Offaly footballers face tough trip to take on table toppers on Saturday
GUTTED by the manner in which they lost last Sunday's Division 3 league game to Clare, Offaly footballers have very little time to recover as they travel to Pairc Esler in Newry on Saturday evening (6pm throw in) to take on table toppers and favourites for promotion, Down.
It's probably not the fixture you would have picked after the gut wrenching way they saw last Sunday's game slip from their grasp but it also means they have little time to mull over that defeat as they must quickly turn their focus to the Mournemen and try to get things back on track quickly.
It will be a serious test for Offaly and seeing how they react to last Sunday's setback will be something to look out for. A defeat like that can drain confidence and do lasting damage, but it can also act as a spur to bounce back to show people that they are capable of getting better results. It can galvanise a panel and that is what Offaly supporters will be hoping will happen with their side and that they will go out and show everyone on Saturday what they are made of.
Down will certainly be looking to inflict more pain on Offaly. They have made a very bright start to their campaign and are hot favourites now to gain promotion to Division 2. They started their campaign with a five point victory over Wicklow in Aughrim before recording a big win over Limerick in Newry in round 2. Last Sunday they had another comfortable win, beating Antrim by nine points at Corrigan Park, where Offaly suffered a narrow one point loss in round 2.
Down have made progress over the last couple of seasons under Conor Laverty's management. They made the final of the Tailteann Cup last year before going down to Meath but they have started this season strongly and Offaly will be up against it.
However Offaly will remember that they recorded a victory on their last visit to Pairc Esler, defeating Down by 0-15 to 0-14 when they met in Division 2 two years ago. The spirit shown on that night is something that Offaly will be looking to replicate this Saturday as they go in search of valuable league points in a bid to avoid relegation.
If Offaly pick up anything on Saturday it would be seen as a bonus but what they really need is a performance to boost their confidence ahead of their final three games. Two of those games are against sides who like Offaly have yet to gain a point in this campaign, Limerick and Wicklow, with both of those games in O'Connor Park, and at this stage are must win games. Offaly also have to travel to Sligo in between those games, so they can still salvage something from this campaign and retain their Division 3 status.
Last Sunday's defeat was certainly a setback, but it must be confined to the history books at this stage and Offaly must now look ahead and start building again and the first step on that journey is in Newry on Saturday evening. A big performance will be required and while Down will be the strongest of favourites, Offaly need to show their mettle and produce a performance that can help them get the show back on the road again.