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Offaly Hurlers Kick Start Year With Trip To Kinnegad

Thursday, 19 January 2012

New Offaly Manager Ollie Baker aims to treat every game with the same competitive that he believes is key to their fortunes this year. MT03308

Having seen their footballing counterparts already take care of Westmeath in their opening competitive engagement of 2012, Ollie Baker and his Offaly charges will be hoping for a similar result on Sunday when he takes the Offaly Hurlers to Kinnegad to take on the Lake County in the opening round of the Walsh Cup at 2pm.
Last week saw the news come out that there has been no retirements from last year meaning that the likes of Brendan Murphy and David Franks will be throwing in their lot for the year ahead.
It is unusual territory for Offaly this January as you have to go back to 2008 for the last time they hadn't the pick of the County in the month of January. Birr won the Leinster title back in 2008 and this year the stars from Coolderry are the ones unavailable due to their impending clash with Gort on the 11th February.
Its a time for experimenting but as Baker explains, every game that they go out and play with an Offaly jersey on their back is a game that they want to and will strive to win.
"Initially every game is there to be won. We are not going to cherry pick what games are important. We are going to compete in every game and I expect every Offaly player to do so just like I expect them to compete in every training session.
"I want them to be competitive in everything they do and every challenge we face, we will meet it head on".
Weeks of hard slog and a few challenge matches are under their belts but the lure of competitive action is hard bet according to the former Clare midfield supremo. They enter the game injury free with the panel available to them and Baker is looking forward to competitive action.
"A competition is a competition and it's a competitive fixture. Its great to have matches to look forward too and the lads really appreciate the competitive fixtures", as Baker explains.
There are absentees for the Walsh Cup but the new banisteoir sees it as a plus and it gives players the chance to prove their worth in the absence of the Coolderry contingent and of David Kenny and James Mulrooney who are competition tied with their Colleges.
"We are down about 10 players for one reason or another but thats a good complaint to have as you want to see what your panel is like.
"They are an honest and committed bunch of players and they have given everything. We have kept our heads down and we are looking forward to the game on Sunday.
"Training is all well and good but it's all about getting out and in to a match situation and that is starting this Sunday".
Success on the club scene brings its own troubles with the absence of the likes of Brian Carroll, Cathal Parlon, and Damien Murray but to name a few. Coolderry are busy preparing for their All Ireland semi final but the Garda believes that the influence of Coolderry's success can be extremely positive for the Faithful County.
"They are after giving the whole County a boost and every club in Offaly. Supporters were beginning to talk about Offaly hurling over the Christmas and thats great as it gives everyone a lift. There is an optimistic outlook for the future and there is an interest amoung people. Having expectancy coming up to matches is vital and the players can feed from that and it makes the game more important".
Young guns like Colin Egan and Chris McDonald have now another year under their belt while Shane Dooley is likely to once again carry the main scoring threat on Sunday.
Westmeath have been improving in recent years and beat Offaly in the Minor championship last year but Offaly should have enough in reserve to account for the Lake County and make it a clean sweep over their Neighbours in January. Nonetheless its a local derby, a fact not lost on Ollie Baker although he sees the bigger picture.
"There is a rivalry there and we will have to take that in to account but we would be concentrating more on our performance in the competitive environment".
Its the start of what will be a very interesting year for Offaly in the land of hurling. New manager, new Leinster club champions and an optimism that will hopefully be built on.

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