Kilmurray begins mind games

IT’S over a quarter of a century now since Kevin Kilmurray spent a week planning for a Sunday where beating Laois was the focus.

This is a span that seems all the wider when the 50-odd miles separating his current abode in Dublin and his home town of Daingean are taken into account.

“In my era we won three Leinsters as well as two All-Irelands,” says Kilmurray. “I sound like Pat Spillane saying that, but all that’s long gone now. The psychological advantage that things like that used to bring to the table is gone all over Ireland.

“Look at Fermanagh last year. Alright, they might have regressed a bit this year, but Laois are no flash in the pan. Their underage record speaks for itself and they have some fantastic footballers. There is no psychological barrier for them against Offaly anymore. Actually, this Laois team probably has to win an All-Ireland now to justify their status. They need to step up to the plate.”

Ratcheting up the stakes for Laois is a clever ploy by Kilmurray yet few in Laois would disagree with him, privately at least. If another Leinster title would be mere consolidation for Mick O’Dwyer, it would be a watershed for Offaly after seven years of subsistence living. Not since 1999 when they beat a jaded looking Meath defending their Leinster and All-Ireland titles have Offaly made significant headlines in the provincial championship.

On paper Laois may be heavy favourites but derby games have a tendency to reduce any gaps that may exist. This one may not have the drawing power of Kerry-Cork or Meath-Dublin, but it’s every bit as big for those involved.

“It’s huge, basically. All local derbies stand out, that’s their nature. I was born and reared in the middle of the county so I didn’t experience it so much, but go to Portarlington and you’ll see the Laois-Offaly rivalry or the far side of the county around Clara and Doon and see what people there think of Westmeath. It’s all about bragging rights.”

This time it’s about revenge too. Two years ago Laois’ run to their first Leinster title in 58 years was very nearly derailed before they even left the station when Offaly led them by three points in Portlaoise and with injury time fast appearing.

The home side were only saved when Kevin Fitzpatrick seemingly threw the ball at Mick Lawlor for the Emo man to find the net. The job was finished in the replay a week later.

After their win over Louth earlier this month, Ciaran McManus alluded to that very goal and how it still grated on Offaly nerves to this day, though Kilmurray, naturally, is playing down its importance. “The past doesn’t worry me. Today is today, that was two years ago. Motivation is well and good, but it isn’t enough by itself.”

Kilmurray prefers to trade in practicalities: the return to the team of forward Pascal Kelleghan after an absence for personal reasons should help the side, while Mark Daly, who came on as a substitute in the win over Louth, retains his place at centre forward at the expense of Damien Hunt.

Kilmurray’s pragmatic outlook also applies to Offaly’s opener against Louth.

“I didn’t care if we won by one point or 10, the important thing was that we won,” said Kilmurray. “I would have preferred a more competitive game, but the important thing for us was to get the result and we did.”

Offaly will need every bit of help they can get because putting successive wins together in the championship this last few seasons has been a trick Offaly have failed to master.

“We’re very conscious of that as a panel. In fairness, the last two years we’ve been beaten by the odd score in the championship by the eventual Leinster champions, but that can become a habit in itself too.

“We’ll take what the Laois game brings. We’ve always enjoyed playing our neighbours and I have no doubt it will be the same this time around.”