By God, Offaly have hit form at the right time.
Here’s how the Faithful County’s record reads in the national hurling league this season: LLLLW.
You can’t deny that they’re on the up. Offaly have won 100 per cent of their last one games and they’ve finished their group campaign with a bang.
What started off with a 26-point defeat to Galway in the opening clash of Division 1B, Kevin Ryan’s men have ended on a high by setting up a clash with All-Ireland champions Tipperary in the quarter-finals of the national league.
And all they had to do to get there is beat Kerry by two points.
Offaly’s league campaign:
- Offaly 1-12 Galway 6-23 – Lost
- Laois 1-26 Offaly 1-20 – Lost
- Limerick 1-25 Offaly 3-15 – Lost
- Offaly 0-15 Wexford 1-17 – Lost
- Kerry 2-16 Offaly 1-21 – Won
Offaly finished up with four losses from five games. They finished up with two whole points – the same as Laois (who beat them) and Kerry too – both of whom are in a relegation play-off now. They finished with a points difference of minus 39 but all that was enough because all they had to do to reach the Division One quarter finals was come fourth in Division 1B.
For some bonkers reason, the GAA in all their wisdom ruled it that, despite there being a clear difference in standard between 1A and 1B – recognised by the GAA themselves with promotion and relegation – both divisions would still be considered on the same level so four teams from each would qualify for the league quarter-finals.
You can therefore rank 10th after the league system and still reach the last eight.
It’s something that both Shane Dowling and Derek McGrath have laughed about on The GAA Hour, coming from two different ends of it. The reality is, you can be like Offaly and win one game against a team who might be relegated to the third tier and still get to the quarters.
Meanwhile, a side like Clare can beat Dublin and Kilkenny and perform way better in a higher division, but they don’t get a sniff of a quarter-final spot – instead, face a relegation playoff.
Division One hurling quarter-final draw:
- Tipperary v Offaly
- Cork v Limerick
- Waterford v Galway
- Kilkenny v Wexford
Davy Fitzgerald’s reward for winning all five of his league games with Wexford is an appetising sparring session with the Cats who they are on a collision course in the Leinster championship with.
Limerick finished third in Division 1B and get to face Cork instead.
Offaly complete their campaign with the narrowest of wins – their only win – that prevents them from finishing bottom of the second tier and they’re honoured with the best of championship warm-ups against the finest side in the country.
Only in the GAA, eh?
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