Offaly U20 Hurlers 2025

[Anonymous1]

I think there were three main reasons for the way things developed this year;

1. Injuries to key players such as Daniel Hand, Ter Guinan, Caelum Larkin and Ruairí Kelly and previous injuries that were clearly still hampering Screeney and Rigney.

2. The number of U20’s who were simultaneously hurling senior and as a result weren’t training or playing challenge games with the U20’s so never had a chance to build up a proper rapport or find a rhythm within the team.

3. It’s entirely understandable having spent three years trying to win an All Ireland medal that having achieved that goal, the idea of returning to the slog to try retain their title just wasn’t as appealing and the same hunger we’ve seen from 2022-24 just wasn’t as apparent in the 2025 team.

The more interesting question emerging from this year’s disappointment is what happens with Leo O’Connor?

Many people had taken it for granted that he’d follow this U20 team up to Senior in 2026 but given how this year petered out and the fact Kelly has gotten the Seniors promoted, it makes that argument a lot tougher.

The alternative is Leo walks away this year, Kelly gets one more year at senior but then steps aside and we’re left with no managerial options for 2027… A first big call to be made for the new chairman. Expect commotion one way or the other.

[Anonymous1]

On a different note and given this feels a bit like the end of an era, I’ve been thinking back on some of my favourite games over the last 4 years and here they are in order;

1. Offaly vs Wexford, 2023 Leinster Final - This might surprise a few but there was something so special about that night in Carlow under the lights in front of a packed Offaly crowd. Down to 14 men and trailing midway through the second half, we looked dead in the water but somehow some way we dug it out.

2. Offaly vs Kilkenny, 2024 Leinster Semi-Final - Again, some might be surprised to see a Leinster semi so high up on this list but this is one of the only games we entered as underdogs and emerged victorious. That Hoare penalty save, Kilkenny rattling the bar and missing a 14 yard free… somehow the stars aligned and it felt that night like we would go all the way.

3. Offaly vs Laois, 2022 Leinster Final - This felt like the first coming of age performance from this team. The first time the Offaly public at large got to see these young players and boy did they deliver. It was the beginning of such large crowds turning out to support this team and it felt a bit magical.

4. Offaly vs Tipperary, 2024 All Ireland Final - Lower than some might have expected given it was an All Ireland final win but that’s partly to do with the fact we were all expecting to win. Another magical occasion with a raucous atmosphere and one that’ll live long in the memory.

5. Offaly vs Tipp, 2022 All Ireland Final- Even though we lost in such a cruel fashion, the feeling of Offaly being back in an All Ireland final was incredible. The performance was worthy of an All Ireland win and despite the ending, it’s still a game we’ll always remember and think back on in years to come for better or worse.

6. Offaly vs Dublin, 2024 Leinster Final - Again, probably lower on the list than some would expect but it’s also because we all fully expected to win. Another special night under the lights.

7. Offaly vs Clare, 2022 All Ireland Semi-Final - The crowd was a little lost in the expanse of Semple but this was another outstanding performance and one which confirmed we weren’t just a force in Leinster.

8. Offaly vs Cork, 2023 All Ireland final - Result was disappointing and the referee not worth dwelling on but not many of us expected to win and it’s still worth remembering because as we’re about to learn, All Ireland finals don’t come around all that often.

[Doon Exile]

Tonight feels like the aftermath of the burial of the local neighbourhood character. We’ll remember the great days we had with them and the many memories they left behind with us.

It all started with the Leinster final in Portlaois, the pitch swarmed at half time with kids and finished with Michael Duignan joining the dressing room rendition of the Offaly rover. It might have ended in heartbreak that year in Nowlan Park but it was only a blip on the longer journey.

We moved on to Thurles the following year where the might of Cork proved too strong for our young team.

We eventually reached the pinnacle in Nowlan Park which saw Dan Burke finally lift the precious James Nowlan cup amid scenes of joy amongst the 20,000 strong faithful supporters of all ages.

Can we ever put a price on the effect this team has on the next generation of young Offaly hurlers?

Thank you to the players for your service and dedication- you have been truly inspirational.

And lastly to Leo O’Connor. A native Limerick man who surely will never have to pay for a pint in any Offaly establishment for his time left on this earth. Thank you Leo for what you have done for Offaly hurling.

[Anon44]

Hard luck to the team and management and congratulations to the Dubs. For me, injuries to key players throughout the year probably proved too costly, but Dubs deserved it today.

I disagree that this should be seen as the end of a journey. It should be the opposite in my eyes, the lads have brought us on great days but the goalposts have to be moved and we need to try replicate their achievements at senior level. While we will look back fondly on some of the day outs, I hope the lads use disappointments like today to drive on and do something special with the seniors.

Thanks to those who have finished their underage inter-county careers. Enjoy some time off, get back to the clubs and work on what needs to be worked on to get on the senior panel. For those still U20 next year, drive on and keep the standards high.

Separately, if management are to step away, they owe us nothing and should be thanked properly. I wonder would it be a smart idea by the county board to try and see if Hughie Hannon/Tony Gleeson would go back and help out some of the development squads or next year’s minors? Brilliant coaches, who would no doubt help any squad they go near.

[faithfulfanatic]

On a different note and given this feels a bit like the end of an era, I’ve been thinking back on some of my favourite games over the last 4 years and here they are in order;

1. Offaly vs Wexford, 2023 Leinster Final - This might surprise a few but there was something so special about that night in Carlow under the lights in front of a packed Offaly crowd. Down to 14 men and trailing midway through the second half, we looked dead in the water but somehow some way we dug it out.

2. Offaly vs Kilkenny, 2024 Leinster Semi-Final - Again, some might be surprised to see a Leinster semi so high up on this list but this is one of the only games we entered as underdogs and emerged victorious. That Hoare penalty save, Kilkenny rattling the bar and missing a 14 yard free… somehow the stars aligned and it felt that night like we would go all the way.

3. Offaly vs Laois, 2022 Leinster Final - This felt like the first coming of age performance from this team. The first time the Offaly public at large got to see these young players and boy did they deliver. It was the beginning of such large crowds turning out to support this team and it felt a bit magical.

4. Offaly vs Tipperary, 2024 All Ireland Final - Lower than some might have expected given it was an All Ireland final win but that’s partly to do with the fact we were all expecting to win. Another magical occasion with a raucous atmosphere and one that’ll live long in the memory.

5. Offaly vs Tipp, 2022 All Ireland Final- Even though we lost in such a cruel fashion, the feeling of Offaly being back in an All Ireland final was incredible. The performance was worthy of an All Ireland win and despite the ending, it’s still a game we’ll always remember and think back on in years to come for better or worse.

6. Offaly vs Dublin, 2024 Leinster Final - Again, probably lower on the list than some would expect but it’s also because we all fully expected to win. Another special night under the lights.

7. Offaly vs Clare, 2022 All Ireland Semi-Final - The crowd was a little lost in the expanse of Semple but this was another outstanding performance and one which confirmed we weren’t just a force in Leinster.

8. Offaly vs Cork, 2023 All Ireland final - Result was disappointing and the referee not worth dwelling on but not many of us expected to win and it’s still worth remembering because as we’re about to learn, All Ireland finals don’t come around all that often.

Agree 100% with that Wexford game at the top.
My favourite 2 memories of this team come from that game.
1: Screeney’s 2 otherworldly points underneath the terrace in the first half.
2: My favourite moment of all, one which epitomised the player and the game. Wexford were through late on to put Offaly to bed and Ter Guinan came from another planet to make a crucial block down.

I don’t think Kelly, Hand and Guinan’s loss yesterday can be overstated.
They've had Mitchell, Screeney, the Kavanaghs, Spain, Mahon and plenty more come through, but ask the hurling people of KK who their best hurler from this crop is going to be and a large number will tell you it is Ter Guinan.
It may be a blessing in the long term for these lads and Screeney, Rigney, Ravenhill etc to have a month or two of less load now.
I know Adam and Dan will be with the seniors but they won’t be pulled every which way and then heading straight from an u20 all ireland into club hurling.
And they will be able to get away for some sun and relaxation after the senior finishes without the national media and that journeyman mouthpiece from Portlaoise being up in arms over it.

Hard to see Adam hurling against Kilkenny at the weekend given his lack of mobility in the second half. He was clearly not able to carry on and management should have taken him out. Unfortunately that has not been their forte.

[Anonymous1]

On a different note and given this feels a bit like the end of an era, I’ve been thinking back on some of my favourite games over the last 4 years and here they are in order;

1. Offaly vs Wexford, 2023 Leinster Final - This might surprise a few but there was something so special about that night in Carlow under the lights in front of a packed Offaly crowd. Down to 14 men and trailing midway through the second half, we looked dead in the water but somehow some way we dug it out.

2. Offaly vs Kilkenny, 2024 Leinster Semi-Final - Again, some might be surprised to see a Leinster semi so high up on this list but this is one of the only games we entered as underdogs and emerged victorious. That Hoare penalty save, Kilkenny rattling the bar and missing a 14 yard free… somehow the stars aligned and it felt that night like we would go all the way.

3. Offaly vs Laois, 2022 Leinster Final - This felt like the first coming of age performance from this team. The first time the Offaly public at large got to see these young players and boy did they deliver. It was the beginning of such large crowds turning out to support this team and it felt a bit magical.

4. Offaly vs Tipperary, 2024 All Ireland Final - Lower than some might have expected given it was an All Ireland final win but that’s partly to do with the fact we were all expecting to win. Another magical occasion with a raucous atmosphere and one that’ll live long in the memory.

5. Offaly vs Tipp, 2022 All Ireland Final- Even though we lost in such a cruel fashion, the feeling of Offaly being back in an All Ireland final was incredible. The performance was worthy of an All Ireland win and despite the ending, it’s still a game we’ll always remember and think back on in years to come for better or worse.

6. Offaly vs Dublin, 2024 Leinster Final - Again, probably lower on the list than some would expect but it’s also because we all fully expected to win. Another special night under the lights.

7. Offaly vs Clare, 2022 All Ireland Semi-Final - The crowd was a little lost in the expanse of Semple but this was another outstanding performance and one which confirmed we weren’t just a force in Leinster.

8. Offaly vs Cork, 2023 All Ireland final - Result was disappointing and the referee not worth dwelling on but not many of us expected to win and it’s still worth remembering because as we’re about to learn, All Ireland finals don’t come around all that often.

Agree 100% with that Wexford game at the top.
My favourite 2 memories of this team come from that game.
1: Screeney’s 2 otherworldly points underneath the terrace in the first half.
2: My favourite moment of all, one which epitomised the player and the game. Wexford were through late on to put Offaly to bed and Ter Guinan came from another planet to make a crucial block down.

I don’t think Kelly, Hand and Guinan’s loss yesterday can be overstated.
They've had Mitchell, Screeney, the Kavanaghs, Spain, Mahon and plenty more come through, but ask the hurling people of KK who their best hurler from this crop is going to be and a large number will tell you it is Ter Guinan.
It may be a blessing in the long term for these lads and Screeney, Rigney, Ravenhill etc to have a month or two of less load now.
I know Adam and Dan will be with the seniors but they won’t be pulled every which way and then heading straight from an u20 all ireland into club hurling.
And they will be able to get away for some sun and relaxation after the senior finishes without the national media and that journeyman mouthpiece from Portlaoise being up in arms over it.

Hard to see Adam hurling against Kilkenny at the weekend given his lack of mobility in the second half. He was clearly not able to carry on and management should have taken him out. Unfortunately that has not been their forte.

I think about those two Screeney scores in Carlow at least once a week. Out of this world. We celebrated them like goals on the terrace.

The only footage I can find from that night is Mark Forde’s video on Facebook. I’d love to watch the game back in full, most of the other big games are on YouTube.

The other Screeney score that will stay with me forever was in the 25th minute of the 2024 Leinster Final against Dublin.

The ball is played into his corner but he has two men on him. He somehow wins it and burns one man then knocks the ball over the head of the second man and reclaims it but by this stage the first man has caught up and pushes him wide and then a third man comes in to try block him and he still squeezes it over the bar.

One of the greatest scores I’ve ever seen in any sport.

[Gobbler]

I think there were three main reasons for the way things developed this year;

1. Injuries to key players such as Daniel Hand, Ter Guinan, Caelum Larkin and Ruairí Kelly and previous injuries that were clearly still hampering Screeney and Rigney.

2. The number of U20’s who were simultaneously hurling senior and as a result weren’t training or playing challenge games with the U20’s so never had a chance to build up a proper rapport or find a rhythm within the team.

3. It’s entirely understandable having spent three years trying to win an All Ireland medal that having achieved that goal, the idea of returning to the slog to try retain their title just wasn’t as appealing and the same hunger we’ve seen from 2022-24 just wasn’t as apparent in the 2025 team.

The more interesting question emerging from this year’s disappointment is what happens with Leo O’Connor?

Many people had taken it for granted that he’d follow this U20 team up to Senior in 2026 but given how this year petered out and the fact Kelly has gotten the Seniors promoted, it makes that argument a lot tougher.

The alternative is Leo walks away this year, Kelly gets one more year at senior but then steps aside and we’re left with no managerial options for 2027… A first big call to be made for the new chairman. Expect commotion one way or the other.

I agree with alot of this. I know I flagged it before the season that the u20 looked liked it would be secondary to the senior and that prioritising the senior would be the plan unfortunately.

It led to alot of disjointed preparation because so many lads were panelists with the senior. that has a huge impact on the u20 group and them working together as a group and their own group bonding.

Alot of key players to me look burnt out. they are not at their best and this can be natural after the intensity of training and games over the last number of years. things always go flat eventually.

Injuries have become a huge problem and I think senior management have been a big part of this problem.
I feel for the u20 management in that they were working off scraps this year and could not prepare the group how it needed to.

Another thing maybe overlooked is kk had a long run in leinster and those players ended up hurling all year right up to Christmas. too much. its no suprise we saw so many injuries and flat performances. a good few lads were involved in colleges hurling too so no break.

For me it's a huge lost opportunity. certainly was another leinster title there for the taking and who knows with the all ireland if we had a fresh fully fit squad.

Thanks to the u20 management and players for all the great memories. hope the future brings even bigger ones.

Senior management I am disappointed with. they have their own short term goals which is ultimately the big issue this year.

[faithfulfanatic]

I think there were three main reasons for the way things developed this year;

1. Injuries to key players such as Daniel Hand, Ter Guinan, Caelum Larkin and Ruairí Kelly and previous injuries that were clearly still hampering Screeney and Rigney.

2. The number of U20’s who were simultaneously hurling senior and as a result weren’t training or playing challenge games with the U20’s so never had a chance to build up a proper rapport or find a rhythm within the team.

3. It’s entirely understandable having spent three years trying to win an All Ireland medal that having achieved that goal, the idea of returning to the slog to try retain their title just wasn’t as appealing and the same hunger we’ve seen from 2022-24 just wasn’t as apparent in the 2025 team.

The more interesting question emerging from this year’s disappointment is what happens with Leo O’Connor?

Many people had taken it for granted that he’d follow this U20 team up to Senior in 2026 but given how this year petered out and the fact Kelly has gotten the Seniors promoted, it makes that argument a lot tougher.

The alternative is Leo walks away this year, Kelly gets one more year at senior but then steps aside and we’re left with no managerial options for 2027… A first big call to be made for the new chairman. Expect commotion one way or the other.

I agree with alot of this. I know I flagged it before the season that the u20 looked liked it would be secondary to the senior and that prioritising the senior would be the plan unfortunately.

It led to alot of disjointed preparation because so many lads were panelists with the senior. that has a huge impact on the u20 group and them working together as a group and their own group bonding.

Alot of key players to me look burnt out. they are not at their best and this can be natural after the intensity of training and games over the last number of years. things always go flat eventually.

Injuries have become a huge problem and I think senior management have been a big part of this problem.
I feel for the u20 management in that they were working off scraps this year and could not prepare the group how it needed to.

Another thing maybe overlooked is kk had a long run in leinster and those players ended up hurling all year right up to Christmas. too much. its no suprise we saw so many injuries and flat performances. a good few lads were involved in colleges hurling too so no break.

For me it's a huge lost opportunity. certainly was another leinster title there for the taking and who knows with the all ireland if we had a fresh fully fit squad.

Thanks to the u20 management and players for all the great memories. hope the future brings even bigger ones.

Senior management I am disappointed with. they have their own short term goals which is ultimately the big issue this year.

Senior management didn’t leave Adam Screeney on with a broken ankle yesterday.
Talk about short term goals…

[SearingDrive]

I just want to say thanks to the U20/ Minor players and management for the great memories, and outstanding achievements over the past few years.

Those memories will, last a lifetime.

[Faithfully]

Strange afternoon, never truly felt that we were going to win once the 3rd goal went in. Felt like we probably wouldn't have scored a goal no matter how long we played. The small Dublin support got more vocal and full of belief as the game wore on. They certainly won't be able to start the whinging about the referee that they did last year, he gave them plenty. Plenty of fellas being dragged into Penneys next door afterwards so at least someone benefitted from the game.

The job is done for this cohort of players at underage level. They've won all the trophies and can now fully focus on making the step up to adult hurling. They owe the supporters nothing and it's truly not the end of the world for them to free up their schedule a bit now.

I would say that under 20 teams tend to be a composite of 3 minor groups. The 2005 group were obviously the driving force but a couple of years ago we had some 2003s like Mitchell, Troy and Sam Bourke playing a role. Last year we had 2004s such as Dan Bourke, King, and Spain starring with roles also played by Egan and Miller.
We probably weren't able to pull the same level of performance out of the young fellas born in 2006 and 2007 this year, even though some of then will definitely have benefitted from the experience (I.e. Lyons in corner forward had a tough day Monday but was excellent against Laois and solid against Galway).

[oneshot]

thanks for the great days out over the last 3 years minor and under 20 at least they have got there all ireland title.
now this isn't the end its only the start i belive in 2027 offaly will be up there at the top in leinster hurling.

[faithfulfanatic]

Dublin beat Galway by 7.

[oneshot]

was watching kilkenny and laois kilkenny won well in the end but they were shocking in first half its a pity offaly hadn't their full hand to play with this year.
there was a leinster there for the talking the cats will pip the dubs in the final.

[Lone Shark]

Galway made a bags of that tonight. They had more than enough ball to win, but they got a couple of their matchups wrong at the back, and they shot 0-6, along with 13 wides and three missed goal chances, in the second half with a strong wind behind them. If they played like that in Ballinasloe, we'd have beaten them, but the converse of that is that we know they're capable of so much more, but young lads being young lads, they can have off-days.

I wouldn't be as concerned about comparing Offaly to those teams tonight, or anything else. We weren't what we could be, and that's all that matters. Much of it was unavoidable too, not even the most ardent advocates of prioritising U-20 over senior were saying that the likes of Shirley, Ravenhill, Mahon etc. shouldn't play in the league. There's no way we're getting promoted without them.

It's a pity, but all the discussions we were having at the start of the year about balancing the senior and U-20 commitments were rendered moot by a hard run of injuries, made harder by the absence of a deep panel to fill the gaps.

Do I think we'd beat Dublin six or seven times out of ten, even with the players available last Monday week? I actually do. But would Galway have underperformed so badly if they were playing us, who they had a memory of beating, as opposed to Dublin, who they had a memory of folding to (in a very similar fashion) this time last year? Now I'm not sure, and if you forced me to guess, I'd say I don't think they would have.

And either way, would we be able for a balanced, capable Kilkenny side that mightn't be full of stars, but doesn't seem to have any obvious weak spots? In Nowlan Park in particular, I have my doubts.

It's a pity, and I'm particularly sorry for the lads who weren't part of the experience or who didn't get playing time in 2024. But that's sport, unfortunately.

[private joker]

Was in at the Dublin vs galway game. Better team won. Dublin had 5-6 chances of goals? Including a penalty late on that they opted to point. Galway hit a lot of wides in 2nd half as did Dublin in the first. Sun was difficult to deal with. The one thing i will say is that Dublin have a very definite style of play which is very reflective of the way modern hurling is being currently played. Retaining the ball being the priority.
7 point victory while missing their star player Purcell is some going.