15-05-2025
Lee Pearson ‘really wants to change' fan theory about Offaly GAA with Tailteann Cup challenge after ending winless run
IN THEIR first campaign since taking the Mickey, Offaly are aiming to prove that their latest Tailteann Cup challenge will be no joke.
After reaching the semi-finals of the inaugural edition in 2022, the Faithful then put together a woeful
record
in the second-tier competition.
2
Lee Pearson and Offaly beat Wicklow for their first win in the Tailteann Cup in five
Credit: Sam Barnes/Sportsfile
2
Offaly captain Lee Pearson lifts the cup after his side's victory in the Allianz Football League Division 3 final against Kildare
Credit: Piaras Ó Mídheach/Sportsfile
However, a run of five consecutive Tailteann defeats ended last weekend as they ran out eight-point winners over
'It's probably something we're conscious of, something we really do want to change. I wouldn't say it's for lack of effort or lack of engagement with the competition. It just hasn't been going our way, from my point of view, over the last couple of years.
'It's very much something we're acutely aware of and we do really want to change that.'
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Pearson, 22, was one of the stars of the Offaly Under-20 side who were steered to All-Ireland glory by Declan Kelly in 2021.
Kelly was promoted to the senior job for 2024 and the management ticket was then bolstered for this season by the addition of one of the game's most iconic gaffers.
Following stints in charge of Louth and
Derry
, Mickey Harte was
And Pearson admits that it 'came as quite a bit of a shock' to learn of the appointment of the man who won three All-Ireland SFC titles while managing his native
Tyrone
.
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He recalled: 'We knew Declan was going to be staying on and we were quite happy with that. Then we heard Mickey was coming in as joint-manager.
'Everyone was kind of delighted. Everyone knows the calibre of the man and the calibre of a coach he is, so very much delighted to have him involved.
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'There's substance to what he says, I suppose. If he comes out with something, the lads really listen and buy into it.
'He has a really good way with words as well and a really good way of phrasing things. I suppose that comes with the experience too.'
According to Pearson, there 'hasn't really been anything strange' about playing in a set-up where the managerial duties are a shared enterprise.
He explained: 'Each has their own individual roles. It seems to be working quite well.
'Mickey has been around the block for the last 20, 25 years and brings that kind of wealth of experience from all around the country. He has coached top players and obviously Declan knows all of our players like the back of his hand, so it's kind of a sweet combination really.'
ROYAL GRUMBLE
The early signs under the dual management of Kelly and Harte were promising as Offaly sealed promotion from Division 3. A second win over
space
of a fortnight then added the bonus of silverware.
They also looked set to start their
Championship
campaign with a big win as the visitors availed of the wind at their backs to take a ten-point lead into the interval in their clash with Meath in Navan.
But the Royals mounted a sensational second-half comeback before going on to end Dublin's 14-year reign as Leinster champions.
Reflecting on the loss to a Meath side who were beaten by Louth in Sunday's Leinster final, Pearson lamented: 'Meath are a very good side — you saw that with them overcoming the Dubs. But looking back, we were very disappointed with how the second half went.
'We built up a bit of a lead. There was a strong gale but there was no excuse for the manner in which we kind of gave up the lead so quickly. So we were a bit disappointed with how that performance went but loads of learnings from it, playing against a top side.'
After a four-week lay-off, Offaly got off to a positive start in the Tailteann Cup as goals from Jack Bryant and Diarmuid Egan helped them to that 2-13 to 0-11 win over Wicklow.
They
next
play
football
next
summer
.
The Edenderry defender said: 'We definitely do see it as a competition that's worth giving 100 per cent. There's no question about that, particularly when you look at the last two
campaigns
being quite disappointing. We never really got going.
'Look, we'd be hoping for a different approach this year.
'Ultimately you see it as another route to get back into the primary competition, which is the Sam Maguire. This is a huge opportunity to get into that competition.
'This is our All-Ireland Championship competition — that's very much been the message. We're in the Tailteann Cup for a reason, because we haven't proven or we haven't reached the level it takes to compete in the Sam Maguire just yet.
'By all means it's something we're going to go after.'
