Offaly’s promotion bid gathers steam with big win over Antrim
By Kevin Egan
Following the Offaly footballers at the moment feels like sharing the emotion of a child, not long back in school, itching to write their letter to Santa.
It doesn’t matter that it’s far too early to really get excited, or that there are logical reasons to park that emotion for a good while yet. When you’ve watched your team win their first three games, scoring 1-17, 2-19 and 4-19 in the process, it’s hard to keep a lid on the giddiness.
Now, if the name of the game is dampening enthusiasm, there are wet blankets everywhere close at hand. Sligo shot a bucketload of wides. Laois didn’t have a game in week one to get used to the new rules. Antrim had two men sent off by the 42nd minute, and were still just three points behind with 15 minutes to play. Not to mention, the Valentine’s Day roses on the kitchen table are still fresh, so it’s very early in the season yet.
All of the above is true, and yet for a long time now when it comes to Offaly football, notwithstanding 2021 when there was promotion and an U-20 All-Ireland to celebrate in the one season, the challenge has been making out small traces of silver lining on some quite black cumulonimbus.
Leitrim are in disarray at the moment. Out of the 20 players that saw action in the 2024 Division Four League final, just four took to the field in Ballinamore against Kildare, so Offaly’s trip to the Seán O’Heslin’s club on Sunday week should yield another victory.
That might sound presumptuous, but barring a management heave and a clarion call that brings a number of players out of the wilderness, they are out of their depth in this division.
What that means is that even a draw against Fermanagh this weekend will leave the team needing one win from either of the last two games (at home to Kildare and away to Clare) to secure promotion. It’s a fantastic place to be, and while a reality check could be around the corner at any time – including this Sunday in Enniskillen – it seems reasonable to be hugely enthused about what’s happening right now.