Offaly Senior Hurling Club Championship 2011

[townman]

Quarter - Finals

Birr v Tullamore 4th year in a row Birr and Tullamore will have meet with 2 wins for tullamore to birrs 1, where Birr have failed over the last 2 years and can't let
it happen again saturday is geting into a dog fight will tullamore. the last two games were very tight low scoring games and Birr let it get bunch in the middle
and never put tullamore away when they had the chances and were caught at the end with a last minute point last year.

haven't seen tullamore this year but they have Shane Dooley and Kelly back and they peake at the right time the last two years for the knockout stages of the championship
and they have most of the side that got them to the last two county finals and know how to win.

its win or bust for Paul Murphy and Birr this year we still have the spine of a very good side with the likes of Breeder Mullins, Rory & Gary Hanniffy Molly,Dylan Hayden Paul Cleary
theres a lot of experience in this Birr side plus lads that can bring Birr back to the top Brian Watkins, Barry Harding, Miley Nolan, Thomas Bolger, Brendan Murphy, Mark Quilian
add in seanie Ryan and Verney and its still and good side, as for the game Birr to keep the play wide and open and don't get Bunch ito the middle and take their scores when they come
this is last chance Saloon for Birr hurling Birr by 6 points.


Coolderry v Seir Kierans- this has the makings of a good game thats if Coolderry don't blaze seir kierans early doors in which they will go for if Seir Kierans can stay with them
well into the second half you never know, but i think like last year Coolderry will have to much firepower for most teams in offaly and with seir kierans dangerman Joe Bergin
the only one who can take on Coolderry up front it won't be enough Coolderry by 7 points.

St. Rynaghs v Shinrone- Rynaghs were rocked right back after the k/k lose and a few weak points were show up the last day, Shinrone have gone along nice enough in this years
championship and have been getting goals and goals win games the diggy is hurling well and could do damage to Rynaghs if he gets the ball they also have Del Morkam, Daniel Hoctor
also back hurling well. Rynaghs have depend on Gazz Kelly for most of their scores this year from place balls if they are to win this a few of their forwards will have to step up and be counted Cathal Horan got two goals the last day and might have to do it again Rynaghs back line will be the winning of this tie i think Rynaghs by 3 points.

K/K V Kinnitty - i am afraid this will be the most one side game of the weekend i can't see kinnitty getting near pa joes k/k side it will take some game from James Rigney, Dempsey
in goals and Colm Coughlan to get a result K/K by 10 points.

Relegation play off
Lusmagh v Shamrocks - lusmagh have been unlucky with some games this year and have done well David Moran will be a lost if he is missing as for Shamrocks they and been
poor this year but they have been hit will players leaving the country and some lads not putting it in Derek Molloy will be a huge lift for Shamrocks to have back and he will keep
Shamrocks in it but it has to be Lusmagh for me by 5 points.

[llkj]

Townman - Is Brian Whelahan playing with Birr this year? not a bad lad to bring in for 15 mins at the end if required

[townman]

Townman - Is Brian Whelahan playing with Birr this year? not a bad lad to bring in for 15 mins at the end if required

no he is training camross in laois for the last 2 year's they are hurling portlaoise this weekend in the quarter final, maybe he might come back for the leinster final

[Lone Shark]

Townman - Is Brian Whelahan playing with Birr this year? not a bad lad to bring in for 15 mins at the end if required

no he is training camross in laois for the last 2 year's they are hurling portlaoise this weekend in the quarter final, maybe he might come back for the leinster final

Can't see Camross making it that far. Can't see them making it past Portlaoise this weekend to be honest.

[kinnittyman]

All this negativity around Kinnitty must be music to the senioir teams ears!!

We all must have forgetten that just a year ago we drew with K/K in a game we should have won in the opening 20 minutes.

Form coming into this weekend's games counts for practically nothing- Tullamore proved that in 2009 and again last year. It's a 50/50 game with us and K/K and if it stays low scoring we have a huge chance. Okay we mighn't win a shoot out but we're in with a great shout.

In the other games I'll go with Birr to shake the Tullamore hoodoo off their backs, Shinrone to cause a mild surprise and beat a hugley overrated St Rynaghs and Coolderry to dispose of Seir Kieran probably comfortably enough.

Am I right in saying that the group winners or the team that beats them in the quarters can't meet in the semi-finals? If that's the case we could be looking at a Birr Coolderry Semi-Final- That'd be tasty!!!!

[townman]

Townman - Is Brian Whelahan playing with Birr this year? not a bad lad to bring in for 15 mins at the end if required

no he is training camross in laois for the last 2 year's they are hurling portlaoise this weekend in the quarter final, maybe he might come back for the leinster final

Can't see Camross making it that far. Can't see them making it past Portlaoise this weekend to be honest.

you never know Camross have a good record again portlaoise, maybe he can be on the line for the first half for Camross and come on for Birr in the second half
if they were to meet

[Plain of the Herbs]

In case anyone thinks this is big bad Lusmagh coming to relegate depleted Shamrocks . . .

If David Moran was Lusmagh’s only absentee things wouldn’t be so bad. Sadly the parish have been badly, badly hit through emigration and injuries.

None of the 7 who manned the defence when Lusmagh beat ’Rynagh’s in 2007 are hurling in the backs this year. Kevin, Brian and Ciarán Birmingham are all abroad at present. David Moran’s knee is gone again, John Kelly and Alan Glynn are hurling in the forwards and then-goalkeeper Eoin Kelly is needed outfield to get scores. Only four years ago last month – seems a lifetime ago now.

Make no mistake, the three Birminghams have been savage losses to the side. Lusmagh were forced to bring on Pat Temple the last day – he hurled U21 in 1991. You do the math.

The parish has also had more than its share of tragedy in recent years which I won’t go into further.

Shamrocks’ battling performance and narrow defeat against Tubber tells two things. It says Shamrocks will give this one everything. It also serves as Lusmagh’s alarm call. Jimmy Conway will be back to shore up the backline too.

While, on paper, Lusmagh have had four narrow defeats this year, in truth, they never looked like winning any of them and never had the real belief needed to get them over the line. I suppose that comes from defeat after defeat after nauseating defeat. Still the future isn’t all gloom. Seán Gardiner, Rory Quinlan and Alan Kelly have performed well consistently and the club boasts a number of talented hurlers at U16 level currently.

Of course whoever loses might still be handed a Senior lifeline in a Senior club wins the Intermediate title. That could get very interesting, what with John Troy managing Ballyskenagh and Ronald Byrne managing Ballinamere.

With both teams on a downer, whoever takes the lead will hold onto it as the team who falls behind has their belief frustratingly tested yet again. Unless there is a strong wind. On balance, Aidan Hanrahan’s knowledge of Shamrocks will be of some benefit. They need to make that count on the scoreboard.

[blue biffo]

Relegation play-off is on this sunday as well
Shamrocks v Lusmagh venue Kilcormac ref M Walsh 1.30
Derek Molloy is back for Shamrocks and while his return wont solve all of their problems it will be a major boost for them.
David Morans injury has been a huge blow for Lusmagh he has probably been their best hurler for a few years now and losing him when they are facing a match like this is very bad news for Lusmagh.
There wont be a lot in this game when the final whistle blows it could even go to extra time,I'm going for Lusmagh to win by two points after extra time!

Moran is a loss "if" not able to play. A very tidy hurler who should of made a bigger impact on county scene.

Shamrocks are missing far too many players. Its not possible for them or any team to compete with the amount of players they are missing. Remember we are not talking about 3 or 4. Theres 10 or so starters unavailable. Lusmagh have given every team they met this year a good battle and were probably unlucky to come up short in a few games. They would be hugely fancied to win this one at their ease. Hanrahan will know Shamrocks inside out after his two years as manager with them. Easy win for Lusmagh.

i also hear the coughlan brothers are playing, neville is still a good hurler but still think Lusmagh but just, was Shamrocks group a tougher group

[Long John]

i also hear the coughlan brothers are playing, neville is still a good hurler but still think Lusmagh but just, was Shamrocks group a tougher group

Completely inaccurate. Neville has retired from GAA and is concentrating on cycling. Thomas retired a couple of years ago. Unfortunate that young players like these are not available. But thats only two of a big list.

[Over The Black Spot]

In case anyone thinks this is big bad Lusmagh coming to relegate depleted Shamrocks . . .

If David Moran was Lusmagh’s only absentee things wouldn’t be so bad. Sadly the parish have been badly, badly hit through emigration and injuries.

None of the 7 who manned the defence when Lusmagh beat ’Rynagh’s in 2007 are hurling in the backs this year. Kevin, Brian and Ciarán Birmingham are all abroad at present. David Moran’s knee is gone again, John Kelly and Alan Glynn are hurling in the forwards and then-goalkeeper Eoin Kelly is needed outfield to get scores. Only four years ago last month – seems a lifetime ago now.

Make no mistake, the three Birminghams have been savage losses to the side. Lusmagh were forced to bring on Pat Temple the last day – he hurled U21 in 1991. You do the math.

Of course whoever loses might still be handed a Senior lifeline in a Senior club wins the Intermediate title. That could get very interesting, what with John Troy managing Ballyskenagh and Ronald Byrne managing Ballinamere.

POTH, how bad is Morans injury, I see from the Tribune he came on towards the end of the Tullamore game so maybe he's on the mend?

I actually just looked up the Lusmagh team that hurled v Rynaghs that day. From the forwards, ye're also missing Austen Lynch (who was a very good forward), Aidan Hanrahan has missed alot of hurling through injury over those few years, Gary Kelly comes from london to hurl in goals, I don't think I've seen Brian Larkin play much senior since though he's still relatively young if I'm thinking of the right fella. Add in Brian Troys injury and ye're struggling big time for numbers. Whatever happened Ger Gardiner, he was a very good minor with Offaly around the mid 2000s and looked set for bigger things?

It's funny how quick things change everywhere because alot of that Rynaghs team are not hurling senior anymore despite being young enough, but they do obviously have much greater numbers to fall back on and a much healthier supply chain.

Re Troy and Byrne (selectors with Lusmagh last year I think), I hope you're not intimating that one or the other might do something to try save ye if ye're in bother come Sunday evening!!

[GreatDayForTheParish]

Have to say I'm really looking forward to the games this weekend. Subplots, local rivalries - it'll be intriguing. This part of the championship is great - knock out games with plenty of clubs remaining. Added interest this year is the fact that any of the games could go either way. No matter who wins - no result could be described as genuinely 'shocking'.

My own feeling is that Shinrone and Clareen have great chances with both of their respective opponents being overrated - St.Rynaghs massively and unexplainably so. As far as I can remember, it has been a while since Clareen and Coolderry have met in knock out. Near neighbours - judicious use of 'timber' is to be expected.

K/K are as capable of beating Kinnitty by 10 as they are loosing by the same amount. They are impossible to trust and, being honest, lack inter - county quality in their team. Indeed they always have, I'm convinced just one Brian Carroll or Rory Hanniffy standard player would have seen them over the County Title line by now. Kinnitty though, remain over reliant on the brilliant James Rigney with little up front to make use of his endeavours in defence. With last year's semi-final nightmare to be atoned for, plenty of effort is guaranteed but K/K should, should have enough. Maybe.

As for Birr/Tullamore? Your guess is as good as mine.

[Plain of the Herbs]

I suppose you could start by asking the man himself, Spot.

And t'wasn't in the 'Tribune' you learned of David's introduction v Tullamore. Look it up and you'll see why!!

POTH, how bad is Morans injury, I see from the Tribune he came on towards the end of the Tullamore game so maybe he's on the mend?

[kingkenny]

could b good weekend 4 hurling followers in the snr Q\finals 1st up the 2 in t'more dis evenin
Birr v de blues - birr by 4/5 pts
lookin f'wrd to seen a class act like shane dooley back 4 de blues if birr cant contain him we could b in for a good game
birr surly will have learn't from previos yrs n go man markin on dooley IF they have anyone to step up 2 mark him out of game ??
brian walkins could b just de man to do so as he is der best man 2 keep up with dooleys movement n pace
where has barry whealean been 4 birr dis yr ???? he could come on and make an impact on result rory hannify to have BIG game
k/k v kinnity - k/k by 8 pts+
pa joe has k/k hurling as a unit @ just de right time like what he was renound for in his time with birr
kinnity just aint got f'wrds to get scores from play the rely to much on placed balls cant c k/k givin dem enough frees away to
keep dem in touch rigney could have to b at his best to keep likes of currims n slevin quite can c there been a few goals in this 1
as for sundays games in st brendans pk (home of hurling in offaly)
st rynaghs v shinrone - DRAW
this could b game of weekend 2 teams with little 2 choose between dem shinrone have young fast forward line dat will give plenty
of problems 4 rynaghs backs if tanner fullback diggy could make hay in der on him can c hernnon been givin man markin job on him
rynaghs forward line needs big games out of likes of flann n connelly draw @ 11/1 with bookies could b worth punt
coolderry v seir kierns - coolderry by 5/6 pts
champs coolderry should have enough to get better of rivals clareen in tasty encounter to end w'end with de mite not meet to often
in recent yrs @ snr knock-out game but if u.21 final of couple yrs back we could have sound of timber been pulled in st brendans pk
coolderry nippy full forward line could give problems 2 clareen full backs as belmont showed last day out with quick early goals
if coolderry get start like dat cant c den been caught de shown in group games de like 2 start game quickly clareen mit just have to
try keep it tight if de stil in game going into final 10 mins bergin could just keep dem der but likes of murphy (who should b der no.6)
and 2 hynes need to b der to help him cause he wont b able to do it on his own like in previos matches in der group games
de diggner may need to have his cards with him cause i can c hin havin to produce a few mayb even a RED
shamrocks v lusma - lusma by 3 pts
this a real pressure game 4 both wood not like to c either team going down inter but tink lusma mit just have to much for a shamrocks
club that is at a low after there fotty boys lost snr status lst w'end

[llkj]

this a real pressure game 4 both wood not like to c either team going down inter but tink lusma mit just have to much for a shamrocks
club that is at a low after there fotty boys lost snr status lst w'end

I can only spot 18 mistakes in this sentence. How many can you get? Answers on a postcard...

[townman]

could b good weekend 4 hurling followers in the snr Q\finals 1st up the 2 in t'more dis evenin
Birr v de blues - birr by 4/5 pts
lookin f'wrd to seen a class act like shane dooley back 4 de blues if birr cant contain him we could b in for a good game
birr surly will have learn't from previos yrs n go man markin on dooley IF they have anyone to step up 2 mark him out of game ??
brian walkins could b just de man to do so as he is der best man 2 keep up with dooleys movement n pace
where has barry whealean been 4 birr dis yr ???? he could come on and make an impact on result rory hannify to have BIG game
k/k v kinnity - k/k by 8 pts+
pa joe has k/k hurling as a unit @ just de right time like what he was renound for in his time with birr
kinnity just aint got f'wrds to get scores from play the rely to much on placed balls cant c k/k givin dem enough frees away to
keep dem in touch rigney could have to b at his best to keep likes of currims n slevin quite can c there been a few goals in this 1
as for sundays games in st brendans pk (home of hurling in offaly)
st rynaghs v shinrone - DRAW
this could b game of weekend 2 teams with little 2 choose between dem shinrone have young fast forward line dat will give plenty
of problems 4 rynaghs backs if tanner fullback diggy could make hay in der on him can c hernnon been givin man markin job on him
rynaghs forward line needs big games out of likes of flann n connelly draw @ 11/1 with bookies could b worth punt
coolderry v seir kierns - coolderry by 5/6 pts
champs coolderry should have enough to get better of rivals clareen in tasty encounter to end w'end with de mite not meet to often
in recent yrs @ snr knock-out game but if u.21 final of couple yrs back we could have sound of timber been pulled in st brendans pk
coolderry nippy full forward line could give problems 2 clareen full backs as belmont showed last day out with quick early goals
if coolderry get start like dat cant c den been caught de shown in group games de like 2 start game quickly clareen mit just have to
try keep it tight if de stil in game going into final 10 mins bergin could just keep dem der but likes of murphy (who should b der no.6)
and 2 hynes need to b der to help him cause he wont b able to do it on his own like in previos matches in der group games
de diggner may need to have his cards with him cause i can c hin havin to produce a few mayb even a RED
shamrocks v lusma - lusma by 3 pts
this a real pressure game 4 both wood not like to c either team going down inter but tink lusma mit just have to much for a shamrocks
club that is at a low after there fotty boys lost snr status lst w'end

Barry Whelehan has been hurt most off the year he was on crutches around the time of the Drumcullen game he came on again Coolderry
Barry has been on the panel since 1996 and has owes Birr Nothing but he could still do a job if he was called on.