Connor And Alan McNamee Back On Offaly Senior Football Panel
Thursday, 23 February 2012
BRIAN Connor and Alan McNamee have been called back into the Offaly senior football panel as management desperately try to strengthen their squad after a poor start to Division 3 of the National Football League - Defeats by Longford and Roscommon in the opening two games have left Offaly staring relegation in the face and they desperately need to put points on the board.
Connor, a son of All-Ireland winning captain, Richie, had been left off the panel earlier in the year over commitment issues but his call back will be welcomed by supporters. Connor, just 21 years of age, is one of the brightest prospects in the county and should nail down a place at midfield. He has a powerful engine, is a fine fielder of the ball and a good distributor.
It is significant that both Connor and McNamee have been called back in as Offaly have floundered at midfield in their defeats by Longford and Roscommon, struggling in particular to win primary possession.
Alan McNamee played for Offaly senior footballers for almost a decade before being left off by the last manager, Tom Cribbin - New manager, Gerry Cooney also decided against including him initially but McNamee's form has remained consistently good for Rhode and this can been reflected by his call up.
Connor and McNamee both trained last Thursday night where they were joined by star forward and Alan's younger brother, Niall McNamee who made his return to collective training: An important step in his much publicised battle with a gambling addiction.
Brian Connor played very well, improving as the game went on, in a challenge game against Wicklow on Sunday where Offaly won by 0-18 to 0-12 and will be in contention for a starting place in the next league game away to Antrim on March 3 - Despite his return to training, Niall McNamee may not return that quickly as he is also receiving treatment on a troublesome groin injury.
There have been a couple of other additions to the Offaly panel. Peter Boland, a defender with Thomas Davis in Dublin, is in the process of declaring for Offaly under the rule that allows sons of exiles in the capital play with their father's native county, and he has been training in recent weeks. Boland did not play against Wicklow as he has not been cleared to play yet but this is expected to be approved in the coming days - His father is a native of Durrow.
A Birr intermediate footballer, Tom Conneely is another surprise addition to the training panel - Conneely, a son of the former Offaly hurler of the same name, came on as a sub against Wicklow.
Offaly played fairly well against Wicklow, though there was concern when Aidan Keenaghan limped off injured after just eight minutes and was replaced by Niall Smith.
The game also marked the return of Walsh Island's Rory Connor to competitive action after a long lay off with injury and he did well at centre half back.
The Offaly team that started was: Ian Duffy; James Gallagher, John Moloney, Kevin Lynam; Paul McConway, Rory Connor, Brian Darby; Brian Connor, Daniel Currams; James Keane, Aidan Keenaghan, Nigel Dunne; Ger Treacy, Willie Mulhall, Ken Casey.
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