Offaly Senior Hurlers 2025

[Faithful Future]

A big year ahead in 2025 for our hurlers, a sense of optimism that we haven't had in decades.

The league campaign will be very interesting with each of the Joe McDonagh teams fancying a crack at us to start their years off well. On the other end of the scale, Dublin and Waterford will be looking to assert their dominance over us.
On the flip side, we can go into every game with great confidence that we can come out with a result. We now have options in most positions and the team should be bouncing into the new season with excitement as well as the general level of competitiveness that comes with competition for places.

The Leinster championship is going to be very difficult I feel. Each team will be wary of us and on their guard not to slip up against the 'up and coming' team. Add to that the Davy Fitzgerald circus that will come to town for likely the last game of the series, we will really have it all to do.

With this in mind it's interesting to see what additions will be made to the panel.
It goes without saying that all of the u20s could be added - will be a fine balance of blooding new players and leaving them to focus on delivering 3 in a row Leinster u20s and, dare we dream back-to-back All Irelands.

With that in mind, leaving aside next years u20s, l would see some of the following as possible additions to the senior panel for next year:

Ballinamere: Jack Fogarty, Kevin McDermott
Belmont: Adam Egan
Birr: Ben Miller
Coolderry: Daniel Miller, Andrew Connolly
K/Killoughey: Oisin Mahon
Kinnitty: Conor Hardiman
Shinrone: DJ McLoughlin, Adrian Cleary
St Rynaghs: Luke O'Connor
Tullamore: Cormac Egan

[Géill Slí]

What’s really interesting about next year, I think, is to see how our younger players develop and adapt to top flight hurling. We all have great hopes for them! We can expect that the seasoned players - Ciaran Burke, Cillian Kiely, Ben, Brian Duignan, the Sampsons - will perform well, and give the younger players a platform to either survive or, I hope, begin to excel. Charlie Mitchell has already made huge strides in his first year out of u20. Dan Bourke is a Rolls Royce at centre forward, and I expect a big step forward from him next year. The u20 midfield partnership of Cathal King and Colin Spain, Donal Shirley at wing back, Dan Ravenhill … all have huge potential to make an impact over the next year or two, but the question is are they ready to make an impact next year. I really love watching Colin Spain in particular, he is such a natural hurler and gets through an amount of work around midfield, delivering beautiful low ball into the inside forwards.
Speaking of which, the magician. Adam Screeney. Will next year be a year too soon for him at senior level? I’m not sure. He certainly needs a bit more of the old S and C, but my god his hurling touch is a joy to behold.
If all of the above, and a few more unmentioned (Kelly, Rigney, Brecon Kavanagh) can make a significant step up, then the bright future might not be so far away. I agree that it will still probably all come down to the Antrim game in the Leinster championship, but hopefully by then those younger players will have gained sufficient experience and confidence to get over that hurdle.
It feels like an important, maybe a watershed year for Offaly hurling.

[faithfulfanatic]

A big year ahead in 2025 for our hurlers, a sense of optimism that we haven't had in decades.

The league campaign will be very interesting with each of the Joe McDonagh teams fancying a crack at us to start their years off well. On the other end of the scale, Dublin and Waterford will be looking to assert their dominance over us.
On the flip side, we can go into every game with great confidence that we can come out with a result. We now have options in most positions and the team should be bouncing into the new season with excitement as well as the general level of competitiveness that comes with competition for places.

The Leinster championship is going to be very difficult I feel. Each team will be wary of us and on their guard not to slip up against the 'up and coming' team. Add to that the Davy Fitzgerald circus that will come to town for likely the last game of the series, we will really have it all to do.

With this in mind it's interesting to see what additions will be made to the panel.
It goes without saying that all of the u20s could be added - will be a fine balance of blooding new players and leaving them to focus on delivering 3 in a row Leinster u20s and, dare we dream back-to-back All Irelands.

With that in mind, leaving aside next years u20s, l would see some of the following as possible additions to the senior panel for next year:

Ballinamere: Jack Fogarty, Kevin McDermott
Belmont: Adam Egan
Birr: Ben Miller
Coolderry: Daniel Miller, Andrew Connolly
K/Killoughey: Oisin Mahon
Kinnitty: Conor Hardiman
Shinrone: DJ McLoughlin, Adrian Cleary
St Rynaghs: Luke O'Connor
Tullamore: Cormac Egan

Jack Fogarty is 27/28 and has had a solid club campaign. Not an interco hurler.
Kevin McDermott has a great engine and had some good games this year but has nowhere near the hurling required.
Adam Egan u20 this year and not involved at all with that panel, having just broken on to a struggling Belmont side.
Ben Miller on training panel.
Miller and Connolly both late 20s.
Oisin Mahon, are you being serious?
Conor Hardiman involved previously and had a bit of a falling out over injuries with officials. Had a good club campaign.
DJ on training panel.
Adrian Cleary gone back to Australia.
Luke O’Connor has had plenty of chances and not taken them. Had a good club season and bags of hurling but I can’t see him involved under JK.
Cormac Egan is one of Offaly’s finest footballers and that’s that.

[greenairfield]

Padraic Watkins from Birr should be looked at.
Dj mcloughlin could be a good addition huge man.
Anyone from clareen?

[The big hill]

Players Id like to see be given a chance
Gearoid McCormack
Jordan Quinn
Luke Nolan
Cathal Flynn

[faithfulfanatic]

Thought Padraig Watkins was outstanding against Rynaghs in the QF.
Haven’t heard of anyone in from Clareen, only one really deserving would be Kevin Dunne who is around 30 now.
Cathal Flynn is primarily a footballer and doesn’t have the hurling for top level.

[Glendassaun]

There's no doubt that the coming season can be a watershed moment for Offaly hurling. Who would have thought five years ago we'd have won a Leinster Minor, two Leinster U20's, an All Ireland U20 and have been agonisingly close to winning an All Ireland Minor title. Coupled with that, the strides that have been made at Senior Level culminating in last years Joe Mc Donagh success. There's no doubt that the tide of Offaly hurling is on the rise, the only question is whether or not that rise will come at the right time or perhaps a year two early regarding our positioning in the Leinster hurling championship.

When you look at the teams in the Leinster Senior Hurling championship, and with no disrespect whatsoever to Antrim, but that is clearly the crunch game for both sides regarding each others survival in the Leinster Championship for 2026. In saying that, of Wexford, Dublin, Galway, I don't think we should have any fear going into these games, and coming away with a victory from any of these games wouldn't serve as a great surprise, though admittedly we will be underdogs for virtually every game we play in the Leinster Championship this year.

The trickiest element this season will be ensuring we strike the balance between maturity and youthful exuberance. The big questions being whether or not a core of our U20's can make that immediate step up into Senior Championship hurling? How do we manage the game/training time of the U20's that will inevitably be playing both Senior and U20? And finally, what is the exact makeup of the starting team for the Offaly senior side. One advantage this year, in hindsight that is, is the fact that unless we gain promotion in the league, a possibility I believe, we will be coming in under the radar, a position that traditionally suits Offaly sides. It also serves as the perfect testing bed for our younger players.

It goes without saying but we're in the enviable position to be considered favourites to retain our Leinster U20 crown, a tag earned by our All Ireland success, back to back Leinster U20's and the fact that we won the Leinster Minor title of 2022, which is this years group, though minor form and U20 form are two very different beasts. Daring to dream of a second U20 All Ireland is for supporters, and the players themselves will be well grounded by the management side, but... what a luxury it is to face into a competition where you can dare to dream and look forward to what we hope will be another memorable journey in this sides developments.

What would constitute as a successful year for Offaly hurling next year? Would a competitive league display suffice or is our primary concern here achieving promotion? Is our focus going to be on securing Leinster Senior Hurling for 2026 or will it be to maximise the chances of our U20's retaining their titles? Quite honestly, I'm not sure of the answers and I'd like to hears others opinions? Personally, wouldn't it be great to get promotion, retain our underage titles and retain our Leinster Senior Hurling Status! I'd settle for retaining our underage titles and securing Leinster Senior Hurling for 2026. Which would be more important in the grand context of our journey? I confer to the floor for that one...

[private joker]

Can't see offaly beating Dublin and certainly won't be beating Galway. Different gravy there. Wexford is a possibility as they are poor enough especially when they are favourites. Antrim is the only realistic game where offaly might get a win. But the Davy factor up north will make them a formidable team in championship

[Glendassaun]

Plenty of optimism there Private Joker. Sure we might as well not head up at all so. Offaly will end up with two wins, and ruffle some feathers along the way, provided we’re fortunate regarding injuries and we get the mix between youth and experience right .

[frankthetank]

Just going with the glass half empty option for this post and I am not suggesting this will actually happen. But we have to tease out all scenarios.

It’s widely accepted that Johnny Kelly and Leo O’Connor wouldn’t have the best working relationships (the rights and wrongs here can be interpreted here whichever ways suits your agenda). It was noticeable that more or less immediately after the U20 All Ireland was won LOC was talking about going back to back while JK retorted by saying having won that U20 All Ireland the senior team now must become the priority.

See, the problem in Offaly is probably unique compared to other hurling counties. All the rest could survive in the top tier without a huge influx of underage hurlers. They would allow them (for the most part)to see out their underage careers and then join the senior panel. But without the influx of these guys for us chances are we don’t survive in the Leinster Championship. Maybe we won’t anyways but we would be in huge bother without them.

So you could feasibly be looking at a substantial amount of current U20’s in position to be in the first 20 for Offaly next season. Liam Hoare, Brecon Kavanagh, Donal Shirley, Ter Guinan, Adam Screeney, Ruairi Kelly off the top of my head.

This could lead to A) a high workload of our U20’s and they bow out early of the Leinster U20 Championship because they just have too many games and B) a senior team that is just too young and physically unready and we suffer relegation from the Leinster championship.

As I said this is the glass half empty worst case scenario but not beyond the realms. It’s going to take strong leadership from our new chairperson whoever he/she may be to make sure both managers are moving forward with the best interests of Offaly hurling at heart rather than any personal agendas being put to the forefront.

[jimbob17]

From what I understand, next years access to play competitions differs to previous because Offaly are now in Liam McCarthy. If they play one or other, cant play other within 60hrs of previous game. So Wed to Sunday would be OK but Wed to Saturday could be problematic for eligibility.

There certainly will be a power struggle re access to training etc and will likely need to be called by co chairman, whoever that will be.

Dan Bourke is over 20 next year anyway as is Cathal King and Mitchell, not sure re Colin Spain but he will be with seniors. I'd see any lad who played or featured around squad this year as certainties to be up with seniors from U20s in 2025. That will include Shirley, Kelly and Screeney and also Dan Ravenhill. I'd expect Ter Guinan, Brecon Kavanagh, Shane Rigney and Conor Doyle to be in with seniors for definite - or at least be wanted by them. That is a lot of players crossing over and you could have likes of Hand or a couple more also asked in.

[Géill Slí]

So you could feasibly be looking at a substantial amount of current U20’s in position to be in the first 20 for Offaly next season. Liam Hoare, Brecon Kavanagh, Donal Shirley, Ter Guinan, Adam Screeney, Ruairi Kelly off the top of my head.

This could lead to A) a high workload of our U20’s and they bow out early of the Leinster U20 Championship because they just have too many games and B) a senior team that is just too young and physically unready and we suffer relegation from the Leinster championship.

Fair point, Frank, and legitimate concerns. Last year was among the most memorable campaigns I have experienced as an Offaly supporter with that fantastic U20 team, culminating in one of the most enjoyable and proud evenings in Kilkenny, where I now work, flooded for once in a sea of green, white and gold. And beating a highly fancied Kilkenny team in Tullamore on the way, and sending one particular superior Kilkenny supporter (who was sitting in front of myself and my daughter, spouting on a bit about “real” hurling) .. sending him home with his tail between his legs … These lads gave us an unforgettable year. BUT … But the priority surely at this stage has to be the senior team, and having all of the above, and maybe a couple more, in with the seniors should be to their benefit in terms of development, and what happens with the 20s happens.
I think the more worrying concern is your second point, and I agree completely. The physical readiness of these players has to be an immediate priority, and we will see a glimpse of this in the upcoming club championship with KK as we get into the dirty winter months. I have great hope that these young men represent a much brighter future for Offaly hurling, but the question is: Does that future start next year, or is it a year or two too soon in terms of that physical development.
I remember well the optimism in 1990 (I think?) when a new generation came through to win our first and only league title, but it took another 4 years for that team to claim the ultimate prize. These things take time, as the saying goes.

[Plain of the Herbs]

Jaysus, howld on! Because the Senior team manager prioritises the Senior team and the U20 manager prioritised the team he manages does not indicate they “wouldn’t have the best working relationship”. And in early June with the U20 All-Ireland secured, prioritising the then forthcoming Joe McDonagh final and the 2025 U20 campaign were not mutually exclusive.

And I don’t have an agenda, thank you. Neither am I privy to the communications between them, and neither am I going to hazard a guess as to what goes on between them. But you work away with that.

It’s widely accepted that Johnny Kelly and Leo O’Connor wouldn’t have the best working relationships (the rights and wrongs here can be interpreted here whichever ways suits your agenda). It was noticeable that more or less immediately after the U20 All Ireland was won LOC was talking about going back to back while JK retorted by saying having won that U20 All Ireland the senior team now must become the priority.

[Plain of the Herbs]

Based on the reverse of Carlow’s fixtures last year, the Seniors’ leinster campaign opens with Galway at home, followed by visits to Dublin, Kilkenny and Wexford, and concluding with a home tie against Antrim.

Looks like Antrim have Kilkenny home, Wexford away, Dublin home, Galway away and concluding with Offaly away.

Unless Leinster Council decide to change the order of the fixtures, but for five years of the round robin they have kept Kilkenny v Wexford and Dublin v Galway until the last round.

[Bord na Mona man]

Based on the reverse of Carlow’s fixtures last year, the Seniors’ leinster campaign opens with Galway at home, followed by visits to Dublin, Kilkenny and Wexford, and concluding with a home tie against Antrim.

Looks like Antrim have Kilkenny home, Wexford away, Dublin home, Galway away and concluding with Offaly away.

Unless Leinster Council decide to change the order of the fixtures, but for five years of the round robin they have kept Kilkenny v Wexford and Dublin v Galway until the last round.

There is no reason they'd want to change that. The preference is to avoid dead rubbers on the final day - either with relegation battle already decided, or the top 2 already decided before round 5.

It's usually the winners of the last round of Kilkenny v Wexford and Dublin v Galway that makes the Leinster final. So these are de-facto Leinster semi-finals.
The bottom seeds get to fight it out on the last day too.

The scenario they want to avoid is an already relegated Antrim fielding a junk team on the last day allowing a top team build up a massive scoring difference advantage for a tie breaker.