Buoyant Offaly head into biggest test with confidence flying
OFFALY will be in no way getting carried away or ahead of themselves but they will travel to Pearse Stadium, Galway next Sunday in the best possible frame of mind after a very encouraging start to the Leinster Senior Hurling Championship.
Offaly played out of their skins as they drew 4-22 to 2-28 with Dublin in a thrilling opening round clash in O'Connor Park on Saturday last. They may have left a point behind themselves to an extent as they had chances to have won but equally, they could very easily have suffered a shattering late defeat and in the overall scheme of things, a draw was a very good result.
Having ran Dublin close in last year's championship, it was a very important step forward for Offaly and they produced a really good performance on the day, full of hearts and guts as well as playing some excellent hurling.
Having survived last year in their first year back in the Leinster championship, Offaly have set their sights higher this year, targeting Dublin and Wexford as teams they can beat. They went very close against Dublin but the draw really sets their season up.
Offaly also have home games to come against Wexford and Kilkenny while they are away to Kildare in their last game. Despite Saturday's fine performance and result, their season could very well depend on beating Kildare in Newbridge to stay up but equally, a win in their games before that could have them safe.
That is the target for Offaly – Wexford will be the really big game for Offaly in this regard while Kilkenny's cloak of invincibility is slipping but the Offaly management and players won't be falling for the narrative that they are now ripe for picking. There may be an outside chance there but it is still a big ask for Offaly to win a first championship game against the Noresiders since the 1998 All-Ireland final.
In a way, it is a pity that Galway is next up. Maybe, it would be better to have Kildare or Wexford and Offaly could build on the momentum from Saturday but you can also argue this the other way: that it is best to have their toughest game next as Offaly drained every fibre of their being against Dublin and there will be a lot of sore bodies.
Offaly, however, do need to give another performance in Galway, even if a win is too much to hope for at the moment. Following their 3-25 to 1-16 demolition of Kilkenny on Saturday, Galway are favourites for the provincial crown and they are in the tier above Offaly at the moment.
Offaly haven't beaten Galway since the 2001 league, though they did draw with them in the league in 2008 and in the championship in 2010, losing the replay by just two points. Since then, the losing margin hasn't been in single digits, ranging from 10 to 26 points.
Galway have the capacity to inflict real pain on Offaly and they are clearly going well, though black and red cards for Kilkenny helped the home side greatly on Saturday.
The dilemma facing Offaly management is do they risk players carrying knocks for this one. Cathal King and Brecon Kavanagh both went off at half time on Saturday while Dan Ravenhill is a doubt. There hand has been strengthened by the return of Ciaran Burke and Charlie Mitchell. Mitchell was in flying form in the attack while Burke fitted seamlessly into the defence when he came on at half time.
The likelihood is that Offaly won't risk any players for this one and will prioritise the big games ahead but they will also be putting their best foot forward. A really bad beating would not do them any good and they will want to perform.
It would be disrespectful to Offaly to suggest that this game is about damage limitation. They can be so proud of the way they played on Saturday, the quality and intensity of their hurling and the desire they had. We also have to be realistic and it is hard to get away from the impression that Galway are currently out of reach. Galway of course have shown plenty of fragility in the past and you never know. The key is to be competitive into the second half and see where this takes them. At the moment, a defeat in single digits would represent progress for Offaly and even if it is worse than that, it won't be particularly damaging. They will have to take it on the chin and move on but at the moment, Offaly can at least dream and talk about the possibility of a top three finish and their season being extended into late June – and that is progress for an emerging, talented Offaly group.