Offaly Senior A Hurling Championship 2024

[Plain of the Herbs]

Looking at who is each Senior A club’s longest serving player, based on appearances in round 1:

Ballinamere: David Magner -debut in 2012 (though not sure of this)
Belmont: Mark Egan – debut in 2006
Birr: Seán Ryan – debut in 2006
Clareen: Joseph Bergin – debut in 2003
Coolderry: Eoin Ryan - debut in 2009
Kilcormac-Killoughey: debut in 2007
Kinnitty: Odhrán Kealey – debut in 2006
Shinrone: Darren O’Meara - debut in 2006
St Rynagh’s: Conor Hernon – debut in 2005
Tullamore: Shane Dooley – debut in 2003

Massive admiration for these lads – Bergin and Dooley have given over 20 years for their clubs, Conor Hernon is in his 20th year hurling Senior. A massive contribution to the game, for their team mates and their locality.

[greenairfield]

You sure Egan was that year he's 3 years younger than Ryan and Dooley

[Plain of the Herbs]

I am. He hurled in 2005's Junior B final defeat to Brosna Gaels. He was on the frees. Senior debut followed in 2006's first round against Lusmagh. (Was an Offaly Minor in 2006 and 2007.)

You sure Egan was that year he's 3 years younger than Ryan and Dooley

[Anonymous1]

You can put a fork in this years championship and probably the next ten.

That KK team is very very special indeed, the best we've seen in Offaly since the Birr side 25 years ago.

I doubt any team will come within ten points of them this season. They've improved considerably on last year, the work rate and skill is off the charts and every player 1-15 never mind the depth off the bench is capable of breathtaking scores.

They'll go far in Leinster and potentially the All Ireland Club this year.

Great for KK, bleak for every other club. It's hard to justify slogging all winter when you know you have zero chance of beating them.

[faithfulfanatic]

Hard to see anything that could possibly stop this KK side any time soon.

They are going to beat everyone by 20+ points in the group.

Scariest part of all is their subs bench. They have 15+ players on there who would start for every other Senior A team. That sort of competition is driving standards in a way that no other club can do at the moment.

Was there a ruling made last year as to what will happen if they win the Senior B again? That’s looking very likely and I would go as far as to say that their Senior B side would compete very well at Senior A.
Very hard to know what will be done and what is the right thing to do.

They are an amazing team to watch and hopefully they will backbone the Offaly team for the next 10 years just as Birr did.
Their aim this year must be to win a Leinster final.

Has anyone heard of what level of challenge matches they’ve been playing?
I know that they beat James Stephens of Kilkenny last month, who had previously hammered Ballinamere.

[private joker]

Kk seem to have moved up a gear from last year. They should win offaly but they will get a tight game or two that might catch them out. Their biggest obstacle to winning leinster will be who ever comes out of Dublin or kilkenny. What way is the leinster draw? Crokes or na fianna would be a step ahead in my opinion.

[Anonymous1]

Kk seem to have moved up a gear from last year. They should win offaly but they will get a tight game or two that might catch them out. Their biggest obstacle to winning leinster will be who ever comes out of Dublin or kilkenny. What way is the leinster draw? Crokes or na fianna would be a step ahead in my opinion.

Carlow champions in the QF, Kilkenny/Westmeath champions in the SF.

[frankthetank]

That was absolutely amazing performance by K/K. Being at the game 2 things really stood out for me:

1) The absolute pace they have throughout the team. The Kavanaghs, Ter Guinan, Colin Spain and Adam Screeney are bolt lightening over the ground. This might not be as obvious at county level as county players are all relatively quick but it can be profound at club level. Leigh Kavanagh was outstanding in the 10 position (wearing 12) in this regard and felt it was a poor management decision to play him on the opposite wing in the 2nd half as he was absolutely roasting Conor Hernon during the first 30.

2) Colin Spain at MF is already a hugely influential member of the team and a huge amount of K/K’s play goes through him. And potential opponents need to designate a man marker for him.

[jimbob17]

Was shocked to see that scoreline. Very poor reflection on Rynaghs, given some of them lads have plenty of championships won and some of them still have notions they are still the best club team in the county. Who is managing Rynaghs this year?

[faithfulfanatic]

Was shocked to see that scoreline. Very poor reflection on Rynaghs, given some of them lads have plenty of championships won and some of them still have notions they are still the best club team in the county. Who is managing Rynaghs this year?

Jeffrey Lynskey is over St Rynaghs.

When Henry Shefflin recently left Galway, Jeffrey got very vocal in the media for a few weeks, pitching himself for the job.
Aidan Harte and Joe Canning were quick to shut this down, detailing that there is absolutely no appetite for Lynskey to take the job.

And he is not coming cheap to Banagher at all.

[jimbob17]

Banagher have made some 'quare' management appointments over the years for big dosh only to later realise they probably have better able lads within the club that'd have done it for free....

[G91]

Kk have youth , ballinamere have some youth aswell , that rynaghs team I wouldn't consider old or anything but on comparison to what kk have in the likes of screeny Spain and the kavanaghs

That result is scary how good they are

[greenairfield]

Jimbob that statement is not accurate..what did Franny Forde a galway man win with them ?

[jimbob17]

Jimbob that statement is not accurate..what did Franny Forde a galway man win with them ?

It is very accurate and half of Rynaghs would say the same! Who said I was referring to Forde?, which I wasn't.

Don't know why some people take things someone says and turn it into something else!

Ken Hogan and Forde did very well with them for the record.

[greenairfield]

You said quare appointments from outside the county but when really there two most recent successful managers were from outside the county.....I took the comment for what it was.