Offaly stand 70 minutes away from achieving the goals set out by management for the year

OFFALY hurlers stand one win away from achieving their aim for the year of winning both the Joe McDonagh Cup and Division 2A of the league and the man who has led them to next Saturday's decider against Carlow is Portumna man Johnny Kelly.

Well known in hurling circles, Johnny was involved with Offaly as a coach for the previous few years under manager Michael Fennelly and assumed the top job himself when the Kilkenny man wasn't retained as manager last year.

Now Offaly stand just 70 minutes away from achieving all the goals they set for themselves at the start of the year.

“We set out our stall at the start of the year and our key aims were to win Division 2A and get to a Joe McDonagh Cup final and try to win that, so it's all good so far,” Johnny Kelly said.

Offaly had their setbacks along the way, particularly with a number of serious injuries but they kept going and are only 70 minutes away from the title now. “We've had those injuries and it has been a trying time,” the manager said. “We had a lot of games condensed into a short period of time and that tested our panel greatly but happy enough with the way we responded. We still have some niggles and we're not fully out of the woods there yet for this weekend but hopefully they will start to clear up during the week and we'll have a full hand to pick from when we sit down to pick the team on Wednesday night.

“We're hoping Cillian Kiely will be available, we're hoping Eoghan Cahill will be available, there are a couple of others with knocks like David Nally, but we're hopeful they will be able to take part. We'll have to wait to get a session into them fully to make a decision on that,” he added.

Carlow have proved to be difficult opponents for Offaly in recent years and Johnny Kelly is in no doubt that Offaly will be pushed to the pin of their collar if they are to win on Saturday.

“Carlow are a really good team. The reality is Carlow have beaten Offaly in the last two championship encounters. They have talented hurlers all around the field, backboned by St Mullin's and Mount Leinster Rangers, and they have some really good players and they are a really good team and an experienced team at this level. It's going to take all of us in Offaly doing our best to overcome that challenge at the weekend,” he said.

Offaly got a good look at Carlow in their final group game when the Barrowsiders scored a big win in what was a dead rubber for Offaly. “We knew going down there we were going to face a stern test. Carlow were exceptional and showed their true potential in Netwatch Cullen Park last week so we're well aware how strong they are and as I said previously, it's going to take a massive effort to get over the line,” the Offaly manager said.

There is is great feelgood factor in Offaly hurling at the moment with the success of the under 20s and the senior side getting to the Joe McDonagh Cup final. “It's great to see Offaly hurling going well again and everyone rowing in the one direction and that goes from everyone in County Board right down to every single member of the panel and all panels. It's been really good, it's a great atmosphere down in the Faithful Fields at the minute, it's really good,” Johnny said.

Initially the under 20 final had been scheduled to be played as a double header with Saturday's Joe McDonagh final but the under 20 final was pushed back a week ensuring there was no dilemma for Offaly players like Charlie Mitchell, who has featured prominently for both teams this year.

“A double header, while it would probably be good for supporters, it wouldn't be good for the young fellows,” Johnny said. “First and foremost these lads want to play for both teams, they are paramount in all our thoughts. There is more than Charlie involved, there's Sam Bourke and Joe Hoctor as well. It's something the GAA didn't count on when initially they were putting the two fixtures together that Offaly were probably the one county who would end up in both and that is how it transpired. It's the right call.”

Victory on Saturday would see Offaly return to the Leinster Senior Hurling Championship next year and many would see that as important for the continued development of these young players.

“This is it. At the moment we are talking about our own guys and we have our own job to do, and it's not just about developing the minor teams of the last couple of years, it's about the continued work of what the seniors are doing and for Offaly as an entity it is a really important move. It's one that won't be easy but we've put ourselves in a position where we are in a final and we'll do everything to get Offaly up to the next level,” the manager said.

Westmeath's victory over Wexford last Sunday in the senior championship shows what can be achieved and is something Offaly would surely look to emulate.

“That would be next year and there is a lot of hurling to be played before we even get there, and maybe we won't, but to be honest about it, it was a brilliant result for Westmeath and one which they probably richly deserve because of the work they have put in over the last number of years. They have done a really good job as well with limited resources but it shows you what can happen if you apply yourself right and certainly we would be hoping to follow in their footsteps and try and get there as well.”

The Joe McDonagh Final is being played in Croke Park and is a big occasion for everyone but the manager doesn't think it will be a big factor on Saturday. “It's where everyone wants to play. It's a good open field and lends itself to good hurling this time of the year, summer hurling, so yeah it's a really good stadium and all looking forward to it.”

The game is also live on RTE television and puts the focus on the Tier 2 teams but Johnny doesn't think anyone will be thinking about that. “You need to focus on the game itself, everything else is sideshows. It's good that the Joe McDonagh is on the national broadcaster and they are showing the final at least. It's been spoken an awful lot over the last couple of weeks with GAAGO but we are just happy to be in the final and obviously it gets a bit more of an audience when it's on RTE.”

Offaly had an intense period when they played nine games in a 10 week period and were glad to get a two week gap before the final.

“Absolutely. It didn't come a minute too late as right at the end of the Kerry game we had a substantial amount of injuries. We actually had lads playing in that game who were carrying knocks but we got over the line. Obviously we picked up two serious injuries in that Kerry game, head injuries, so that really did test us and it continues to do so because it will be a photo finish as I said for a number of guys whether they will be fit enough to take their place on Saturday. Every day counted and we're still grateful for the break but it was a tough campaign. We're closing in on the final now and all rearing to go.”

The split season is one of the reasons that games have been crammed in together in a short period and while he favours that system, he does think one or two tweaks could be made.

“First and foremost it's important to say that the split season works and it is great for club players and it's good for county players but there is a limit to the tweaks they can do but they've done well overall to get the fixtures played. They may look at it again next year and there might be a weekend or two that they could break it up a bit and maybe give teams an extra break, particularly between league and championship. I know it happens in Tier 1 but in Joe McDonagh you went straight from Division 2 Final into the first round of Joe McDonagh the following week. It has it pros and cons. You are getting games and if you are winning it gives momentum but it does take its toll and you pick up injuries and it tests everyone,” he said.

Offaly have gained momentum through the campaign and it has carried them through any setbacks into the final. “If they are winning and you are using the panel, players are stepping in, players are getting injured and other guys are stepping up to the plate and putting in good performances, the key is that we are winning and we haven't got everything right but we are there now and we'll see where it takes us.”

This is Johnny's first season as Offaly manager having being coach under Michael Fennelly for the previous few years and it has gone well so far. “Let's be fair, Michael Fennelly did a great job for Offaly the last two or three years. I've been involved in management at different levels for a while, it is different to coaching, you are taking care of much more as a manager, but it was a seamless transition so we're happy enough and I think the players are happy enough with the transition as well in how we improved. There were small tweaks but nothing substantially different either to be honest.”

Offaly are now heading into the final run towards Saturday's final and will have their final couple of sessions this week. “Final two sessions, one on Tuesday night and one on Thursday night and then Croke Park on Saturday. Shorter sharper sessions now and getting ourselves ready psychologically. The physical work is done now so it's about getting ourselves in the best possible frame of mind for the weekend,” he said.

Whatever happens on Saturday Offaly will have another game in the preliminary quarter finals of the Liam McCarthy against either the third team in Leinster or third team in Munster but Johnny says they aren't even thinking about that now.

“We're not looking any further than 4.45pm on Saturday. What happens after that, we're not looking beyond that at all.”