James Skehill

Something they achieved this year.

Whether Dublin or Wexford or the idea that Kilkenny are more coming back towards the pack and that's the reason that Kilkenny didn't get through, that's irrelevant.

Offaly need to get to a point where they're not looking over their shoulder about going back down to the John McDonagh

And for me, with those players getting another year hurling into them, that's what's important.

And taking a trim in today is irrelevant to that.

And Offaly's level has to be based on what they do next season, which is again trying to build on that and trying to compete for the top three again.

That is now the benchmark that Offaly need to look at.

Today, I'd be a bit disappointed the minute the ball come in and the first angle come in.

Cork had a goal chance and they scored pretty much the second attack that they made in that way as well with a goal I was thinking why is there not a sweeper there like this is one these days where you need to accept that you're going to have to try and keep the scoreline down I felt that Offaly were very accommodating in that regard and you just you don't leave one-on-ones with that inside forward line they scored five goals between them the inside forward line by the end of the day

In fact, I'd say probably Connolly was one of the quieter of the three on the inside forward line on a day when everyone was arguing about Buckley being dropped.

And I think one or two of the commenters may well have that in there as well, that maybe Connolly was the one to drop off.

I don't know if Connolly's your free taker, you're not going to drop him off the team, but he's probably the quietest day of the three inside forwards.

But, you know, they were filling their boots outside of that.

And I think sometimes it's grand, often you do get the two goals in the second half, that takes maybe a tiny bit of the bad luck off it.

But the reality is that...

that obviously just went out there hurled I think reasonably naively and got put to the sword and that's just what's going to happen if you go up against the top teams.

Skel, what did you make of the Cork performance and anything we've touched on so far?

Thanks for reminding me yesterday.

I started this weekend by going, it's a great weekend to be alive, you know, Crowe Park on Saturday, Thurles on Sunday.

Couldn't be happier.