Slattery conscious of nine-year hiatus

Wexford v Offaly: Like it or not, the Offaly replacements bench has been the story of the summer so far. The Kildare county board's insistence on pursuing the "sixth substitute" debate to the Disputes Resolution Authority completely disrupted the best-laid plans of the Leinster Council.

And reporters were left with no option but to overload printing presses with coverage of the long-drawn-out process.

There is hope that by Sunday a fresh story will have emerged. Offaly could still be that story and the plot could well entail Karol Slattery leading them closer to a first Leinster title in nine years.

Slattery, who yesterday received a GPA Player of the Month award for May, was a minor in 1997 when Offaly last contested a senior provincial football final.

At first uptight, he seemed to finally relax yesterday when listing the experienced players who remain from that team.

"Padraig Kelly, Cathal Daly, Ciarán McManus, Colm Quinn and Mark Daly - they're the guys that are left so the experience is there."

Where was he that day?

"I was on the Hill and I remember running out when they won."

His initial unease was understandable; he is not used to having 20 microphones - some radio, but mostly print - thrust under his nose, though he did undergo a similar routine a few weeks back when receiving the GAA/Vodafone player-of-the-month award.

At least the on-field duties that come with the captaincy sit well on the Portarlington resident's shoulders. When it comes to discussing football he is precise, but the eyes glaze over when the "six sub" topic reappears. One last time . . .

"It probably gave us a bit of an advantage that Shane O'Sullivan got the extra bit of time and he's back in the full-back line on Sunday. Colm Quinn is there or thereabouts too, so from that perspective the extra bit of time was useful."

Sunday offers an opportunity to bring the focus back to the pitch. Football could probably do with Offaly or Wexford beating Dublin and keeping the Delaney Cup on the tour of Leinster that began with Laois in 2003.

In fact, going back to 1997, Offaly, Kildare, Meath, Dublin, Laois and Westmeath have all tasted provincial success.

"We've had a few disappointing years. We've been unlucky. But I suppose you have to make your own luck. We drew with Kildare. We drew with Laois. A few dodgy decisions have gone against us, last-minute goals . . . I suppose it has been heartbreaking, especially when you see your neighbours Westmeath and Laois winning Leinsters."

An agonising defeat to Laois last year sent Offaly into the qualifiers, where Carlow caught them cold. Carlow would be a backdoor team by nature. Offaly are either all confidence or all despair.

"We've never really taken to the qualifiers," says Slattery with a dry wit that draws the required laughter, and for the first time he proffers unprompted information.

"It was a sucker punch against Laois and to be honest about it we were never really up for the (Carlow) game. The result showed."

Slattery is also keenly aware of the first-season syndrome in Leinster football. Paul Bealin became Wexford manager this year and their momentum has grown since the emphatic victory over Meath on May 28th.

"A new manager gives lads an opportunity. Look at Mick O'Dwyer and Paul Caffrey. They won Leinster championships in their first year so players respond to a manager in their first year."

Those absent from Croke Park last month - and there were many - for Offaly's stuttering victory over Westmeath and vastly improved destruction of Kildare can witness a team trying to stay in the headlines on Sunday.

This time for football reasons.