By Justin Kelly
Offaly hurling boss Brian Whelahan has hailed his team as “a
very professional set-up” as he installed Kilcormac/Killoughey club man Dan
Currams as his captain for the coming season. Speaking to the media, Whelahan
said: “In fairness to Kilcormac/Killoughey and their achievements in the last
few years, it merits recognition.” “Dan was a major part of that team, and a
key figure for Offaly too,” he added.
Currams will take the armband from Joe Bergin who is
currently recovering from injury. He missed the side’s victory over Westmeath
two weeks ago, and will remain on the sidelines for the clash with Galway in
the Walsh Cup this weekend. “We have to take it steady with Joe,” Whelahan
said, “but he is back with us after injury and will be a big option for us in a
couple of weeks.”
Dan Currams has been rewarded for leading his club to three
consecutive Offaly county titles, and Whelahan described him as “a very
committed fella that will let his hurling do the talking.” The manager has also
added strength to his backroom team in the shape of Edenderry man, and former
Meath hurling boss Cillian Farrell, along with the former Laois boss Damien
Fox. “Damian and Cillian have made huge contributions coming in
this year. It is a fresh approach and the lads have really bought into the
training set-up,” Whelahan remarked.
Whelahan talked about a new level of
training that had to be introduced to tighten the gap between Offaly and the
top tier of hurling in the country. “Offaly had to get really serious about it
or the gap was just going to get wider and wider,” he said. “You have a lot of
lads in college these days and they are talking to players from other county
set-ups. When given the opportunity to have the set-up that is the norm in top counties,
players respond very well and are enjoying the discipline.”
Looking ahead to Sunday’s game against Division 1 side
Galway, Whelahan acknowledged the “step up” from the Westmeath game, but said
that as “we get closer to the league campaign, teams will be looking to play
more settled teams, and we look forward to the challenge.”
Offaly’s meeting with Galway in the Walsh Cup is scheduled
for O’Connor Park, Tullamore, on Sunday at 2pm.
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