THE SIGHT of Offaly's tracksuited hurlers following a gang of rain soaked under 12 club players on to a field behind the County Arms Hotel in Birr some 50 minutes before their scheduled Division One encounter against Galway across the road at St Brendan's Park was no idle ploy.
"We were like dead ducks in the first-half of some of our other matches, so we decided to change the routine a bit," said Offaly manager John McIntyre.
Whether the pre match puckabout was a psychological or physical device, it worked Offaly stopped the rot and avoided a third successive defeat in the campaign with a backs to the wall, win over Galway that revives their league ambitions.
On days like these, the true worth of a team can be judged. The false summer was replaced by dark clouds overhead, and a greasy sod which, perhaps, influenced referee Michael Wadding to be more liberal with his whistle (he awarded 29 frees) than normal. If the first half and the persistent drizzle combined to leave the estimated 5,000 crowd somewhat subdued, the second, period produced sustained, quality play with the outcome in the balance right to the end.
That Offaly eventually had one point to spare was probably well merited. In Johnny Dooley they possessed a marksman in such confident mood that William Tell would have run a mile at the prospect of a duel. Dooley even ventured back into his own half to fire over a couple of massive frees (from 85 and 90 yards) in contributing 11 points to Offaly's tally.
But there was more. Kevin Kinahan, back for his first game since November, made one error of judgment early in the game - when the sliotar slipped by him to Joe Rabbitte, but the Galwayman failed to capitalise - but was otherwise a tower of strength and inspiration.
Offaly's defence needed to work hard. For long segments of the first half; Galway, with Fergal Healy looking sharp and Daragh Coen, despite a couple of disappointing frees, chalking up some nice scores, looked as if they would run away with the game.
Indeed, when Cathal Moore pointed from all of 80 yards in the 20th minute to put Galway 0-8 to 0-4 ahead, it appeared as if they were cruising to their fourth victory of the league campaign. Offaly slowly, but surely, and then with increased relish came into the game.
Galway scavenged a mere, solitary point in the 10 minutes remaining in the half. In contrast, Offaly, led by the unsung Dooley, reduced the deficit to one point, 0-9 to 0-8, at the break. Galway possibly should have been further ahead, but they shot six wides to Offaly's one in the first half.
Michael Coleman, in particular, won a lot of uncontested ball around the middle of the pitch in the first half; but Offaly tightened up considerably in the second half. Their half backs put increasing pressure on their opponents, closing, down the Galway forwards swiftly.
Corner forward Coen, who had a fine game, scoring eight points, actually proved to be Galway's most troublesome forward. He kept Galway in touch as the Offaly offensive started in earnest.
Offaly went ahead for the first time in the match in the 38th minute when Gary Cahill swung over a fine point from 50 yards, and they were leading 0-14 to 0-12 when Galway struck for the game's only goal in the 50th minute.
Coen cunningly played in a lovely ball to the edge of the square, where Alan Kerins slipped Hubert Rigney and, with no chance to use his hurley, kicked the ball to the net to give Galway the lead again, albeit by just one point. However, Dooley could do, no wrong and equalised with a point within 15 seconds.
And Johnny Dooley's last contribution before hobbling off with an ankle injury was to regain the lead for the home side, pointing from all of 85 yards in the 53rd minute.
