Offaly Senior A Hurling Championship 2024

[frankthetank]

There was a lot of talk as to who the 18 players would be that Kilcormac/Killoughey would name as being eligible for Senior A only. Well following the first 2 rounds of championship we now know they are:

Conor Slevin
Tom Spain
Oisin Mahon
Enda Grogan
Brecon Kavanagh
James Mahon
Jordan Quinn
Cillian Kiely
Ter Guinan
Colin Spain
Damien Kilmartin
Leigh Kavanagh
Conor Mahon
Jack Screeney
Cathal Kiely
Daniel Hand
Charlie Mitchell
Adam Screeney

If K/K’s Senior A team stay on their current trajectory this season we shouldn’t expect to see any more players being used on their Senior A team as they would become ineligible for Senior B. They will only be used in the case that K/K have used these 18 and are still struggling in a game. Which seems highly unlikely.

Of course two more places will become available following the conclusion of the Senior B championship.

[frankthetank]

Round 3 swings into action this weekend and it seems that Group 1 will be the one to produce the thrills and spills.

While not mathematically, in every other way it's this weekend or never (well this season anyways) for Belmont. They had a fantastic win over Birr in the Division 1 league final and looked well primed to push on and give K/K a run for their money (a lot of people here predicted that) but their championship season came off the rails in Round 1 with a poor performance in a defeat to Kinnitty. In fairness they responded with a much better performance against Ballinamere but a Dan Ravenhill 2nd half tour de force and a late injury to Colin Egan dashed their hopes of a win. David Nally's absence is being keenly felt. And possibly some residual scar tissue from that semi-final defeat to Shinrone in 2022.

Birr seem to be on a slight upward curve. Not enough to win a county championship with this K/K team knocking around, but an upward trajectory all the same. They had some nice passages of play vs Ballinamere and there could have been no major complaints if they won that match while a draw was probably a fair result. A lot of Birr lads are fair warriors and have been soldiering long and hard. Brian Watkins, Barry Harding and of course Sean Ryan spring to mind. But they have a sprinkling of fresh legs in around those guys. Emmet Nolan is also a major help.

But Belmont need to win this game. Their need is greater. I'll give them a very very hesitant vote. Don't rule out a draw.

In Group 1's other game Ballinamere play Shinrone. Again really tough to call. Killian Sampson is seemingly out and rumour is that Dan Ravenhill is an injury concern again. (The chap is incredibly unlucky with injuries if this is the case). These losses would equate on each side. But Conor Doughan's loss to Shinrone can't be understated. As POTH said they showed glimpses of absolute quality vs Kinnitty but they were only glimpses. They could do with Adrian Cleary back aswell.

Until Ballinamere win a championship knockout game the jury will be out on them. In 2022 they were trounced by Birr in the quarter-final and last year after beating Shinrone in the group, Shinrone comfortably had their number in the semi-final. But they are shaping up to be K/K's main obstacle on the way to county championship 2024.

It's Ballinamere for me in this one.

In Group 2 the games will go along expected lines. St Rynaghs to beat Tullamore and K/K to beat Clareen. In fact one would have to worry about Clareen against K/K. That one could get messy if K/K want to put them to the sword. And having already scored 1-36 and 4-26 all evidence points to the fact they just might.

Finally kudos to the county board for a nice selection of venues for the games. Kinnitty, Birr, Lusmagh and Kilcormac. We've come a long way from a county baord who seemed to choose O'Connor Park for a massive percentage of SHC games.

[Anonymous1]

Round 3 swings into action this weekend and it seems that Group 1 will be the one to produce the thrills and spills.

While not mathematically, in every other way it's this weekend or never (well this season anyways) for Belmont. They had a fantastic win over Birr in the Division 1 league final and looked well primed to push on and give K/K a run for their money (a lot of people here predicted that) but their championship season came off the rails in Round 1 with a poor performance in a defeat to Kinnitty. In fairness they responded with a much better performance against Ballinamere but a Dan Ravenhill 2nd half tour de force and a late injury to Colin Egan dashed their hopes of a win. David Nally's absence is being keenly felt. And possibly some residual scar tissue from that semi-final defeat to Shinrone in 2022.

Birr seem to be on a slight upward curve. Not enough to win a county championship with this K/K team knocking around, but an upward trajectory all the same. They had some nice passages of play vs Ballinamere and there could have been no major complaints if they won that match while a draw was probably a fair result. A lot of Birr lads are fair warriors and have been soldiering long and hard. Brian Watkins, Barry Harding and of course Sean Ryan spring to mind. But they have a sprinkling of fresh legs in around those guys. Emmet Nolan is also a major help.

But Belmont need to win this game. Their need is greater. I'll give them a very very hesitant vote. Don't rule out a draw.

In Group 1's other game Ballinamere play Shinrone. Again really tough to call. Killian Sampson is seemingly out and rumour is that Dan Ravenhill is an injury concern again. (The chap is incredibly unlucky with injuries if this is the case). These losses would equate on each side. But Conor Doughan's loss to Shinrone can't be understated. As POTH said they showed glimpses of absolute quality vs Kinnitty but they were only glimpses. They could do with Adrian Cleary back aswell.

Until Ballinamere win a championship knockout game the jury will be out on them. In 2022 they were trounced by Birr in the quarter-final and last year after beating Shinrone in the group, Shinrone comfortably had their number in the semi-final. But they are shaping up to be K/K's main obstacle on the way to county championship 2024.

It's Ballinamere for me in this one.

In Group 2 the games will go along expected lines. St Rynaghs to beat Tullamore and K/K to beat Clareen. In fact one would have to worry about Clareen against K/K. That one could get messy if K/K want to put them to the sword. And having already scored 1-36 and 4-26 all evidence points to the fact they just might.

Finally kudos to the county board for a nice selection of venues for the games. Kinnitty, Birr, Lusmagh and Kilcormac. We've come a long way from a county baord who seemed to choose O'Connor Park for a massive percentage of SHC games.

Why doesn't the hurling have home and away games like the football?

[frankthetank]

No idea.

But for me the hurling is ideally set up for esch team to have 1 home game, 1 away game, 1 game in SBP and 1 game in OCP.

[Anonymous1]

No idea.

But for me the hurling is ideally set up for esch team to have 1 home game, 1 away game, 1 game in SBP and 1 game in OCP.

So Birr get 2 home games? Tullamore too depending on how you view that.

[frankthetank]

A valid point that I had totally overlooked!!

[private joker]

Kk to hand out another hammering this week.

[Plain of the Herbs]

Obviously Kilcormac-Killoughey will score heavily against poor oul Clareen. And the champions hope it’s going to be a long year for them, extending right into November. So with that in mind, does it make sense that they should aim to peak around about now? I don’t think it does.

Granted they couldn’t do much about a complete collapse in the opposition’s work rate once the first goal was scored against St Rynagh’s. And 23 points margin is serious going. But that’s not going to do anything to close the gap with O’Loughlin Gaels – and the Kilkenny champions exposed several deficiencies last year.

Now it’s all very well beating all around them by so much that they’ll never want to hurl again. And they’re influenced by a Tipperary coach after all. But that might’t be ideal. In all likelihood, Kilcormac-Killoughey will celebrate with Seán Robbins in October. But they were dead certs prior to 2022’s Final as well, and that didn’t end well for them.

A bit like the old bull and the young bull looking down the hill at the field of heifers in front of them.

[llkj]

Looking at the participation rates of hurling clubs for 2024, we have the following:

21 adult clubs
53 teams
6 grades

Of the 21 clubs, all bar Crinkle and Edenderry field more than 1 team.
8 clubs field 2 teams
10 clubs field 3 teams
and KK field 5 teams

I think 6 of the teams are exclusively hurling clubs (eg: Coolderry) with the remainder having a football team (or sister club - however that is called in official lingo - such as Ballinamere - Durrow, BRosna Gaels - Tubber, etc)

I did a similar tally a couple of years ago, but can't find the post now, so I would be interested to see how things are trending over time.

[faithfulfanatic]

An expected elementary victory for KK over Seir Kieran.
The Clareen men kept it respectable and in line with the other beatings KK have handed out.
You got the feeling in all of those games that they could push on and grab a bag of goals whenever needed.

[private joker]

Kk won in 2nd gear. Clareen are old school, battled gamely till the end but lack the players. Kk have 13 out of 15 of the position s sorted. They'll win offaly handy as they are better coached this year compared to others. Lots of movement, moving ball through the hands rather than launching it. Sky's the limit for them.

[Johnny Tightlips]

Obviously Kilcormac-Killoughey will score heavily against poor oul Clareen. And the champions hope it’s going to be a long year for them, extending right into November. So with that in mind, does it make sense that they should aim to peak around about now? I don’t think it does.

Granted they couldn’t do much about a complete collapse in the opposition’s work rate once the first goal was scored against St Rynagh’s. And 23 points margin is serious going. But that’s not going to do anything to close the gap with O’Loughlin Gaels – and the Kilkenny champions exposed several deficiencies last year.

Now it’s all very well beating all around them by so much that they’ll never want to hurl again. And they’re influenced by a Tipperary coach after all. But that might’t be ideal. In all likelihood, Kilcormac-Killoughey will celebrate with Seán Robbins in October. But they were dead certs prior to 2022’s Final as well, and that didn’t end well for them.

A bit like the old bull and the young bull looking down the hill at the field of heifers in front of them.

I feel the underlying tone of some of the points here is unnecessary.
Yes, the year is long but that still doesn't diminish the exceptional hurling that KK are currently playing. And who knows if now is their peak or if there is more to come? Time will tell.

Additionally, I don't understand how their margins of victory should in anyway reflect poorly on them. They play at the level they want to play and if that ends up a big victory then so be it. I only wish my own club could be so lucky. Whether the team they beat 'never want to hurl again' - thats up to them. Its not up to KK to feel sorry for them.

As for the comment about their (very highly regarded) coach being from Tipperary, I found this a strange, personal and unnecessary comment and beneath the tone of the site. I believe he may work and live in Offaly now but I am completely open to correction on this. Regardless, he's doing his job and doing it very well and old stereotypes/notions about where people are from and how that informs their GAA behaviour are arcane and archaic. Indeed, he did same coaching job very well for the Offaly U-20's this year. The Offaly U-20's and indeed the county as a whole were/are lucky to have him and now KK are too. Best of luck to him and them.

[faithfulfanatic]

Obviously Kilcormac-Killoughey will score heavily against poor oul Clareen. And the champions hope it’s going to be a long year for them, extending right into November. So with that in mind, does it make sense that they should aim to peak around about now? I don’t think it does.

Granted they couldn’t do much about a complete collapse in the opposition’s work rate once the first goal was scored against St Rynagh’s. And 23 points margin is serious going. But that’s not going to do anything to close the gap with O’Loughlin Gaels – and the Kilkenny champions exposed several deficiencies last year.

Now it’s all very well beating all around them by so much that they’ll never want to hurl again. And they’re influenced by a Tipperary coach after all. But that might’t be ideal. In all likelihood, Kilcormac-Killoughey will celebrate with Seán Robbins in October. But they were dead certs prior to 2022’s Final as well, and that didn’t end well for them.

A bit like the old bull and the young bull looking down the hill at the field of heifers in front of them.

I feel the underlying tone of some of the points here is unnecessary.
Yes, the year is long but that still doesn't diminish the exceptional hurling that KK are currently playing. And who knows if now is their peak or if there is more to come? Time will tell.

Additionally, I don't understand how their margins of victory should in anyway reflect poorly on them. They play at the level they want to play and if that ends up a big victory then so be it. I only wish my own club could be so lucky. Whether the team they beat 'never want to hurl again' - thats up to them. Its not up to KK to feel sorry for them.

As for the comment about their (very highly regarded) coach being from Tipperary, I found this a strange, personal and unnecessary comment and beneath the tone of the site. I believe he may work and live in Offaly now but I am completely open to correction on this. Regardless, he's doing his job and doing it very well and old stereotypes/notions about where people are from and how that informs their GAA behaviour are arcane and archaic. Indeed, he did same coaching job very well for the Offaly U-20's this year. The Offaly U-20's and indeed the county as a whole were/are lucky to have him and now KK are too. Best of luck to him and them.

Taught in Kilcormac for a year or two and got on very well with the youngsters.
Teaching in Limerick city now.

I think any criticism of KK on here is just us lads trying to find any little hope for our own teams;
‘We’ll catch them in a semi final’, ‘they’ll need those goals yet’, etc.

[private joker]

Shinrone hammered. B/D seem to be next in line to kk

[greenairfield]

Birr win very ugly v Belmont..Does this mean Belmont or Shinrone are the only ones who can face relegation ?