Those who can recall Offaly's breakthrough as a hurling power in the 1980s will have special memories of a side that more often than not excited and enthralled. The midlanders broke the Kilkenny/Wexford duopoly in Leinster, before going on to land the Liam MacCarthy Cup on four occasions in the period from 1981 to 1998.
1980 saw the county win its first provincial crown when just over 9,000 people turned up at Croke Park.
However, many more claimed to have been there on day when a Kilkennyman, Diarmiud Healy, called the shots that saw Offaly famously get one over on the all-conquering Cats. The Faithful would go on to win the Bob O'Keeffe trophy on seven more occasions up to 1995. The golden age also garnered a league title and three victories at All-Ireland minor level.
Names such as Dooley, Horan, Martin, Flaherty, Coughlan, Keeshan, Troy, Duignan and Whelehan gained a notoriety well beyond the Offaly border.
However, since the turn of the new millennium, the county's stock has fallen away appreciably.
The 2014 championship saw them slip to a 26-point defeat against Kilkenny in the Leinster quarter-final. This year's provincial campaign ended with a defeat to Laois. Seamus 'Cheddar' Plunkett's side got much credit for that victory - a testament to the work done by the likes of Plunkett in making Laois a respectable hurling force.
I have no doubt that the current manager Brian Whelehan wants the best for Offaly hurling, but aside from their league win over Limerick last spring, the senior side, under his stewardship, has failed to sparkle.
Offaly's interest in the 2015 championship ended last Saturday following their defeat to Clare in the qualifiers.
"I hurled with Offaly all my life and it's in my interest to see Offaly back up there" - Brian Whelehan
Speaking to RTÉ Sport after the game, Whelehan referenced the "devastation" in the Offaly dressing, while also being pressed on whether he would continue on a manager.
"It's a very disappointing night and all the lads are devastated," he said.
"We've been training since November last and the players have put in a lot of heavy nights. To take a beating like tonight is difficult."
As to his own future, Whelehan added: "That's something for the county board to decide. From my point of view, whoever is involved with Offaly hurling next year will know that I'll be behind them 100%.
"I hurled with Offaly all my life and it's in my interest to see Offaly back up there."
There is a poignancy in Whelehan's latter remarks - a strong indication that he won't be at the helm next year.
Whelehan was named on the Hurling Team of the Millennium and is rightly afforded legend status. He will no doubt hope that future Offaly stars will emerge but it may take time.
The decline that has beset the county must be properly addressed.
