Offaly Senior A Hurling Championship 2024

[frankthetank]

Big big loss.

My rejig would see Brecon Kavanagh move to 6, Ter Guinan to wing back and Peter Geraghty to wing forward. I think Geraghty offers more than Jack Screeney.

Alternatively K/K could move Brecon to 6 and just bring in Enda Grogan directly to wing back.

[frankthetank]

First post lads. Travelled from Carlow to the semis today, an Offaly man living and involved in coaching and admin in one of the senior clubs in Carlow. Long time reader of this excellent forum.
First game: Ballinamere always seemed to have that little bit more threat up front, and had an extra gear (or maybe that extra bit of fitness) to pull away in the end. Dan Ravenhill outstanding right through.
Second game an absolute procession. Charlie Mitchell is a real force up front, and the quality of KK’s touch and passing was exceptional, on another level. That said, Coolderry were abysmal, and it was hard to make a real judgement of how good KK actually were. Kiely’s injury looked more than just precautionary, he looked very upset coming off, and he would be a huge loss for the final, he offers huge structure and stability for the whole team. Maybe (and hopefully for his sake) it’s not as bad as it looked.
Your money would be on KK for the final, but looking further ahead, St. Mullins will provide a stern test for whoever prevails. Very strong and high scoring forward line, with lots of goal scoring potential: Marty Kavanagh, obviously, but also Conor Kehoe, Paddy Boland, Jason O’Neill, and, in James Doyle, they have one of the best midfielders in the country right now. Backs will be physical and highly competitive.
Looking forward to the final. Ballinamere seemed to play with a bit of fear for most of today, but I expect might cut loose a bit more in the final, with the pressure of expectation, to some extent, off. Still, it’s very hard to look beyond the KK team. So much to admire. Ter Guinan at wing back was brilliant in the first half today, Colin Spain gets through an amount of good work, and delivers great ball into the inside forwards, Conor Mahon got through a huge amount of productive work. Expect KK to prevail by a margin, but be very wary of St. Mullins after that, especially their full forward line. But maybe talk of that is for another day …

Well done on first post.

Just a note on one point. While Ter Guinan wore 7 he hurled wing forward in the 1st half.

K/K’s middle 8 was

Jordan Quinn Cillian Kiely Brecon Kavanagh

Damien Kilmartin Colin Spain

Ter Guinan Conor Mahon Leigh Kavanagh

[Géill Slí]

Sorry, yea, saw that alright, thought his touch and speed were brilliant, one ball in particular he seemed to field in between two Coolderry defenders.
Disappointed for Cillian Kiely, he has been immense for Offaly and what I’ve seen of KK all year. Agree that Brecon Kavanagh to centre back is most likely replacement. His battle with Dan Bourke will be interesting, two stylish and very intelligent young hurlers.

[Plain of the Herbs]

A County final with a difference. But this one is more different than others that have gone before it. A few random thoughts.

Firstly, ignore the match for a minute. Sunday is about Ballinamere. A first final for over 100 years, so effectively their first final. Such a big deal. Emigrants will come home; flags will adorn the homes of Ballinamere; people with no interest will, er, take an interest; they’ll sing songs and wear the colours in the schools; and the children old enough will remember October 2024 into adulthood. It might inspire a child to hurl Senior for Offaly. A great day too for Fr Rory O’Brien, the club’s patriarch, who has lived long enough to see this day.

Ballinamere the 11th different Senior finalist that I can recall in my time going to matches. If successful, they’d be the 10th different winner in the last 40 years. I still remember the excitement 1982 brought to Lusmagh. There’s never another first final. And even if Ballinamere don’t bring home the cup, it will drive expectation within and without the camp to return to the final next year.

Tough one for the Ballinamere team. Giddy excitement of a two week buildup. They’ll leave home around noon (or whenever) on Sunday, then before they know it, the day has passed by, it’s 6pm and they’re back in Esker Hills or whenever, and it’s all over for another year.

The weather will be a mahoosive factor. Stormy day, wind to make two halves of it. Probably the worst weather since 2014’s Final. Wind doesn’t suit the outsider. To win, the outsider needs to stay in touch, then strike late. A bit like Ballinamere’s semi-final win, though you couldn’t say that was a shock. With wind involved, either the outsider has the wind behind them in the first half, with the more fancied team recovering any half-time deficit (if there is one) quickly enough. Or the outsider hurls into the wind in the first half and has their belief torn asunder during the opening half. Either way, the more fancied team wins.

Unless of course the weather doesn’t turn out as bad as forecast. Met Éireann like to frighten people with forecasts of weather Armageddon.

The loss of Cillian Kiely is a blow to Killoughey. The big man was hurling well this year, sitting in the pocket, protecting his full-back line, from where he was gaining possession and feeding the forwards. The rampaging runs forward were kept to a minimum, though the goal against St Rynagh’s in Rath was a highlight. My guess is changes will be kept to a minimum. So, Brecon Kavanagh to the centre of the defence, Enda Grogan to wing back. That keeps Ter Guinan in the forwards. And Grogan doesn’t significantly weaken the defence – far from it.

If that is the case, Ballinamere should move Brian Duignan to centre half-forward. Or Dan Ravenhill, but preferably Duignan. Target them in the air. But will they? I was surprised Ballinamere didn’t target sectors of the ’Rynagh’s defence under the dropping ball in the semi-final.

So losing Cillian Kiely isn’t fatal for Killoughey. What would be more damaging would be losing Conor Mahon. Mahon is hugely important to them. 1-18 scored from play last year, 2-13 to date this year. The rampaging runs, the supply to the inside line, the punishment taken. Damien Kilmartin isn’t far behind. Both are 36 this year (Minor in 2006), and for all their riches they don’t have apparent replacements. Nor do Killoughey have a Brian Duignan or a Dan Ravenhill type. So 2024 might be their best chance of Leinster success.

Kilcormac-Killoughey have the higher standards. Regular challenge matches in Tipperary, Galway and Limerick on the weeks when Ballinamere are kicking football with Durrow. Tony Gleeson is a huge influence, and a massive factor in their success to date. Their full-forward line has carried out serious damage to opposition defences. Charlie Mitchell with 5-16 from play, Mahon with 2-13, Daniel Hand with 1-15. If one has an off day (and Ciarán Burke is a serious operator at full-back), others form a queue. Ter Guinan brings a wealth of ability to the forwards.

Still, Ballinamere are in a much better place than last year. And yet they haven’t really clicked to date – Duignan was in excellent form throughout the group stage as was Kevin McDermott, before John Murphy, Aaron Maher and Dan Ravenhill performed wonders at different stages of the semi-final. The half-bac line has a better look to it than it had at the start of the championship, though doubts nag about the corner-back positions.

So Killoughey to win by what they like. Their ceiling is higher. Greater ability. Better geared for a war of attrition in testing conditions. Driven by local media claims that their opposition, and not they, are “the single biggest development in the Offaly hurling world in recent years” (One of tomorrow’s finalists has won one U13, five U15s, five Minors and four U20 championships in recent years, and it isn’t Ballinamere.)

[faithfulfanatic]

Great post POTH, enjoyable and insightful as always.

From a betting perspective, KK are available anywhere between 1/6 and 1/8, with Ballinamere between 5/1 and 11/2.
Kilcormac’s price is not the sort that can be backed individually, more likely to be thrown into every GAA accumulator up and down the country this weekend for an extra few euro winnings. Not because everyone has in-depth knowledge of Offaly hurling, but because they have heard that KK are juggernauts. Perhaps they even gave this page a read for extra justification.

The early week handicap of -5 with Paddy Power was quickly eaten up and pushed to -6 where they have stayed. BoyleSports have been a little more cautious, starting at -6 and moved to -7.
I’d imagine both could have ended up around -8 if it were not for the weather predicted.

[Doon Exile]

Wind is going to ruin both games today.

[kingscounty]

Can’t go ahead surely, dreadful day for a big occasion

[One Time]

Can’t go ahead surely, dreadful day for a big occasion

Looks like they are going ahead which is nothing short of disgraceful. The clubs left in the dirt as usual. The split season is a joke, leaving it open to stuff like this and county finals in October simply shouldn't happen. Players have trained hard for 10 odd months to have to come out and play in shitty conditions. Can all say that conditions are same for both teams but the players deserve better. All big club and county games should be played between May and September and no reason it can't be done. Beyond me why club championships were not started until end of July in offaly, could have been started 3 weeks sooner at least.

[SearingDrive]

Can’t go ahead surely, dreadful day for a big occasion

Looks like they are going ahead which is nothing short of disgraceful. The clubs left in the dirt as usual. The split season is a joke, leaving it open to stuff like this and county finals in October simply shouldn't happen. Players have trained hard for 10 odd months to have to come out and play in shitty conditions. Can all say that conditions are same for both teams but the players deserve better. All big club and county games should be played between May and September and no reason it can't be done. Beyond me why club championships were not started until end of July in offaly, could have been started 3 weeks sooner at least.

I am inclined to agree about October Finals, they should be concluded in September. The revised championship format is the norm.
I don’t think this Storm was expected when fixtures were prepared earlier.

[One Time]

Can’t go ahead surely, dreadful day for a big occasion

Looks like they are going ahead which is nothing short of disgraceful. The clubs left in the dirt as usual. The split season is a joke, leaving it open to stuff like this and county finals in October simply shouldn't happen. Players have trained hard for 10 odd months to have to come out and play in shitty conditions. Can all say that conditions are same for both teams but the players deserve better. All big club and county games should be played between May and September and no reason it can't be done. Beyond me why club championships were not started until end of July in offaly, could have been started 3 weeks sooner at least.

I am inclined to agree about October Finals, they should be concluded in September. The revised championship format is the norm.
I don’t think this Storm was expected when fixtures were prepared earlier.

I know you can't predict the weather but surely someone could have said this morning or yesterday that the players deserve better and as do the supporters. I'm looking out the window and it's absolutely wild out there, people shouldn't be travelling not mind playing a county final. As a player I certainly don't enjoy these conditions, even last weekend was rough and when big matches are left this late, always a chance this will happen. Anyway we know the club player is not important so no point complaining

[Pat Mustard]

Absolutely mad having this game on today every other county calling off there games, this is what happens when you have one club running the county board.

[faithfulfanatic]

Can’t go ahead surely, dreadful day for a big occasion

Looks like they are going ahead which is nothing short of disgraceful. The clubs left in the dirt as usual. The split season is a joke, leaving it open to stuff like this and county finals in October simply shouldn't happen. Players have trained hard for 10 odd months to have to come out and play in shitty conditions. Can all say that conditions are same for both teams but the players deserve better. All big club and county games should be played between May and September and no reason it can't be done. Beyond me why club championships were not started until end of July in offaly, could have been started 3 weeks sooner at least.

When do you think county finals were played before this?
Absolutely nothing to do with the split season

[One Time]

Can’t go ahead surely, dreadful day for a big occasion

Looks like they are going ahead which is nothing short of disgraceful. The clubs left in the dirt as usual. The split season is a joke, leaving it open to stuff like this and county finals in October simply shouldn't happen. Players have trained hard for 10 odd months to have to come out and play in shitty conditions. Can all say that conditions are same for both teams but the players deserve better. All big club and county games should be played between May and September and no reason it can't be done. Beyond me why club championships were not started until end of July in offaly, could have been started 3 weeks sooner at least.

When do you think county finals were played before this?
Absolutely nothing to do with the split season

County finals used to be played in September and has everything to do with split season as clubs are being made wait until county teams are out of championship so start.

[faithfulfanatic]

Looks like they are going ahead which is nothing short of disgraceful. The clubs left in the dirt as usual. The split season is a joke, leaving it open to stuff like this and county finals in October simply shouldn't happen. Players have trained hard for 10 odd months to have to come out and play in shitty conditions. Can all say that conditions are same for both teams but the players deserve better. All big club and county games should be played between May and September and no reason it can't be done. Beyond me why club championships were not started until end of July in offaly, could have been started 3 weeks sooner at least.

When do you think county finals were played before this?
Absolutely nothing to do with the split season

County finals used to be played in September and has everything to do with split season as clubs are being made wait until county teams are out of championship so start.

I’d put good money on it that more finals have been in October than September since the turn of the century.

Clubs being made wait til county teams out to start? Do you want them to play without county players?

[One Time]

When do you think county finals were played before this?
Absolutely nothing to do with the split season

County finals used to be played in September and has everything to do with split season as clubs are being made wait until county teams are out of championship so start.

I’d put good money on it that more finals have been in October than September since the turn of the century.

Clubs being made wait til county teams out to start? Do you want them to play without county players?

A lot of finals played in September and early October, you're missing my point for the sake of arguing.. county finals should not be played in October that's my point, it's unfair on club players who put so much into it! Today is a farce. No one wants them to play with without their county players, play both at the one time over a longer period instead of squeezing one into short time frame then squeezing the other in after and the club (which contains 95%) of all players left waiting all year and then left playing in shit conditions!