Offaly Senior A Hurling Championship 2024

[SearingDrive]

Thoughts on this weekend....

Birr v Rynaghs
I don't think either team would be happy at stage of the championship of where their teams are at but still they have managed to get through to the knock out stages.
I believe this could go either way and alot will depend what team turns up for both clubs. Hoping for a Birr win but can't back that up with much evidence and if ya picked Rynaghs it would be the same.

Coolderry V Shinrone
Two teams who have seen some form in recent matches , I think Shinrone probably have more individual players who could cause problems for Coolderry but I think the Brian Carroll factor could play a huge part in this and I am going to take his local knowledge of the shinrone team to get them the win by a close enough margin.

The first game is hard to pick a winner, whoever plays well on the day can win. Pick a winner, Birr by a short head.
In the second game, Shinrone looked to have rediscovered their form, and I pick them to win.

[frankthetank]

Agree on the sentiments that both Birr and Rynaghs would be relatively disappointed with results so far.

Rynaghs we absolutely obliterated by K/K and lost to Clareen. Doesn't bode well.

Birr then have huge shortcomings up front and will probably find it difficult to post a winning total.

Rynaghs to shade it on the basis they should post a relatively decent total.


With the other game all things being equal I would find it hard to look past Coolderry. But with Eoin Burke's injury and the possible return of Killian Sampson I give Shinrone the nod. Marginally.

2 tight games could be in store.

[Doon Exile]

I’m going for a Rynaghs Shinrone double.

[Glendassaun]

Does anyone know as to the extent of Eoin Burkes injury? His form was one of the highlights of the championship so far.

[chimbonda]

The last I heard Killian Samson won't return until October at earliest. Haven't heard any update on Eoin Burke. It's Rynaghs and Coolderry for me.

[Plain of the Herbs]

Just a few points before the weekend.

I continue to be impressed with Shinrone’s recent form. Not that they were stunning against Belmont, they weren’t, but that they controlled the game from start to finish and played it on their terms. Which isn’t a trait you’d associate with Shinrone. Their tackling was ferocious. I’ve mentioned some of their forwards previously but to adt to that, Donal Morkan is in the form of his life. In four matches to date, DJ McLoughlin has 1-10, Eoin Bailey O’Brien 2-7 while Paul Cleary has scored 0-12. And they’ve scored in every game.

I haven’t seen Coolderry this year yet. But the 2022 and 2023 meetings have seen Shinrone win by a single point in both (1-16 to 1-15 in the former, 0-16 to 0-15 in the latter), so expect Coolderry to be chomping at the bit here. Shinrone will need Killian Sampson somewhere along the line. The longer Coolderry can stay in it, and if Kevin Connolly is on song (1-11 scored to date), the more likely a green and white win.


A Saturday afternoon at Glenisk Park won’t be a cauldron of intensity. And St Rynagh’s can hardly show up in a disinterested state on three days (Killoughey and Clareen being the previous ones) out of four. Can they? Birr were pulled asunder by Shinrone, and if St Rynagh’s can do likewise and make space for the three speedsters on the inside line, they should score enough. Something they did against Tullamore when the supply to the full-forwards was early and often. They need more from their half-forward line too.

Birr don’t score enough, so it’s hard to make a case for them. Leaving Eoghan Cahill’s contribution aside, Luke Nolan has scored 1-5 to date, Ailbe Watkins 1-4, Brendan Murphy 1-3 and Lochlann Quinn 0-4. And only Nolan has scored in every game. For leadership, there must be an inclination to start Seán Ryan.

[Superhans75]

Hard call on the birr / Rynaghs game
Neither team are on the rise
Shinrone / coolderry is another what if
On paper shinrone Have the better form
But that performance against ballinamere
Has not got unoticed by other teams
Coolderry are like a race horse on the bridle
What will they find ? Rynaghs , shinrone

Mind you 18 euros for the game is steep
I'm going to a championship game in the
UK next Tuesday week only 22 euro .
I'm noticing a few less faces at certain
Games.
Enjoy the sun

[Hasselhoff]

Rynaghs beat Birr

Who do Rynaghs play next?
Or is it open draw.

[private joker]

Not a good weekend for Birr. Relegated out of B and knocked out of A. Really can't see anyone beating kk. Tullamore and Belmont will be an interesting game.

[Faithful Future]

Rynaghs did just enough today, definitely a team that is regressing given the age profile of the team but they have the muscle memory for knockout hurling.

Very impressed with Luke O'Connor today - he looks to be in great shape and I think he is someone who could add something to the county set up.

Birr really lacked a focal point in the forward line and I'm not sure who they can bring in to play that role.

I fancy shinrone to get the job done tomorrow - is it an open draw for semi finals??

[Faithfully]

Can't be a truly "open" draw, as KK and B/D as the two group winners cannot be drawn against each other.

[Fairplayalways]

its open draw in so far as both group winners go into one pot and 2 winning quarter finalists go into another, and one is drew out of each pot for 1st semi final and remaining 2 teams plat the other semi final...its open draw in that regard..

[private joker]

Belmont bet tullamore. Close enough game of a pretty low standard. Belmont after 15 minutes led the game but tullamore came back in the 2nd half and got it back to three points before Belmont rallied again. Tullamore had 3-4 goal chance with Belmont keeper pulling off two incredible saves. All in all , Belmont were better. If kk win the b, Tullamore stay up.
Final score 1-19 to 1-14

[faithfulfanatic]

Wow.
Outrageous win for Coolderry today over Shinrone.
Probably the best quality game I’ve seen in Offaly all year (KK aside).
Nip and tuck throughout, with some fantastic scores either way.
1-3 in the last 5 minutes saw Coolderry home.
Ran kk close in the group but it’s hard to see them putting up much of an obstacle again.

Rynaghs to face Ballinamere.
If both teams hurl to their best, Ballinamere win easily.
But it doesn’t always work like that.

[Superhans75]

Good weekend of hurling
Some great performances but also
Some massive question marks
Birr are a mess no point beating around the bush there decline is alarming
Great win for Coolderry very open game
Shinrone defensive wise are very average
Too many similar type players
Coolderry wore there hearts on there sleeves
A mighty effort
But shinrone had there chances to pull away
I think KK and ballinamere have not lost any
Sleep over the semi final opposition.
Any one know we're the final will be played ?