NOTHING EASY FOR FAITHFUL IN TOP FLIGHT

FIRST things first. It’s exciting to see Offaly back playing Division 1 hurling. I’m really looking forward to the run of fixtures, starting with Galway at Pearse Stadium. As a player, the top flight is where you really want to be, it’s where you learn and find out about yourself.

And yet the way Division 1 has been restructured in recent seasons, it represents a huge jump for a team like Offaly. Beforehand, if you came up from Division 2, you’d go into Division 1B. Get a shot at a few teams of similar standard as well as a few big names.

That was changed because it was felt that Division 1A was too intense on those involved, particularly with the advent of the provincial round robin as well.

Maybe I want my bread to be buttered on both sides but, the way things are now, Offaly have a seriously testing run of games. From playing the likes of Sligo and Wicklow in the Christy Ring Cup last year, it’s clearly a massive jump to face All-Ireland finalists Limerick and Cork, plus Galway, Wexford and Clare. Especially with three matches away from home.

With the average age of the team around the 22 or 23 mark, it’s going to be a learning curve. But it’s great to see Offaly back there, mixing it with the best.