SHANE DOOLEY expects the young guns to embrace the chance to fire Offaly to another Croke Park triumph over Dublin.
This evening’s National League fixture is the first meeting of the teams at HQ since the visitors emerged victorious in January 2018.
On that occasion, Dooley bagged 1-5 for the Faithful, who subjected Pat Gilroy to a 13-point hammering in his first game in charge of the Dubs.
Gilroy’s side exacted revenge later that season with a comprehensive Championship win that condemned their opponents to relegation to the Joe McDonagh Cup.
Yet having been absent from hurling’s top table for the last several years, a talented crop of youngsters have got Offaly dreaming again.
A 15-point trouncing of Antrim last time out sent them to the top of Division 1B. Ten of the players who featured against the Saffrons played in All-Ireland Under-20 finals in the past two seasons.
And Dooley admitted: “It’s great for Offaly to have these young lads coming through. They could be generational but it’s early days and they need to keep working at it for the next couple of years.
“They’re a long way from their prime age so a lot can happen.”
The glory days of the 1980s and 90s that yielded four All-Ireland SHC titles were a distant memory for Offaly fans as their team slipped rapidly down the pecking order.
But the future looks much brighter following the emergence of a talented crop of youngsters that includes Charlie Mitchell, Donal Shirley, Cathal King and Adam Screeney.
Beaten by a formidable Cork outfit in the 2023 All-Ireland Under-20 final, they made amends last summer by getting over the line at the expense of Tipperary. Under new gaffer Niall Ó Ceallacháin, Dublin have also made an encouraging start to 2025 with wins against Antrim and Westmeath.
But on Offaly’s prospects, Dooley said: “I’d give them every chance against Dublin up in Croke Park, to be honest.
“I think the Offaly lads will relish playing up there, all these young lads that have had a bit of success in the Under-20s and stuff.
“I’m looking forward to seeing them up there and giving Dublin a right shot.
“You wouldn’t fear them but you’d respect them. Dublin in Croke Park won’t be simple, especially with the way they’re going in the league as well. They’re doing well.
“It’s going to be a tough one but it’s one the Offaly lads could definitely win if they get it right on the night.”
FAMILY TREE
Dooley’s father Joe is the only Offaly man in possession of three All-Ireland medals. Uncles Johnny and Billy also won two apiece.
Although his time on the inter-county beat came during a period of little success for the Faithful, Shane enjoyed a stellar career of his own.
He strongly considered retirement in 2022 before returning for a 17th season. The 2023 Joe McDonagh Cup final loss to Carlow was the last stand for Offaly’s all-time leading scorer.
He said: “I couldn’t have given it any more. It wasn’t a case of being disappointed for myself because I could have given an extra year. I knew I had no more to give. I was just delighted for the lads with the fact that they went on and did it.”
Dooley, 38, was a delighted spectator at Croker back in June as Offaly edged out Laois to seal their return to top-tier Championship hurling.
The Tullamore man added: “It was great to see the lads win it last year but I wasn’t too upset that I wasn’t there because the year before was the bonus year that I got.
“It was tough watching some of the games. You go to the first league game and that’s when it hits home that you’re not part of the set-up anymore. You’re not even sure what way the team is going to be picked or what’s going on in the background, all those little things. You’re really out of the loop fairly suddenly.
“It was tough but I was just delighted the lads did the business and went on and won it and got promoted.”
TOP PRIORITY
While a win over Dublin would give Offaly’s promotion hopes a huge boost, Dooley knows their top priority this year is to make an impact in the Leinster SHC.
The Dubs will also provide the opposition when the campaign begins on April 19-20.
The meeting with Antrim on the final weekend of round-robin action could also be crucial if Johnny Kelly’s side are to retain their Liam MacCarthy Cup status.
Dooley said: “It’s important that we don’t go down and that could come down to the last game.
“I don’t know what way Johnny is going to approach it but you’d have to approach it that you’re going to try to win every game you go out to play. I definitely think there are a couple of scalps there that we could take, the way we’re going. I’d definitely set the bar high and see how it goes after that.”
As for Johnny Pilkington’s recent prediction that Offaly will be All-Ireland champions again by 2030, Dooley has no intention of contradicting one of the county’s all-time greats.
He insisted: “I’m not going to go against Johnny Pilkington anyway! You always have hope.
“If we can keep bringing through these young lads that are doing so well at underage, they’re hurling with a level of confidence that we haven’t seen for a good few years.
“They’re coming through big games and they don’t seem to mind the pressure.
“If we can keep bringing on young lads like that, it’s probably very realistic. A lot of those lads might be in their prime around that time, in five or six years’ time, so please God, if they stay going the way they’re going, we might have some bit of success.”
l SHANE DOOLEY was speaking in his role as an ambassador for the Electric Ireland Higher Education Championships.
