Offaly Hurling 2026

[greenairfield]

I fully agree with that point. Its not like the 3 you mention are complete superstars. They are great hurlers when on song but there is no difference standard wise so I am sure its disheartning for the subs.
Espeically when bourke had played during the week got hurt and both duignan and kelly looked out on their feet.

[chimbonda]

Is DJ McLoughlin not on the panel this year?

[Fairplayalways]

havent been on here in yonks and unfortunately not getting to any games so before those that do attend and think everone else that dont attend are not qualified to give their tuppence, we all know enough about the game to comment. Our first 3 games have in NHL have probably gone to script, I seen a few targeting the Waterford game, which I personally couldnt see us winning, we are down a good few key players with injuries etc. So were Waterford yesterday, with Ballygunner lads out, Kilkenny in first game were down a few as well, granted Kilkenny have a big pool to fish from than Offaly. Each of the three weeks our team looked strong on paper, and as they say the match is played on paper, a few players have put up their hands and have showed well, King and Watkins are fairly solid in Midfield, Shirley is a huge loss in defence along with Killian Sampson (if he is played there or further up) Not sure whats the situation is with Jason Sampson but assume he will be back in at some stage. Ciaran Burke, definitely will probably come back straight in when ready.

Upfront is where I am beginning to worry, give out all day long about Brian Duignan, but he is capable and offers a threat up front, Dan Burke at 11, doing ok, Kelly at 12, not sure what managment want him to do off out on the wing - chap looks lost between the two 65s often, I think his confidence now is dipped and that is worrying. Cahill, I dont know what to think, point frees all day fair enough, but outside of that, the odd day he pointed 14-15 previously he chipped in with 2/3 from play also, he is anomynous now almost, and one has to check the screen to see was he even on the field when being substituted. He has the talent in buckets, why wouldnt he, but as of now, its not just happening for him. The goal keeping issue is straight forward you either prefer Hoare or Troy. Some big games to come, not sure if we get a few batterings how that will affect those in there. All very well saying it takes time, but we are ambiing along in 2/3rd gear now for a few years, players come and go, life moves on. I see a few saying Leo O'Connor should now take over and see where he goes, and I am inclined to agree...Johnny Kelly has done a good job todate getting us back up - we need to move onto next level now - our returns are low with the exception of the odd result of low scores since the league came back. Lets see where we go.

[private joker]

Just out of curiosity. On what basis would people have Leo o Connor as a senior manager. Underage is a complete different kettle of fish compared with adult. I know he was over offaly minor and u20 getting to three all irelands, winning one of them which was an incredible feat. But, what was the style of play?. Player welfare?, what tactics were evident against various opposition. 2025 was a fairly disappointing campaign and nothing seemed to change playing wise from the u17 days. At underage, if you have the players you'll go along way. When you don't, you need to set up and train differently in my opinion. Maybe Leo will get the job, maybe somone else might step in.

[greenairfield]

Cant see Leo getting it.. id say a big name from next year will be approached.

[frankthetank]

Tactics were fairly defensive initially. The Leinster Minor Final when we beat Laois, we could have won by 20 points if he had to allow the lads to hurl in a more attacking sense. Those failings came home to roost in that year's All Ireland Final vs Tipperary.

Only by 2024 did he realise he had a gifted crop of hurlers and allowed them to hurl with a bit more freedom

Player welfare by all accounts was a huge issue but I won't go into it here.

He's basically stayed around for the U20s in 2026 to keep himself front and centre for the senior job in 2027. Out of sight, out of mind and all that. It won't work. He will be overlooked for senior manager's role. Unless of course he produces an outrageous turnaround in the fortunes of this year's U20's* which is highly unlikely.

*In the corresponding minor championship we beat Kerry by 12 and Westmeath by 11. We lost to Wexford by 11, Dublin by 11 and Kilkenny by 7.

[jimbob17]

The general consensus of Offaly people would be that he is the next man up. Those who have more inside knowledge would have a better idea of how suitable he is or isnt for senior job. What I do know is that crop of hurlers were deemed very talented from a long way back before he was involved, when they reached a Tony Forristal final at U14 level. He came on scene as minor coach when they were U16 and had them again at U17 when reaching final. He did fierce well with them in many respects to be fair but he did have the talent.

I did hear he was in for the Westmeath senior job this year but it went to a local who was previously involved around the Offaly scene. He might do a good job if given it and I certainly would not write him off like some are. It depends on who he brings with him I think in many respects. That said, we have seen with how the football has gone that winning an U20 does not guarantee that you are at the level for senior.

I think the next appointment is crucial and more importantly, the next minor and U20 manager appointments are crucial as they will be the ones supplying the talent through to senior to back up the talented U20s that have come through.

[Fairplayalways]

Yeah I hear the debate what has Leo OConnor won at Senior level sort of thing, underage very different than senior etc. I suppose one could ask what had Johnny Kelly won at senior county level, like underage, managing a club, and its a while since he was manager of a club that was successful is totally alien to manging an intercounty team of players from all sorts of backgrounds and clubs, the club managing is you are managing a close knit bunch, all from one parish etc..county is a different animal..Will we go for a big name next year?hard to say...can we afford it, every few months we are money owed here and there and a big name manager will cost big bucks, Offaly havent been at the level to attract one in recent years...a man who seems spun out now in Antrim, maybe Davy Fitz might see talent in Offaly, and might come a bit cheaper to keep his profile alive...lads will go mad here for even mentioning it but its not impossible either...managers who assisted in other counties I never think really works out, they find the step up massive too when they are full boss and tough decisions have to be made...Former retired Offaly hurlers I cant think of any surfacing in clubs or other counties that might go for it, possible outsider maybe...we will have to wait and see how championship goes, for now Galway, Limerick and Cork to come, hard to see a win come out of any of those..hopefully we have a few back by championship, and players in there in particular forwards find a bit of form and confidence...

[oneshot]

i have been at the 4 games so far this year walsh cup game again galway also. what johnny kelly sees in leaving Dan Ravenhill half back amazes me . we had ter guinan playing half foward another like fish out of water his to bull headed to switch it around. we went 18 mintues last sunday week again tipp without scoring from play we went another 19 yesterday .

will someone tell me what seamus callanan is doing with the forwards if his there as a forward coach Screeney only got about 3 low balls into him and won them all and scored the rest of the game were big aimless pucks down the middle between osin kelly and brian duigan they made a allstar out of the centre back not once did they put up there hands to catch it. the i seen Duignan at least 4 times putting up his hurl to mark troy for the puck out and didn't contest for it after he sent it down to him.

all this whos the best leo or johnny i tell ya johnny kelly should have went after last years game again Antrim who had 14 men and offaly had a gale force win behind them he still played with a sweeper only for a last minute goal we were beaten. in 2024 we were bless to win the mcdonagh cup laois threw it away 19 wides and butcher about two goals . he was there in 2023 when carlow sent us packing .

as for people on about player benefit there wasn't to many in trim in the mcdonagh cup when we were playing meath and johnny kelly brought on screeney for the second half and he was playing the leinster under 20 final again dublin a few days later. or how he finished Dan Ravenhill year in 24 playing him again laois in the mcdonagh cup first round after getting hurt hurt for the under 20s again galway in the draw game in tullamore .

i watch kildare yesterday and they have a good man over them the have a plan and hurling a nice brand of hurling . i think we have a great bunch of players in offaly at the moment but they are way better than that what we have seen its the manger that needs changing in offaly.

[Wing Back]

I listened to the 1st half of the Waterford match on the radio.......by all accounts Offaly were unlucky not to be ahead. A few wides from frees by Cahill and Ravenhill that go over on another day, and Screeney's goal chance, as well as Duignan. Now midlands 103 can be biased, but we were full value for the position we had put ourselves in according to them.

The second half started OK too, A Screeney point from a free. Duignan had a great chance for goal but unfortunately went straight at keeper. So I was content.

But for the next 17 or 18 minutes we did look very average. Our half forward line were completely cleaned out, especially from our own puck-outs and clearances. And this is what Waterford built upon. The ball into forwards was not good. The best ball that was played into the forwards was actually by Screeney to Duignan from way out the field.

I agree with come commentary here on positional switches and wonder what reasons we have for them. I was happy to see Ross Ravenhill back at Wing back and according to Midlands 103, he was our best player in 1st half. I think switching Dan Ravenhill with Ter Guinan is another change I have seen mentioned here, and I tend to agree. I always liked Dan in the forwards last year. He did particularly well against Dublin in Croker, and is an option for half forward or in the corner. I still think Duignan can do a good job for us at the edge of the square, but needs to be one-on-one. He was a real handful last year against Dublin in Croker too. Played well in League final against Waterford. So keep faith I think. Mitchell is a big loss in my eyes, He was KK's main main (even with Screeney) in championship. He struggled for confidence last year with Offaly at various points, and I was thinking that he was going to really step up this year. I hope he can get back.

As regards Johnny Kelly. I am a little on the fence overall, but am inclined to give him the benefit of the doubt. On paper he has delivered on what we would have wanted. Promoted to top tier in league and championship. We retained our top tier championship status aswell. I felt we were actually quite unlucky to lose to both Dublin and Wexford last year in championship. Other might say a better management might have seen those games out....and while Antrim games was jittery, the result was all that mattered. Offaly are famous for not liking the favourites tag at this stage...but it hasn't been all doom and gloom.

Now before others think I am a massive supporter of Kelly, as I said, I am a little on the fence too. I see most of peoples points on some of our play and positioning of players and I think seems odd too, especially our puckout strategy in 2nd half against Waterford, but these things are what the league is for maybe. I feel that maybe management are resigned to the fact we will be relegated and are trying new things and do not want to show the full hand, or tactics perhaps. I won't pass verdict on him fully until I see how we go in championship.

We have been very unlucky with injuries over last 2 seasons I feel. I'm hoping that the players in the injury list will be back too.

[biffinbanner]

interesting discussion there on rte gaa podcast. roroy o neill and shane mcgrath. 2 well informed commentators. usually. they seemed to pay lip service to offaly. and were not seemingly aware of all we were missing.

[Wing Back]

interesting discussion there on rte gaa podcast. roroy o neill and shane mcgrath. 2 well informed commentators. usually. they seemed to pay lip service to offaly. and were not seemingly aware of all we were missing.

To be honest that doesn't bother me. The less people are aware of Offaly and our situation in terms of injuries the better. Hopefully we may be able to get the majority back for championship and surprise a few with a reshuffled pack to choose from.

[private joker]

No one other than wexford (who are really struggling) and kildare will be thinking about whose playing for offaly.

[seany12]

Tactics were fairly defensive initially. The Leinster Minor Final when we beat Laois, we could have won by 20 points if he had to allow the lads to hurl in a more attacking sense. Those failings came home to roost in that year's All Ireland Final vs Tipperary.

Only by 2024 did he realise he had a gifted crop of hurlers and allowed them to hurl with a bit more freedom

Player welfare by all accounts was a huge issue but I won't go into it here.

He's basically stayed around for the U20s in 2026 to keep himself front and centre for the senior job in 2027. Out of sight, out of mind and all that. It won't work. He will be overlooked for senior manager's role. Unless of course he produces an outrageous turnaround in the fortunes of this year's U20's* which is highly unlikely.

*In the corresponding minor championship we beat Kerry by 12 and Westmeath by 11. We lost to Wexford by 11, Dublin by 11 and Kilkenny by 7.

Only by 2024 did he find Tony Gleeson to get him over the line.

[greenairfield]

I think people that know Leo he is known as someone whos a bit of a bluffer.
Maybe Henry Shefflin is the man for the job.