Conor Doughan pictured at the Leinster SHC round robin series launch.
A serious shoulder injury might be ruling him out of the early stages of the Leinster Hurling Championship, but Conor Doughan is keeping the faith.
In the closing minutes of the Allianz Hurling League quarter-final defeat to Kilkenny at Nowlan Park Doughan knew he was in bother.
“Pain wise, I knew straight away, but I didn’t think it was broken, I thought it was dislocated,” Doughan reflects. “I sat up, tried to get it up myself, but no movement whatsoever. Next thing I tried to pull it up with the other arm, still no movement. Into the dressing room then, and on to hospital.”
Doughan had enjoyed a productive spring for Offaly, who are busy trying to make strides under Eamonn Kelly.
“We’ve great lads in the backroom,” is Doughan’s verdict. “In fairness to all the players, they’ve put their heads down this year, got a good result against Wexford down there, that was due to the fact that we were all fit, all up for the match. We put that down to management and his backroom team.
“He’s a genuine, genuine person. The backroom team he got in as well, Conor Gleeson the coach has his head is screwed on as well. He knows the way the game is being played these days, he used to play with Tipp himself. In fairness to Eamonn, he knows what he’s at and it’s great to see.
“He wants lads there every night at training, an hour nearly before time we’re supposed to be there. He’s good, I reckon he is the man for the job. He’s a Tipperary man as well, he’s seen it all. Hopefully we can get back to the level we were at.”
Conor Doughan in Allianz Hurling League quarter-final action against Kilkenny at Nowlan Park.
Despite league wins over Laois and Wexford Offaly were plagued by inconsistency – the Birr defeat to Kerry was painful.
“The match against Kerry was the big one, in Birr on our home field. That was after we beat Wexford, most of us thought we had nothing to do against Kerry.
“It was a kick for ourselves, they had one thing in their heads and that was going to win the match, which they did, and fair play to them.
“The support we had on the day was serious, the stand was full, you’d hear everyone roaring. Birr is a great field, hurling and football and everything. We might get another couple of games there, but if we don’t, we’ll get over it.”
Offaly’s round robin series group with Allianz League Division 2A winners Westmeath, Carlow, and Kerry will be difficult.
“It’s our first time in it and everybody will want to get a cut at us,” Doughan admits. “We can’t take anything for granted, we have to be up for every match.
“We have Westmeath, they topped their group, I know they lost against, Laois but they’re on top form, they’re going to be a hard team to beat in their home venue.”
Westmeath didn’t concede a goal in seven league matches so Doughan expects a tough test at Mullingar on Sunday. “They’re very strong, very dogged, good individual hurlers as well. I played against them all the way up along, minor, under 21, and I know what some of them are like. They’re a dogged team.”
