30 years since Offaly and Antrim played out a famous All-Ireland semi-final, though the counties are as far removed from that level as they have ever been right now.
Granted, Antrim’s presence in the last four back then was as a result of the clear imbalance that saw Ulster representatives enter the All-Ireland race at such an advanced stage but they were capable of being competitive against the top sides then in a way that they haven’t been for a long time.
Offaly appeared regularly at the business end of the Championship back then and for many years afterwards though their decline over the past couple of decades continues to accelerate, to the extent that they are in grave danger of relegation to the Christy Ring Cup.
Joachim Kelly, who played in that game in 1989, has been parachuted in as manager ahead of today’s encounter in Tullamore, and has restored Peter Geraghty, Dermot Gath and Sean and Michael Cleary to the panel.
Antrim struggled in this competition last year but started with a comprehensive win over Kerry and performed better than the result would suggest against Laois. A victory here would put them in a very strong position to finish in the top two with a home game against Westmeath still to come.
Westmeath’s surprise defeat to Kerry means that Offaly’s ambitions need not stop with avoiding relegation. If they can win their last two games, they could yet be in the shake-up to reach the final, depending on other results.
After a shocking display against Westmeath, the players must respond with a performance and Kelly should be able to extract it from them.
VERDICT: Offaly
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