Oakley: time to go Joe

RECENTLY retired Offaly stalwart, Ger Oakley, has questioned Joe Dooley’s ability to oversee progress as manager of the Faithful County’s hurlers.

Oakley was a member of the last Offaly panel to win a senior All-Ireland, in 1998, and has retired after 14 seasons with the midlanders. The last three of those were under Dooley’s stewardship but the Carrig & Riverstown club man doesn’t believe the manager did enough in that period to warrant another year at the helm.

“My opinion would be if you are in the job for three years and success is minimal enough, it is time to let someone else come in and freshen up things,” he told the Tullamore Tribune. “If you are listening to the same voice over a period of time, things can get stale. It is more or less the same bunch of players as well. I wish Joe the best of luck. Hopefully he can bring on Offaly hurling a bit but it is a mammoth task.”