Former Offaly captain David Kenny to decide on future in the new year

Former Offaly captain David Kenny will decide upon his intercounty future during the Christmas period as he continues his rehabilitation from the ongoing injuries which have ravaged his recent campaigns for the faithful county.

The full back who captained the county in 2012 and 2013 before being hampered by a litany of knee injuries over the past two years in particular, will be given until January to tell manager Brian Whelahan whether or not he intends to appear in the green, white and gold in 2015.

“David Kenny is a guy who has had very long-term injuries and you know it’ll be next year before a decision is made with him as regards to whether he’ll be able to partake,” explains manager Whelahan.

“At the minute he’s in a rehabilitation course and we’ll just see how he comes out of that. He had a very tough time last year with injuries and dealing with long-term injuries, so we have to be very respectful of his service to his county and give him the time needed to maybe get himself 100 percent right for Offaly in 2015.

Last year

Kenny didn't feature during this year's Leinster championship, although he was named at centre forward in the qualifier matches against both Antrim and Tipperary, scoring a crucial goal against Antrim.

“In the new year David will decide, we’ve had this conversation and he’ll be very honest with us next year. This year was a very tough one on him and we maybe gambled on playing him when maybe he wasn’t 100 percent right, and maybe that wasn’t fair to him.

“He’s had a lot of knee issues, injuries akin to wear and tear and continuing to hurl while already injured with serious enough knee injuries. So you’re adding a lot more to the injury when you’re constantly hurling on that injury.

“But that’s the measure of the guy, he’d tog out for Offaly no matter what the situation and we just want to be fair to him that he’s happy in himself about togging out next year.

Retirements

Offaly hurling has already been hit hard by the retirements of experienced duo Rory Hanniffy and Kevin Brady last month.

Both players served their county with top-class consistency over the years despite receiving very little in terms of top-class results or silverware.

“Rory Hanniffy and Kevin Brady have retired from last year,” explains Whelahan. “Rory was on the verge of retiring the year before and I asked him to stay on and in fairness he did but the injuries that Rory incurred over his time and trying to play through that last year was no small feat. He basically togged out injured every day for Offaly and we owe him a great debt of gratitude for that.

“Rory’s attitude and presence in our own dressing room was huge and while he never saw the highs or the honours, Rory was always a name that would be associated with Railway cup teams with Leinster and what not, and would always be able to hold his own hurling beside the Tommy Walshs and JJ Delaneys and that was a measure of the player he was.”

Brady, served the Offaly cause for 11 years, two less than Hannify. The duo both hold Division Two league medals from 2005 and 2009.

“Kevin gave huge service to Offaly as well over a huge period, he came into the panel when I was finishing up. He was a hugely dedicated player who mightn’t have got the plaudits of others or been as well known as even Rory Hannify or these guys but his attitude in training and his no-nonsense approach was taken on board by all the players and they realised how serious he was about Offaly hurling.”

Challenge

Ahead of the weekend’s Leinster club hurling final when Ballyhale Shamrocks try to out-do Whelahan’s own club Birr’s record of seven provincial titles by overcoming Offaly champions Kilcormac/Killoughey, and despite the promise of the club scene, hurling in Offaly remains at a low.

An aggregated losing margin of 41 points from their three championship games last summer and despite the victory over Antrim the county approach 2015 in need of huge improvement.

“Offaly have definitely got a journey to undertake to get themselves to a level of competitiveness where by they can actually compete with the top teams,” explains Whelan, a four-time All Star himself.

“In fairness to the county board and what not steps are starting to be put in place, or the preparations are being put in place for Offaly to start out on this course and make sure they stay the course.

“There’s no hiding away and results have shown over the last number of years where Offaly are at, both at underage level and at senior.

“Things don’t just automatically appear when you’re at senior, when you haven’t been doing it at a certain degree at underage level, but steps are being taken to remedy that and realise the part that we are expected to play in that overall structure.

“While progress may not have been seen from a results factor from our point of view at least, the first steps have been taken to address the overall issues that have crept into Offaly hurling over the last number of years and has us where we are.”