Whelahan treads warily as Faithful tackle Kingdom

Offaly v Kerry, HL Division 1B

Holder of 12 senior county titles with his club Birr, seven Leinster medals and four All-Irelands.

At inter-county level there’s two All-Ireland minor titles, three U21 runner-up medals, two All-Ireland senior, four All Star awards, two hurler of the year (1994 and 98) gongs culminated in his selection as left-half back on the hurling team of the millennium.

His elevation then to the role of Offaly senior hurling manager was seen as a positive move but this year’s league has been a baptism of fire: “To say the least!” he says, grimly.

It started with a home defeat to Laois, continued with away losses to Wexford and Cork. Then a brief reprieve with a surprise last-ditch draw with Limerick, followed by a huge win in Ballycastle against group basement team Antrim (5-27 to 4-9). But that’s all it was, a reprieve. A week after that win up north Offaly returned and met a very different Antrim side who beat them 1-18 to 1-14.

“The poor start to the league, against Laois, was a major setback,” he said.

“We found ourselves in a bad spot very quickly. The worst though was the performance in Ballycastle in the playoff game. We just seemed to implode though I don’t want to take from Antrim’s performance either.”

Antrim had been late in arriving for the start of first game and fielded a vastly under-strength side. Had they set Offaly up?

“Ah no, they came with whatever team they came with the first day and that’s fair enough, I have no complaints about that. That was their own business.

“My only concern is my own team and the performance they put in and there was a lack of urgency, a lack of intensity in that playoff.

“But I found out a few things that day about players as well, so it was positive in that respect at least.”

In every other division in this league – hurling and football – such a loss would indeed have condemned Offaly to relegation, down to 2A. This year however, for reasons known only to themselves, the GAA decided the 1B relegation losers would get another chance and Offaly face Division 2B winners Kerry in Thurles today (6.30pm).

“In fairness to Kerry, if right was right they probably should be up now and we should be down, and I’d be the first to acknowledge that,” said Whelahan.

“We don’t make the rules but Kerry did everything that was required of them. They won all their league games, won their division final. Technically they should now be promoted.

“It’s an unfortunate situation from their point of view. You would feel once you’ve won your division you should be promoted. From our point of view, we’re very lucky to have this extra game to try and get ourselves back on track.”

They’re hotly fancied to do just that but having endured so much disappointment already this season, Brian is wary.

“I was at the Carlow game last Sunday [Division 2A final, also in Thurles] and I can honestly say, Kerry impressed me greatly. In the first half against the wind they kept the scoreboard ticking over nicely, could have had two goals as well. They came out in the second half and really went at Carlow, were fully deserving of their win.

“I don’t think anyone has reason to doubt them. They’ve won all their league games to date despite suffering their injury problems, players missing at various stages.

“They’re definitely a worthwhile opposition.

“From our point of view it’s about getting a performance from our guys, getting them to show the urgency needed for such situations and we’re in a very, very precarious situation right now. We dug ourselves into this hole, we can only dig our way out of it ourselves.”