On the Rhode to ending Offaly’s drought

IF there is a consensus about Offaly football it is probably one of a plucky little county punching several divisions above its weight.

It is a perception personified by Seamus Darby’s famous goal against Kerry in 1982.

It is a theory borne out by a simple comparison with neighbours Laois, another dual county and one with an almost identical population size. Whereas Offaly have won the All-Ireland three times, Laois still await their first victory.

History only goes so far however and memories of Matt Connor, Martin Furlong and Sean Lowry are receding as the county’s fortunes continue to list. The county’s senior side, its flagship, is evidence of that. Tommy Lyons delivered the last piece of silverware to the midlands in the shape of the National League trophy over a decade ago.

Not even an O’Byrne Cup has been claimed since and the drought has seeped deep into the county’s roots. It is 13 years since the U21s won a Leinster title, 19 since it was achieved at minor.

Senior managers have come and gone with a bewildering frequency. The bottom of the barrel was scraped with a stint in NFL Division Four and an embarrassing All-Ireland qualifier exit at the hands of Carlow.

The club scene hasn’t offered any respite. Offaly clubs claimed three of the first ten Leinster club titles in the 1970s but Ferbane’s success in 1986 is the only time since that they have troubled the roll of honour.

Rhode have the chance to bridge that gap against Kilmacud Crokes in tomorrow’s AIB Leinster Club SFC final, and a win would be a timely adrenaline shot for the entire county. It’s all a far cry from the days when Walsh Island and then Ferbane were numbered among the elite movers and shakers on the provincial scene.

So, why the meltdown? Stephen Darby seems a good man to ask. A brother of Seamus, he too came on as a sub that day against Kerry in ‘82 and he has his finger firmly on the club scene’s pulse.

Darby was Rhode manager when they were beaten in the Leinster final by Moorefield two years ago and his sons Niall and Brian will be togging out in Donnycarney against Crokes tomorrow.

“When Walsh Island were going well and won six in a row in Offaly, they were able to get experience playing in the provincial championship year in, year out. The same was the case with Ferbane when they won five-in-a-row,” says Darby.

Ollie Daly echoes those thoughts. County chairman until last December, he will serve as a selector to Richie Connor in the senior county team setup next year and points to another Offaly outfit to buttress his point.

“There could be a number of reasons we have been kept waiting this long. Take Birr in the hurling though, they have been qualifying for Leinsters and All-Irelands for years but they won three or four county titles before they started doing that.

“Most club teams that do well in the provincial club championships tend to be experienced teams at county championship level first. We had teams like Rhode, Tullamore, Clara and Edenderry all taking turns in Offaly in the last few years.”

Another of those mitigating circumstances may be the standard of football in the county. Daly claims it is stronger than ever, but Darby and many others disagree. It is easy to see why. Numerous, traditionally strong clubs are struggling. Walsh Island are at intermediate and were a junior outfit at one point. Ferbane have just returned to the senior grade and competitive entities like Doon and St Brigid aren’t as vibrant as they were.

The most pertinent example may well be Daingean. The village produced a litany of players for the county team, particularly in the 1960s when it won two senior titles, but it is a junior outfit these days. Rhode, at least, are going in the opposite direction having won four of the last five county crowns and have been pushing firmly at the door in Leinster, reaching a semi-final and final in the last three seasons.

“They aren’t going in raw anyway,” says Darby. “This isn’t new to them and they have the experience of losing a Leinster final, as well as a semi-final to Kilmacud, and I’m sure they will be still smarting from those memories. They know what they have to do. They can’t dwell on those memories but they will stand them in good stead. Kilmacud are a good football side and so are Rhode.”

The odds are against them, as Crokes are on familiar turf in Parnell Park, but Daly still forsees a Rhode victory.

“They are strong all over. Shane Sullivan (suspended) is a big loss but the others will lift it a gear. They have always been a great representative for Offaly.”

The county needs them now more than ever.