Galway next up as Offaly aim for quick recovery from unlucky defeat

OFFALY won't have much time for self reflection or licking their wounds as Galway come to Tullamore next Saturday evening for a crunch Leinster Senior Hurling Championship clash.

With both sides having lost their opening game last Saturday, this showdown is of critical importance. The pressure may be greater on Galway as the repercussions from a defeat against newly promoted Offaly would be seismic but it is also a massive game for the home side.

Offaly were very unfortunate to lose by 1-25 to 2-19 to Dublin in a thrilling shootout in Parnell Park on Saturday evening. They were in a great position when leading by three points near the end but were over hauled in injury time and suffered a cruel defeat.

They deserved to get something out of the game with manager Johnny Kelly remarking afterwards: “We came here with the intention of winning and when you lose, you have to take it on the chin and move forward. It's a bit too soon to analyse it but I couldn't fault the effort of the guys.”

Stating that they had the upper hand for a lot of the game, the Portumna man took the positives from the loss. “They really have grown up over the last twelve months and it's a learning curve today and hopefully one that we will bring forward into next week. In fairness to Dublin, they stayed in the game and you have to give them great credit.

“We had the upper hand for most of that game and to be fair to Dublin, they are a team that has been in this situation numerous times and they dug out the win and we just need to dust ourselves down now and move again.”

Kelly was under no illusions about the task that awaits them against Galway, stating that one good display doesn't guarantee a good performance the following week.

And that will be very much at the centre of Offaly's preparations this week as they bid to build on the very encouraging form shown in Parnell Park – where they produced a performance that was good enough to win but they just couldn't get across the line.

They also face up to a Galway side with their pride hurt and a major point to prove after being resoundingly beaten, 3-24 to 0-21 by Kilkenny in Nowlan Park on Saturday afternoon.

That was a chastening experience for Galway and they will be very keen to lay down a serious marker in Tullamore.

It is a game fraught with danger for Offaly. The players will have been devastated at going so close to a season making win in Donnycarney and there will be some sort of a spin off from that. It could work positively with another huge display or they could be on a downer and be flat. If the latter happens, they will be well beaten and Galway won't be showing any mercy if they sniff blood.

It will be a huge occasion and there will be a big crowd in O'Connor Park. Tullamore is a very handy venue for Galway and they will travel in much greater numbers than they did to Kilkenny.

Saturday's display should have done a lot of good for Offaly. While they had beaten Dublin in the league, there was a fear that the championship could be a very different story but they competed really well and were the better team for a lot of the way.

There will be lessons to be learnt along the way and Galway have the capacity to teach one on Saturday but once again, there is optimism about where Offaly are going and the progress they are making. They are working so hard and have such a desire for it.

With the top two teams going into the final, Offaly will be aiming big but the first priority at the moment is to retain their top flight status. Despite going so close to Dublin, Antrim and Offaly remain the two teams in most peril and they meet in their last game in Tullamore on May 25.

There will be a lot of hurling played before that and a win would really set Offaly up. It is a very gruelling, tough campaign with games coming thick and fast.

There is a break after this weekend before three rounds on successive weekends with Offaly away to Kilkenny and Wexford before that home showdown with the Ulster men.

The schedule will ask a lot of players and there is very limited time for recovery. Adam Screeney was not a sub last Saturday and it remains to be seen if he is drafted into the panel for the Galway game – the attacking ace has played a couple of games for Offaly U20 hurlers but still has a bit of work to do after missing so much with a groin injury.

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There are various things for the management to mull over but Offaly won't be making many changes for this game and the same fifteen could start.

It is hard to know what way this will go. Galway are favourites and it will be a surprise if they don't win but Offaly are capable of an upset. As in Dublin, the key for them is to hit the ground running, be in the hunt at half time and see where that takes them.