Hanniffy ready to lay down the law in crucial Laois tie

IN wig and gown, all grown up and finished with what was a very demanding apprenticeship, Rory Hanniffy roams the highways of Offaly these days plying his profession as a fully-fledged barrister.

In the tricolours of the county hurling team, it’s the same story.

He has served his time on the edge and this year, he is captain of the county side, who begin their championship journey at Tullamore tomorrow.

In a reflection of the county’s current low stock in hurling, however, with that responsibility comes very little expectation, even within Offaly. They’ll be expected to beat Laois, but beyond that, nothing.

The smile comes easy to Rory Hanniffy’s face as he accepts that yes, this is the case.

“Then again,” he says, “if you listened to everything that’s been said about Offaly over the years — I certainly wouldn’t still be playing! But Laois will be a really big challenge, and anyone who knows the history of the two counties will understand that I mean that.

“To look beyond that game would be foolish for us. It’s a home game, but we wouldn’t be that familiar with Tullamore, as far as playing championship matches there goes. Kilkenny are waiting for the winners of that, and that would be an exciting prospect — you want to play the best.” So, can barrister Hanniffy, explain that Offaly league campaign. “In one word or two?” he laughs. “I would have said we were getting a bit of form together as the league went on. Even against Cork in the first round, we competed, more so than we had in other years.

“There was no team running away from us, which had been a major problem in Offaly. This year, we were competing, so that going into the Limerick game I would have been optimistic.

“In the first half, we didn’t play too badly, then a couple of goals went in and the whole thing fell apart ... The goals killed us And so, Offaly joined Antrim and Down in the drop, with Laois the NHL Division Two champions also there following their failure to defeat Limerick.

Senseless. “It does seem strange, that four teams could have been relegated from the top division, but those were the terms at the start of the league . “There were games we could have won, didn’t; it was in our own hands really.”

A point missed by many, however, is that this is a very young and inexperienced Offaly team, with Rory, aged 25, and older brother Gary (bigger brother too, 6’5” and 15st to Rory’s 6’2” and 13st) as two of the elder statesmen, with Gary not yet 30.

Twenty three of John McIntyre’s 28-strong panel were under 25, ten were U21.

“There have been a huge number of changes,” admitted Hanniffy.

“And some very good finds. The two corner-backs for instance, Conor Hernon and Michael Verney, are a match for anyone.” Despite the hardships, Rory Hanniffy, meanwhile hasn’t given up hope of one day walking up those famous steps in the Hogan Stand to collect the Liam MacCarthy cup. I’ve been lucky enough to win a few All-Irelands with Birr .. You’d long for that with Offaly as well. But there’s no point in dreaming about All-Irelands and losing your focus. “I look at it from game to game and my sole ambition at the moment is that we compete in every game; after that, we win what we win.

“For too long we basked in the glory of the 80’s and 90’s, never gave thought to what was going to happen next. We probably became a bit complacent “Really, it was a fluke, a group of freaks! ... We’re only getting going now and won’t reap the rewards of that for at least four or five years. Johnny Flaherty is involved in setting up the hurling development board in the county, which is long overdue.”

Overdue as well, a return to the big-time for Offaly. It begins tomorrow.