McGrath says Offaly fans can power their team forward
Shane McGrath has sounded a clarion call for the Offaly hurling public: keep the faith and success will follow.
Offaly produced a performance full of skill and heart last Saturday to draw with Kilkenny in their Leinster SHC round-robin tussle.
They have two draws and a loss from their three games to date, with a home clash at Glenisk O'Connor Park against Wexford up next this Saturday evening.
Speaking on the RTÉ GAA Podcast, former Tipperary inter-county star McGrath said the Wexford showdown represents an enormous opportunity for Offaly to bag a victory which would massively boost their hopes of progressing to the All-Ireland quarter-finals.
"100% they can," said McGrath when asked if they can finish inside the top three in Leinster.
"Nearly every time Offaly are playing, they are not the favourites to win the match. Now, the last time they were favourites to win a match was Antrim last year, and they just about got the job done. It didn't seem to suit them that they had the favourites tag.
"They probably will be favourites in the Wexford match based on recent form and where they're at now in the championship. So I'm looking forward to seeing how Offaly handle that. How do they handle actually being the team in the Leinster championship in Liam MacCarthy, that everyone thinks they're actually going to be the favourites to win this match?"
The excellent showing against Kilkenny inevitably raises expectations around Offaly, and that in turn puts extra pressure on the players to do the business. McGrath says Johnny Kelly's men have to prove they can thrive under the spotlight, while also talking up the impact a big Tullamore crowd could have on their prospects.
"You have to say to the Offaly public that if you're going to get out and support the county, like you have with your minor team, and I witnessed it first-hand, like you have with your Under-20s team, and I witnessed that first-hand," McGrath added.
"They have to get behind this team now at the weekend. The more of ye that go, the better it will be for the team.
"If they can get a good following behind them at the weekend, it will make a difference. It could be worth a couple of points to them with the roar and with the atmosphere it's going to generate.
"So there's a couple things I'm interested to see. How are they going to handle the favourites tag, and will a big crowd go out and support them at the weekend?"
"What these Offaly lads are good at is their movement, their vision, their touch, their skill. They don't have to be going in for the big physical hits. Sometimes they're going to have to take them, but I think they're hardy enough and capable enough to ship a few tackles if they have to.
"I have to be totally honest as well, Offaly played very well, but Kilkenny are not playing well.
"This has been seen now consistently through the league. They were very lucky not to be relegated in the league."
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