should have got in the 2nd half and 3 frees kilkenny shouldn’t have got but the gaa love to see kilkenny win.
Really Dan ! , why wasn’t The Galway player red carded for pulling the helmet off of Colin Fennelly
The cat laughs festival is not till June 16 and this guy is practicing already :-)))
Lewis Hamilton has won the Grand Prix
Deadly… I’m sure Rihanna is delighted.
My son won his under 15 soccer match this morning…
To be fair a Tipp Kilkenny match would have been a better match, this was a little flat today, I also think Tipp would have taken it
It’s always easy to beat Kilkenny when you’re not playing them,Tipp had their chance and also finished 2nd.There always the,what if? And might have,there is a easy way to beat Kilkenny,field fifteen guys who score more in seventy minutes than they do.Simples
Taken their beating yeah :-))
Egwene couldn’t find any fault with that Rand
Let’s face it if Kilkenny played the best of Ireland they would probably win. There are truly unique county when it comes to the game of hurling.
Why doesn’t anyone ask for Kilkenny to be slit like they ask Dublin to be split??
This is getting boring.