Offaly Senior Hurlers 2025

[jimbob17]

Team I would lean towards would be

Troy

Mahon
Burke
Conneely

Ross Ravenhill
Kiely
J Sampson / S Bourke

Spain
King

Dan Ravenhill
D Bourke
K Sampson

Duignan
Kelly
Mitchell

Would like to see Oisin Kelly in FF line. I'd start Dan Ravenhill at half forward and let him drift wherever ball goes like Sampson. You have to win that middle third to win the game nowadays and the athleticism in this 8 would help. It is a much more athletic team than we have had in last 20 years and I think this is why we are getting results. We always had good hurlers - we just fell down for a long time on having real athleticism.

Id leave Shirley and Screeney as subs to come in with 20 mins to go to add value when game is opened up, though Shirley could bring more physicality to midfield than Spain or King on needs must basis. Think Screeney needs more physicality for Liam McCarthy Cup hurling yet but could be wrong. He has huge talent. Either way, U20s need to be managed well between both managers.

Think Cahill Nally, King, Guinan, Cantwell and maybe one or two more will all feature through Leinster champ also and there is good competition behind these lads also that could come into the fray. Is Luke O'Connor on panel? If not he should be based on last years club performances. Troy just gets nod for me in goals by virtue of fact he is there already. Reckon that could change in years to come as competition hots up with Hoare out of U20


Subs:
Hoare
J Sampson / S Bourke
E Cahill
D King
P Cantwell
D Nally
B Kavanagh
T Guinan
A Screeney

[faithfulfanatic]

Team I would lean towards would be

Troy

Mahon
Burke
Conneely

Ross Ravenhill
Kiely
J Sampson / S Bourke

Spain
King

Dan Ravenhill
D Bourke
K Sampson

Duignan
Kelly
Mitchell

Would like to see Oisin Kelly in FF line. I'd start Dan Ravenhill at half forward and let him drift wherever ball goes like Sampson. You have to win that middle third to win the game nowadays and the athleticism in this 8 would help. It is a much more athletic team than we have had in last 20 years and I think this is why we are getting results. We always had good hurlers - we just fell down for a long time on having real athleticism.

Id leave Shirley and Screeney as subs to come in with 20 mins to go to add value when game is opened up, though Shirley could bring more physicality to midfield than Spain or King on needs must basis. Think Screeney needs more physicality for Liam McCarthy Cup hurling yet but could be wrong. He has huge talent. Either way, U20s need to be managed well between both managers.

Think Cahill Nally, King, Guinan, Cantwell and maybe one or two more will all feature through Leinster champ also and there is good competition behind these lads also that could come into the fray. Is Luke O'Connor on panel? If not he should be based on last years club performances. Troy just gets nod for me in goals by virtue of fact he is there already. Reckon that could change in years to come as competition hots up with Hoare out of U20


Subs:
Hoare
J Sampson / S Bourke
E Cahill
D King
P Cantwell
D Nally
B Kavanagh
T Guinan
A Screeney

You’d leave Donald Shirley off?? You must be kidding.
Miles ahead of Sam Bourke/Ross and that was evident last Sunday. I can’t imagine too many share that view.
Cathal King and Colin Spain have been an outstanding pair, it won’t be them Shirley comes in for.
DCU are big outsiders for the Fitzgibbon this week, but if they do win, Shirley will have been without a doubt player of the tournament.

Can’t see Oisin Kelly being moved to full forward, given he has been performing very well at no.12.

Luke O’Connor isn’t on the panel, has had enough chances through the years.

[private joker]

Yeah, Donal will be a starter for certain come championship. Not at 6 possibly but 7. He could keep kiely off the team also and stay at 6

[faithfulfanatic]

Great article in the Irish times this morning by Ciaran Murphy on Offaly hurling and football

[greenairfield]

Jimbob are you trying to get us back down to joe mcodnagh or what.
We find a couple of gems and you leave them on the bench and replace them with ross ravehill.good servant to the set up but is not at the level we want to get too.

[Doon Exile]

Half back line of Jason, Kiely and Shirley. Shirley has been brilliant at 6 but realistically Kiely will only play 6 and Shirley will be very effective on the wing also. Shirley has to start, simple as.

Midfield pairing of Colin Spain and Cathal King doing brilliant and should not be changed.

Whilst Killian Sampson had probably his best day ever for Offaly last Sunday, I don’t think he’ll keep Dan ravenhill off the team come championship. That’s assuming that Adam recovers fully and is on the team.

I wouldn’t be against playing Oisin in the full forward line. A great goal threat closer the goal…….?

[jimbob17]

Think ye are being bit unfair to Ross Ravenhill. He has been excellent to be fair from what I've seen of him and is underrated.

Re Shirley, he is young, he has been excellent no doubt. I dont think he is ahead of Kiely as a 6. My question is who comes off bench to give us lift when we need it like Limerick, Clare and Cork have had in recent times. Dublin had K McManamon coming off bench. It is crucial we get energy off bench. Who do you sugest offers that? Young lads with good legs and hurling ability does it for me imo.

Also said Shirley could start at MF depending on who we are playing. He has been very good for DCU but has been playing in MF and not half backs for them so that is a real live option also. He can score and covers ground well. I'd have no issue with him starting at WB either for the record for the lads that seem to want to jump down fellas necks. He will likely be WB for U20s anyway or maybe MF.

Not averse to starting Screeney but i'd worry re physicality just yet. It is massive jump to Liam Mac from Joe Mac? How well did he do for the senior team last year in Joe Mac, dont recall him setting it ablaze like he did at underage level. He will be there in future for sure and is undoubted talent, but question for me is re physicality at this current moment for Liam McCarthy hurling and that is a legitimate question to be fair. I could be wrong but it might suit to throw him in on tiring backs with 25 mins or 20 to go when game is opened up. Im not saying he shouldnt play, I am only saying maybe he offers more coming in. Thats all i'd say on that.

Could also see Killian Sampson reverting to LHB where he is an outstanding hurler and more natural and see another attacking player in - maybe his brother.

Oisin Kelly was lethal a few years ago at 14 in a lesser team. He is a guy that can score off dirty ball, and could be great foil for Screeney in same way Conor Mahon was in last 10 mins of county final for KK. Good 14s are hard to find. I'd go as far as saying Kelly is a more natural 14 than Duignan and Duignan is more natural WF than Oisin Kelly but its all debateable and both are good enough to start.

Once injuries clear up could also see Eimhin Kelly adding something to championship also.....

As for Luke O'Connor, I recall he was in but was there when he was 20 / 21. He is 23 or 24 now i'd say and was excellent for Banagher last year so is still worth consideration imo. Think it is bit unfair to write him off as co player at this stage as some appear to be doing.....

[oneshot]

Yeah, Donal will be a starter for certain come championship. Not at 6 possibly but 7. He could keep kiely off the team also and stay at 6

don't think so Cillan Kiely is one of the best hurler's in offaly what ever about both in the half back line Kiely can hurl midfield or centre forward he will be the first on the team sheet when fit.

[private joker]

I agree, I meant he might be pushed up the field rather than off the team. No.11 if that suited. Have a line of ball winning forwards at 10,11 and 12.

[G91]

Doesn’t look like the game will be on the box

[private joker]

Should hopefully be a good game. First real test against a liam mcarthy county who have ambition to win leinster.

[G91]

Should hopefully be a good game. First real test against a liam mcarthy county who have ambition to win leinster.

Looking at what other teams have scored vs Dublin compared to what Offaly have scored vs this teams it’s set up to be a decent game

[Faithful Future]

Will be interesting to see if any changes are made this coming weekend. Kiely looked good to go on the sideline a few weeks ago v Antrim. If fit, will he come back in and if so, at who's expense?

Do we have any word on progress of Cahill, Screeney and Conneely?

[faithfulfanatic]

Will be interesting to see if any changes are made this coming weekend. Kiely looked good to go on the sideline a few weeks ago v Antrim. If fit, will he come back in and if so, at who's expense?

Do we have any word on progress of Cahill, Screeney and Conneely?

I don’t think Kiely will start, given that he didn’t see any game time the last day. Thought he may get 10-15 mins.

I think Cahill was in a boot the last day? Got a minor procedure on his Achilles.

Screeney has osteitis pubis on both sides. The sort of injury that has no timeline, needs to be managed and given time to recover.
Shane Rigney has the same injury I believe.

[private joker]

Players been flogged for short term glory at the expense of their long term future