Offaly manager happy with position team is in after first three league games

FIVE points out of six from their first three games in Division 1B of the Allianz Hurling League has left Offaly in a good place on top of the table and manager Johnny Kelly was quietly satisfied with his lot after Sunday's victory over Antrim in Tullamore.

“We are in a good position after three games and happy with that and happy with the performance today, it was really good,” he said.

Offaly are a point ahead of Dublin, who have played one game less than Offaly, and the sides meet in the next round at Croke Park on Saturday week and that should give Offaly a better idea of where they stand.

They have been improving with every game and the manager has been happy with the way the younger players have been integrated into the squad.

“We're going reasonably well, we're getting the mix between the experienced guys and the under 20s who have stepped up onto the senior panel. That's proving to be successful so far so hopefully that continues.”

Offaly drew their opening game against Carlow having been two points up with 10 minutes to go and there was some disappointment in the aftermath of the game.

“You could say that but at the end of the day we know Carlow are a good team. It was the first game for both teams but there was no doubt we were disappointed that we didn't push on and win the game but you have to conscious of the fact that Carlow are a good team and maybe it was a point gained rather than point lost.”

He agreed that if told at the start of the year that Offaly would have five points from the first three games he would have been happy with that. “Of course, it's a step up and with the jeopardy of two going up and two going down it's a really competitive league but at the moment we're OK and we're happy with that and it's on to the next day against Dublin.”

He said Offaly would have targeted the first three games and said their performances have been encouraging. “It is the start of the year and pitches aren't too bad but they are slow and conditions are always more challenging at this time of the year than in Summer but at the moment I'm really proud of the guys after the tough week that everyone has had with the death in Shinrone. I couldn't be prouder of these lads the way they have responded, togged out and played for their county and I think everyone should get behind that.

“All those lads were really close to each other. That's a really tight knit community in Shinrone and salt of the earth people down there so to be honest we weren't even expecting these lads to tog out today but we got the phone call the other day and they all made themselves available for selection. We spoke about it in the dressing room and I think it's a testament to their commitment to Offaly to turn out in those circumstances and drive forward,” Johnny said.

“It's been really tough and that's where we come in as mentors, management teams and coaching teams, it's not just about the hurling, it's about how these young men are off the field as well and how we help them through this period of time.”

Offaly have had injuries and Cillian Kiely was included on the subs bench on Sunday, although he didn't come. “Cillian has made good progress over the last two or three weeks so obviously getting game time will be important but the panel does change in and out and we have players there who are training really hard midweek and probably aren't getting the game time they deserve but it's possibly a flaw in the system that the league is supposed to be preparation for the championship but because there is so much jeopardy around that we do tend to try and go for points. Hopefully we'll be able to get game time into everyone and reasonable game time into everyone so that they will be all ready.”

Next up is that trip to Croke Park to play Dublin and Offaly will probably learn more about themselves in that game. “Absolutely, they will be the best team we have played in a while and in Croke Park as well, but Croke Park is nothing new to our guys, they've played two Joe McDonagh finals there over the last few years but still very conscious of how strong that Dublin team is and the brand of hurling they play so it is going to be a really stern challenge,” the manager added.