Kelleher: Dubs can learn from Offaly’s example

SURPRISING fact: since their breakthrough year of 1981, in All-Ireland hurling titles won, Offaly are joint second with Cork, on four.

It's an imposing statistic for Dublin, who won the last of their six titles in 1938, in Sunday's Leinster SHC semi-final in Croke Park. But not one that first-year Dublin manager Humphrey Kelleher is unduly fazed by.

"Twenty-three years ago, Offaly were at the same level as we're at now, and look what they've achieved since. We know we're being discounted but we're going out to win, have no doubt about that. We've already beaten Offaly and Wexford, the two teams left in the Leinster championship with ourselves, this year, so we won't be intimidated. What we have to get right now is our mental approach, have the belief that we can do the business."

The problem for the genial Kelleher, who experienced the championship cauldron up through the underage groups with his native Waterford, is that this game is perhaps coming a year too soon for his young charges. Last season, Offaly manager Mike McNamara blooded a host of U-21's, and they now have that experience under their belts as they face the Dubs this weekend. Dublin are currently going through that process.

"Offaly are no longer relying on the old big names, I saw them against Laois in the championship and they had a young side out, played that game at a frightening pace.

"They're a very skilful side also, as you'd expect from Offaly young Brian Carroll, the Hanniffys, Brendan Murphy, Michael Cordial. They all played against Dublin last year, beat us by six points in Croke Park, but we've made quite a few changes since then. In fact of the 15 who finished the quarter-final win over Westmeath, eight were U-21. There was the goalkeeper, Gary Maguire, making his first appearance in Croke Park, did very well under the high ball. The full-back, who played very well, Simon Daly. Centre-back Ronan Fallon, who also played well, Stephen Hiney alongside him. Corner-forward David O'Callaghan, just returned to the panel, but took his goal really well. Mikey Carton at left-half-forward, and two of the subs who came on, Padraig Fleury, nephew of Pat Fleury [former Offaly star], scored two fine points from play, and finally Sean McCann. Sean O Se, who also came on, scored a point, is only 22.

"In fact," he laughed, "Johnny McGurk, another late introduction, is bringing up the average age big-time, at 32! We have another five youngsters on the panel also, so I'm trying to build for the future here."

One name missing on Sunday is Conal Keaney. The Dublin dual star, a better hurler than footballer, was red-carded at the very end of last week's win over Westmeath when the game was already out of sight.

"In my tenure in Dublin, that was the first sending off, and it's not a true reflection of Conal Keaney's style, nor of mine.

"There wasn't one bad blow in that whole game, absolutely no malice, I'd say it's the easiest championship game referee Diarmuid Kirwan will handle all year. Yet, three minutes left, game over, no point to prove, he sent off Conal."

So, can Dublin win, cause a shock in Croke Park for the third week in a row? After all, they did beat Offaly by 21 points in the League (4-21 to 2-6), albeit an Offaly side short several of the players on duty this weekend. "You never know with Offaly, they're a team with so many sides. They're certainly not what you'd describe as a League team, but they are the archetypal championship team, and they've proven that over the years.

"Even the likes of Meath have beaten them in the League, and they only laughed it off. As Christy Ring said so many years ago, and it's still true today, when the cuckoo comes, that's when the hurling season really starts."