Offaly Senior Hurling Club Championship 2011

[townman]

by the way lads all games this weekend have been Brought forward 30 minutes so Birr Tullamore game is 4 bells
K/K and Kinnitty 5.30. its because if games go to extra time.

[townman]

Birr 3-19
Tullamore 1-10

move along not much to see here not a great game Tullamore and Dooley made a great start with Dooley getting a great goal but with the wind behind them in the first
half plus Birr like the last two years missing a hat full of chances in the first half their two point lead would not be enough plus Mick Verney keeping tabs on Dooley in the
second half Birr ran out easy winners with tullamore only scoring 1 point in the second half.

Best for Birr where Paul Cleary steady at full back Verney done well after moving onto Dooley kept him scoreless from play after switching onto him after he got the goal
Brian Watkins my MOTM outstanding on the half back line Rory Hanniffy rule the midfield scoring some great points 4 i think with good support from molly who put in a good
60 minutes.

The Birr forward line got it hard to get going with only Sesn Ryan doing well in the first half with Gary Hanniffy getting a few scores but with the wind behind them and the game opening up Birrs skill and first touch came to the top Brendan Murphy and Brian Lonergan with goals murphy got 2-2 i think he should have had 4-4 with the chances he had
also Gary Hanniffy put in a strong last 20 minutes Dylan Hayden was quiet enough but still picked up 4 points.

best for tullamore well Shane Dooley started like a house on fire got a smashing goal but thats all tullamore had up front he never missed a free i think he got 1-7 out of 1-10
but Mick Verney done the job going over on him. i though tullamore were a bit slow on the line Sean Ryan was giving Killian Bane a tour of OCP but they never made a switch
Kevin Martin a great servant to tullamore and offaly hurling and owes them nothing but wasn't at the races at centre forward today again Neil Rogers or later Barry Harding.

great to see Barry Whelahan back fit again and scored a great point after coming on he might have a part to play again the year is out, Paul Murphy will be happy that they have
brought their group form into the knockout stages unlike the last two years but their is still a lot of work to do and hurling to be done before anything is won. he won't be happy with
the first half display and the chances they missed but thats to be work on and we can look forward to the semil final who ever we get.

i see Paul and his side kick Daithi Regan picking up a few old habits from Pa Joe with the team that is named in the programme is not the team that lines out up Birr...........

[exile]

Any update on the rest of the games?

[GreatDayForTheParish]

Birr - 3-19 (0-09)
Tullamore - 1-10 (1-08)

Scorers: Birr -
Brendan Murphy (2-01)
Dylan Hayden (0-05)
Gary Hanniffy (0-04)
Rory Hanniffy (0-03)
Brian Lonergan (1-00)
Thomas Bolger (0-02, 2F)
Sean Ryan (0-02)
Brian Nolan (0-01)
Barry Whelehan (0-01)

Tullamore -
Shane Dooley (1-09, 8F)
Ger Tracey (0-01)

Man of the Match : Rory Hanniffy was immense in midfield both in offense and defense. Brian Watkins and Barry Harding (when he moved to centre back) also impressed.

[GreatDayForTheParish]

Kilcormac/Kiloughy - 3-19 (1-10)
Kinnitty - 0-09 (0-04)

Scorers:
Kilcormac/Killoughey (Missing one point if anyone could help out?)
Ciaran Slevin (1-09, 6F)
James Gorman (2-00)
Daniel Currams (0-03)
Thomas Geraghty (0-02)
Trevor Fletcher (0-02)
Eamon Lee (0-01)
Damien Kilmartin (0-01)

Kinnitty
Colm Coughlan (0-05, 5F)
Stephen Molloy (0-02)
Odhran Kealey (0-01)
Eoin McGuinness (0-01)

Man of the Match: Ciaran Slevin

[townman]

Kilcormac/Kiloughy - 3-19 (1-10)
Kinnitty - 0-09 (0-04)

Scorers:
Kilcormac/Killoughey (Missing one point if anyone could help out?)
Ciaran Slevin (1-09, 6F)
James Gorman (2-00)
Daniel Currams (0-03)
Thomas Geraghty (0-02)
Trevor Fletcher (0-02)
Eamon Lee (0-01)
Damien Kilmartin (0-01)

Kinnitty
Colm Coughlan (0-05, 5F)
Stephen Molloy (0-02)
Odhran Kealey (0-01)
Eoin McGuinness (0-01)

Man of the Match: Ciaran Slevin

Mark Leonard not get one in the first half or Colm Cassidy

[Plain of the Herbs]

I've Fletcher scoring 3 points.

Kilcormac/Kiloughy - 3-19 (1-10)
Kinnitty - 0-09 (0-04)

Scorers:
Kilcormac/Killoughey (Missing one point if anyone could help out?)
Ciaran Slevin (1-09, 6F)
James Gorman (2-00)
Daniel Currams (0-03)
Thomas Geraghty (0-02)
Trevor Fletcher (0-02)
Eamon Lee (0-01)
Damien Kilmartin (0-01)

[townman]

And then there were eight. Quarter –final weekend this weekend and you could say that as many as six of the eight would hold reasonable expectations of winning the title. Here’s an assessment of the strengths and weaknesses of the eight quarter-finalists.

BIRR
I haven’t seen Birr at all this year, so the observations on Birr are general in nature.
Strengths
Will be feared by any club for whom Birr is ‘town’, includes Coolderry. They owe Tullamore a beating.

Weaknesses
Some doubts as to how the younger players will fare under Tullamore’s pressure. Can their leaders lead them in similar circumstances?

Tullamore have their number.


TULLAMORE
Strengths
Oodles of belief and won’t fear Birr. Will play their remaining matches in Tullamore.
They have probably the best defence in the county, with the exception of Coolderry’s. Kevin Waters has fitted in well at corner-back and Mark Conlon is hurling well at centre-back. Alan Martin and Nigel Mannion are in top form.
Shane Dooley’s return is a huge fillip and the attack should hit 15 or 16 scores. And they’ve still got Brendan Dagg to return – perhaps at midfield?

Weaknesses
Doubts about how they would fare if forced to come from behind. Can get over-physical in such situations.

Injuries to Stephen Egan (who is hurling away in attack despite being hampered by injury) will tell against them against a Birr, Coolderry or Kilcormac.


KILCORMAC-KILLOUGHEY
Strengths
They’ve got size and strength as well as plenty of hurling ability. Conor Mahon; Daniel Currams in the mood, Ciarán Slevin is in good form lately too. That should be enough to mount a serious title challenge.

Ger Healion and Brian Leonard form an imposing half-back line and Kevin Coyne has been impressive there too.

Weaknesses
The big-match temperament has let them down time and again, and may well do so again.

The full-back line, though big, was in trouble every time Colin Egan gained possession close to goal.

While the manager is cute out, he’s trying to impose a gameplan which doesn’t suit them and which they don’t get the hang of.


KINNITTY
Strengths
James Rigney.

Weaknesses
Where do you start? They’ve had a terrible year since being humiliated by Coolderry in the semi-final last year. Despite the return of a popular local manager they’ve been unable to turn their fortunes around. Stephen Molloy’s inability to find form due to persistent injury is a major handicap.


ST. RYNAGH’S
Strengths
The form team in the county this year who found their groove in the group stages. We don’t do unbeaten runs very well in this county and the recent defeat by Kilcormac will do more good than harm.

The forwards have a nice mix of scorers and workers. All are mobile. Plenty of talent in reserve with a sub for almost every eventuality. They wouldn’t fear Birr if they got them in a semi-final

While the best option to man the full-back berth is undecided, either Declan Tanner or Conor Hernon would still be fancied to outhurl Michael Cordial.

Weaknesses
Despite a decent unbeaten run they’ve still to find their best 15. Doubts about who’ll be full-back (Tanner or Hernon) with resultant doubts as to who’ll be centre-back (Hernon, Shortt or Camon).

They’ve an unforgiving and unrelenting support who demand success and as a consequence they are under pressure every time they go out to hurl.


SHINRONE
Strengths
Loads of talent and loads of hurling style.

They’re decent between 5 and 9, where Daniel Hoctor is hurling well at 6, Derek Morkan is as good as there is, Shane McKelvey is a fine talent and midfielder Mark Morkan may well be the man to outhurl St Rynagh’s in-form Gary Kelly.

Weaknesses
Big match temperament – they’re the crumbliest flakiest around. Don’t have a winning tradition and won’t have the belief to break new ground. Scoring nine goals in a match isn’t ideal preparation either – ask Cork; or Tipperary.

Would be vulnerable to an opponent's mobile full-forward, and St Rynagh's have just the job (see above).

Doubts about their forwards’ ability to win the dropping ball.


COOLDERRY
Strengths
Their defence. Gives nothing away. No-one here gets out alive, not with the twin Rottweilers in the shape of the Corcoran brothers. Their half-back line makes it very difficult for opponents to win their own puckout. A fully fit Joe Brady can be immense.

The forwards. Damien Murray still has an impressive strike rate from the frees. They’ve a system designed to make room for Brian Carroll which they all believe in. Probably the best goalscoring threat in the county.

Will carry plenty of belief as befits county champions and would be confident of beating almost every team they oppose.


Weaknesses
Will Brian Carroll’s injured ankle be strong enough to carry them through to the Final? Their hopes of retaining the title depend on that ankle.

Their half-forward line don’t win enough puckout ball and they could be vulnerable to a team who can score regularly forcing Coolderry to puck out. Item: Shinrone’s late scoring flurry, thought the match was long since won.

Neighbours Birr are a huge stumbling block to success.


CLAREEN
Strengths
Joseph Bergin.

The combination of Tom Carroll and James Mulrooney forms a useful midfield. Able to win their own ball, keep the shape well and able to get a decent supply to Bergin when the county’s best hurler is stationed at full-forward.

Weaknesses
Fresh doubts about the full-back berth were exposed by Belmont.

Not consistent enough. Rack up a big score once every year (Shamrocks in 2009, Tullamore last year, Belmont 2 weeks ago) but don’t follow through on the promise.

whats your opinion on Birr POTH after seen them yesterday you said tullamore they had the best set of backs in the county after Coolderrys
i think Birr,s backline is as good if not better as any of them we might have lost the last two years to tullamore but they were low scoring games and it wasn't in the backs
we lose it. we have ran tullamore and Coolderrys backline ragged this year so far and Paul Cleary is only played his 3rd game this year.

i know theres nothing won yet but i just found it funny on your good Profile on the teams that are left which is well done that you put Tullamore and Coolderrys 6 backs
better than Birrs after saying you haven't seen Birr Backs play, the six backs that played last night and Mullins have all won county medals and all played a part in Birrs last
leinster title win 2008, so i think you should know yourself what Birr have without seen them..........Cheers

[OffalySorry]

Lusmagh Relegated! :O

Lusmagh 2:12 Shamrocks 4:9

[townman]

Lusmagh Relegated! :O

Lusmagh 2:12 Shamrocks 4:9

Fcuk thats a shock they will get it hard to come back up didn't see that coming with Shamrocks so poor this year how did Molloy do

[kingscounty]

birr v tullamore : tullamore did ok in first half,some of the decisions the backs made coming out with the ball were poor throughout the whole game.corner backs were tipping the ball and passing it instead of driving the ball down field away from danger.tullamore were very limited in the forwards,birr were on top in the second half and totally dominated in the back line.their forwards got some excellent scores,rory was excellent and stood out.it took birr a while to get going but they should be well in the running for silverware this year.i thought the ref was poor enough and made some very strange decisions throughout the game. k/k v kinntty : this game was over in the first half,k/k were on top from start to finish.gorman did well when he went in to full forward,mahon and leonard were in control at midfield,the back line were never really tested but hurled hard and fair. i was very disappointed with kinntty , they didnt look up for the game and played some very poor hurling. k/k seem to be going well and will be there or there abouts at the business end of the championship im sure.

[corner back]

[quote="kingscounty"]i thought the ref was poor enough and made some very strange decisions throughout the game. quote]

Funny what different people see watching the same game. I was actually thinking the ref was excellent, whistling for some things that backs would usually get away with like holding hurls, etc.
Unusual game. Tullamore up two at half time, having played some great hurling, before completely capitulating after an early Birr 2nd half goal. Loading the full forward line with their 3 county players didn't work. The defence was badly stretched in the 2nd half. Brendan's Dagg's experience at centre back badly missed. Birr looked very good in the 2nd half and as people have said Hanniffy was outstanding in the middle. Birr, esp Sean Ryan, will need to be less wasteful in the next 2 rounds.

[kingscounty]

i thought the ref was poor enough and made some very strange decisions throughout the game. quote]

Funny what different people see watching the same game. I was actually thinking the ref was excellent, whistling for some things that backs would usually get away with like holding hurls, etc.
Unusual game. Tullamore up two at half time, having played some great hurling, before completely capitulating after an early Birr 2nd half goal. Loading the full forward line with their 3 county players didn't work. The defence was badly stretched in the 2nd half. Brendan's Dagg's experience at centre back badly missed. Birr looked very good in the 2nd half and as people have said Hanniffy was outstanding in the middle. Birr, esp Sean Ryan, will need to be less wasteful in the next 2 rounds.

well in the first half i thought the ref was harsh on birr and gave tullamore alot of easy frees and in the second half he clearly pointed for a free to birr and after a short stoppage the free was awarded to tullamore.strange what people see alright !!

[Plain of the Herbs]

A bit reactionary there OS. Two things came out of Kilcormac yesterday. Firstly Shamrocks secured their Senior status for next year with their win, and well done to them.

Secondly it takes Lusmagh’s fate out of their own hands. If Brosna Gaels or BAllinamere win the Intermediate championship them Lusmagh are goners. If St Rynagh’s or Birr win it then Lusmagh are safe as neither can be promoted.

Lusmagh Relegated! :O

Lusmagh 2:12 Shamrocks 4:9

A game of inches. Three points down, last play of the game. Eoin Kelly drives in a free from 35 metres. A scramble in the crowded goalmouth down the far end. The net shakes! A goal? The umpires don’t move. After consulting with the umpires who aren’t convincing one way or the other Dinger throws in the ball on the 20m line. Shamrocks clear their lines and it’s all over.

Was it a goal? No-one will ever know. Was it the ball that hit the net? Or a hurl? Hawkeye may or may not be introduced in Croke Park but it’ll be a long time before he makes his way to Kilcormac.

A game of inches? Sing it.

[llkj]

I was surprised when I saw this result, as I honestly thought that Lusmagh would have too much for Shamrocks after the year they have had trying to fight relegation on two fronts.

I heard Molloy was back for the match. How did he play in the match?

Also, it seems that St. Rynaghs are the best bet to keep Lusmagh up this year...interesting position for them to find themselves in. I don't think anyone would begrudge seeing Lusmagh getting a bit of a dig out from their neighbours, but also I don't think anyone would begrudge seeing Brosna Gaels or Balinamere in the senior ranks either. I suppose all will be revealed in the coming weeks.