The man behind the wire: Offaly supporters need to behave with dignity and show respect
IT has been fantastic to witness the excitement of young Offaly supporters as they have rallied behind the county's U-20 hurlers this year.
The scenes of unadulterated joy as Offaly beat Wexford in a thrilling Leinster U-20 Hurling Championship final in Carlow two weeks ago were truly special. They were a throw back to the joy that greeted great Offaly football and hurling wins in the 1960s, '70s, '80s and '90s.
After speding over two decades in the GAA doldrums, it is a great thing for younger people experience some of what their older generations got to savour years ago.
The joy that GAA success brings to Offaly is immense, the lift it gives to people in their normal lives can't be understated. It just makes people feel better about themselves and where they are from. It gives them pride in their county and the potential spin offs for Offaly at all levels in hurling and football are considerable.
Offaly are likely to bring 10,000 supporters to Thurles for Sunday's All-Ireland U-20 hurling final against Cork and the anticipation in the county is tangible – flags have gone up all over the county and cars are once again sporting the county's colours.
It has been a terrific three years for Offaly GAA. The 2021 All-Ireland U-20 football win changed everything – sadly Covid restrictions meant that attendances were restricted at the early games but fortunately a full crowd was allowed at the All-Ireland final win over Roscommon in Croke Park.
The sight of Offaly cars making their way up to Dublin on the motorways, flags waving, horns blaring rekindled golden memories of past glories for us older people. There was a magical atmosphere in Dublin that day as supporters thronged O'Connell Street, the approach roads into Croke Park and public houses.
One powerful thing that struck home was that many supporters who partied with me in Dublin in the 1990s were now accompanied by their own children and teenagers; the people who were my age then were now in the role of grandparents. It was hugely emotional for those generations but it was even better for the younger people.
Up until that All-Ireland win, they had never experienced what a big Offaly triumph meant to people and the county. Offaly had last competed in an All-Ireland final in 2000, losing to Kilkenny in senior hurling – none of the current Offaly U-20 squad were born then and most of their fathers were still playing hurling and football themselves.
A whole generation has grown up accustomed to Offaly not only losing but occasionally being embarrassed. This is what makes the current run of success so welcome and joyful.
The U-20 football success has been followed on by the hurlers in 2022 and 2023. Offaly reached the All-Ireland minor hurling final last year where they were desperately unlucky to lose to Tipperary, and the U-20 hurlers have now returned to that stage.
The scenes as Laois were beaten in the Leinster minor hurling final last year, Clare in the All-Ireland semi-final will never be forgotten. The Leinster U-20 hurling final this year brought it to a new level. A 10,000 sell out crowd in Carlow, close to two thirds of them from Offaly, was unprecedented.
The joy as supporters celebrated on the field; supporters queuing for autographs and pictures; the scenes as the team arrived back into Digan's in Tullamore much later that night have created life long memories for the players and supporters.
For the players, these create their own challenges with staying grounded and focused on the real business. It is easy for players to lose themselves in the adulation; to get caught up in celebrations and head down a road that will not lead to a long county career at the highest level.
The reaction of supporters to this team has been incredible. There is a real bond between them and it has been earned by the players as a result of their great level of skill and pace coupled with a ferocious desire, work rate and will to win.
The joy of supporters, however, does come with a caveat; there is a considerable blemish on some of them. Offaly supporters booing opposing players taking frees or roaring for ones to be sent off or punished has become quite prevalent in recent games. It was very noticeable at the Leinster U-20 hurling final and also at the Joe McDonagh Cup final defeat by Carlow in Croke Park on Sunday.
It is something that is creeping into the GAA at an increasing and alarming rate in recent years. Offaly are just a symptom of what is going on in every other county but that is not an excuse, it does not condone it. If Cork supporters boo Adam Screeney as he is taking frees on Sunday, let them. Screeney is good enough and has the confidence and composure to take that in his stride.
Don't allow an English soccer mentality to infiltrate the GAA. Behave with dignity, give opposing players the respect they deserve, Remain true to Offaly's proudest traditions of sportsmanship and good conduct; be proud of who you are, where you are from and what your players are doing but don't lower the flag, disdain the county by poor behaviour; don't embarrass the generations of people who have sown the seeds.
It is mainly young supporters who are engaging in this conduct. While older generations might let rip at a referee – and the systematic booing of referees and decisions is another unsavoury emerging trend -, they won't boo a player taking a free. They didn't do that in the 1970s, '80s and '90s and they haven't started doing it now that they are older and, hopefully, wiser.
For the young Offaly supporters, it is excitement and passion. They want Offaly to win and if they feel that this will help their team, they are doing it; they are young people finding their way in life but it is time to call it out now. That must come from the young people themselves and their peers but they also need to be guided by their parents, club coaches and officials.
There is absolutely no need for it and it creates a very bad impression – it feflects badly on Offaly and its supporters. A game long chant of Uibh Fhaili or Offaly is infinitely more beneficial to the players on the field; the roar that greeted every score and free won in Carlow could be heard nearly a mile away. Offaly supporters can be a 16th man on Sunday and they should also have the backing of the Clare and Galway minor supporters who remain on but behave with dignity.
Support the team and players with every ounce of your being but don't allow that to manifest in booing of young opposing players – Cork are likely to engage in this conduct on Sunday but two wrongs don't make a right.
It is equally important to win and lose well. Enjoy the whole experience of an Offaly team travelling to an All-Ireland final with realistic prospects of winning. Savour every moment of it; Don't lose yourselves in a fog of drink or other substances because those type of days don't come often and may never be replicated again. Wave your colours, blow your horns, let yourselves go but don't boo the opposition and please don't let off smoke bombs in the crowd during the match – consider others and their enjoyment of the match. And remember, you as supporters are also representing your county, what is stands for and what it is about. What you do matters; it matters to other people and it influences your younger siblings and the generation coming up behind you.