LEAGUE PREVIEW: Performances the target as Offaly hurlers take big step up

IT would be absolutely wrong to say that they have nothing to lose but Offaly will enter the National Hurling League on Sunday next in the unusual position of having very little expectations surrounding their prospects.

The only game in town for Offaly at this moment of their progression is survival and they will have a chance of achieving this. While Offaly are competing in a very tough Division 1A along with Galway – who they face away in this Sunday's opener - Cork, Clare, Wexford and Limerick, relegation will be decided between the bottom team here and from Division 1B.

Tipperary, Waterford, Dublin, Laois, Kilkenny and Antrim are in Division 1B and Laois or Antrim, more likely Antrim are expected to find themselves in the relegation playoff – Offaly will see Antrim as a 50/50 game if that tussle does emerge.

It will be a major surprise if Offaly aren't there from Division 1A. Michael Fennelly's charges did very well to win promotion last year but it is a huge step up. Offaly's fixtures schedule includes All-Ireland champions, Limerick in their last game, a Galway side who will be aiming to make quick progress under Henry Shefflin and counties with ambition in Cork, Clare and Wexford.

Offaly are certainly going into the lion's den with this schedule but it is also a great opportunity for the players and management. They will learn a lot about themselves and the exact rate of progress that is being made.

It is hard to see Offaly picking up a point in their group games and it will be a huge bonus, a massive boost to everyone if they do. All the other counties have competed at a much higher level than Offaly in recent years. They are all competing for their provincial and the All-Ireland championships, whereas Offaly have just come out of the Christy Ring Cup. They will be expecting to mount a powerful assault on the Joe McDonagh Cup this year but in the championship, Offaly are still in the second tier – everyone else is in the top grade.

The real target and focus for Offaly is on the quality and commitment of performances they give. The way they apply themselves and put it up to counties who should be better than them is what matters at the moment.

The early indications are encouraging enough. Offaly competed well against Galway and Dublin before falling away late on in both Walsh Cup games. Offaly are clearly hungry and eager to impress and their skills levels and touch look to be improving. There is a glimmer of light beginning to seep through at the end of the tunnel but a large body of work remains ahead of them.

Both Galway and Dublin were experimenting but both pushed hard to win those games and Offaly asked serious questions of them. There was, however, a noticeable difference in physicality and Offaly still have work to do to get up to the power and pace of the top level counties. That was particularly noticeable in the second half of the game against Dublin.

Players and management are working very hard on the whole strength and conditioning side of things and while they are making progress, this is no short term project.

No one should read too much into the Walsh Cup and the fact that they competed against Galway and Dublin for long periods. Still, there were plenty of times in the past when Offaly would have been blown out of the water by both and they are moving in the right direction.

It is possible that Offaly will receive a couple of bad beatings in the league. Indeed, it will be a surprise if they don't get at least one but it also looks like Offaly might hold their own in some games and maybe even be in the hunt in the closing quarter.

The Walsh Cup does suggest that the closing quarter could prove problematic for Offaly and that they could die away late on. Time will tell. At the moment, it is all about performances and trying to be the best that they can be. Let every player do the very best that he can and see what happens.

Offaly will get an indication of the way things may go against Galway in Salthill on Sunday next. There will be a large Galway crowd here as expectations rise in the wake of Henry Shefflin's appointment. They will expect nothing less than a win. Offaly should put it up to them and it would really boost morale if they could be competitive well into the second half. You can't make any argument for an upset win, other than anything can happen in sport. However, for Michal Fennelly and Offaly, any green shoots will be welcomed with open arms and they will be rattling into Galway with everything they have.

Fixtures, with first named at home

Sunday, February 6; Galway v Offaly;

Sunday, February 13; Offaly v Cork;

Sunday, February 27; Offaly v Clare;

Sunday, March 6: Wexford v Offaly;

Sunday., March 20: Limerick v Offaly.