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Offaly Hero wrote: ↑Tue Oct 07, 2025 11:13 am Killian Sampson is the best hurler in Offaly for me. He can play anywhere in the middle third and his athletic development from when he was minor/u-20 to now is an example to all our recent talented underage hurlers.
Worth a trial beside Donal Shirley at CB in the half back line for Offaly?

Shirley to play football for offaly next year

Firstly, thanks to faithfulfanatic for the kind words.
I’ll be honest, I only realised what a championship win means to a community when you meet so many out on the field afterwards. Families of players, obviously. But the excitement of the young people – and you realise that hurling will live on, and prosper, long after we’re gone. And people who aren’t matchgoers who came on Sunday – showing that the impact of the GAA goes well beyond even occasional matchgoers. And parents of emigrants who were tuned in to Clubber at nighttime in Australia.

Feckitt, everyone should experience a championship win like that once in a generation.

Lusmagh have been a mid table team since the championship’s reintroduction in 2018, beaten semi-finalists four times, twice survived relegation finals. And with numbers reducing all the time, time seemed to be running out for a team who are backboned by the 2013 Minors – now approaching 30 – who as young tyros won the 2015 Intermediate final. Injury denied them Ruairí Kelly last year, while they carried the scars of a horrendous semi-final loss to Kilcormac-Killoughey.

But it was obvious from the opening round that there was something different about Lusmagh this year. A sparkling win over K-K – though the opposition mightn’t have had much hurling done up to that point - was followed by another strong performance and win over Coolderry. A very skilful team, comfortable on the ball, well able to execute a mid range stick pass, the older lads would have benefitted from having been coached by Franny Forde in secondary school. And with the work rate and application to match.

The semi-final win over Kilcormac-Killoughey was arguably their best performance since the 2019 quarter-final win over Tullamore. There’s been quite the rivalry at the grade between the two at Senior B grade, but this time we had five Eoin Quinlan points in the first half, a brilliant Paul Kinsella goal at a crucial stage when they were level, and Ruairí Kelly’s inspirational point, taking off from his own full-back line before firing over from around halfway.

A fitting final against Carrig & Riverstown. A huge crowd in, a match that nobody dominated and nobody was outhurled for any period of time. The scores coming in breaks, like snooker. Lusmagh going three up, Carrig 5-3 up, Carrig taking a 10-6 lead as half-time approached, before a point and a fine Kinsella goal – placed by Luke Bowe – drew them level at the break. Lusmagh led by 3 midway through the second half, Carrig quickly hit back to lead by one, before Lusmagh led by four. And with time almost up, the last man in Ireland you want to face with a free 30 yards out is Liam Hoare. But the first man up blocked the free, and it was all over.

Credit to Brian Mullins. Perhaps the most misunderstood Offaly man. He managed Lusmagh in 2019 but was still hurling for his club and couldn’t do another year. He returned last year, but injuries ensured no momentum was gained. That all changed this year. There’s a mutual respect between manager and players that’s hard to replicate. Sometimes a team and a manager just click.

Great to return to Senior hurling too – which is where everyone wants to hurl, to measure themselves against the county’s best.

As for stats. Nothing really. Lusmagh used just 18 players over the course of seven games. And of those, just 16 started, one more came on in each game, while the 18th made one subs appearance.
The first Offaly club to participate in each Leinster club championship grade – Senior, Intermediate and Junior.
And the first time Lusmagh went though a championship unbeaten since the 1973 Junior win - which was on a straight knockout being before the round robin era.

faithfulfanatic wrote: ↑Tue Oct 07, 2025 9:50 am Sunday in Birr belonged to Lusmagh. Serious display of teamwork, work rate and above all heart from Lusmagh to return to Senior A. Epitomised all that is good about Offaly hurling. Paul Kinsella outstanding for the victors with 1-5 from play. Carrig deployed Cathal King at 11, hoping to quell Eimhin Kelly’s influence but this did not work. They persevered with this and never looked to move King which seemed crazy. Eimhin Kelly will be a massive asset for Offaly this year back fit. Ruairi Kelly came out with a mountain of ball from corner back, Carrig corner forward had a torrid afternoon trying to chase him.
Carrig missed their captain Patrick Bergin under the puckouts, he got injured against Clara and only came on late. He’s a mountain of a man and I believe he is only 21? I don’t think he was involved with the 20s at any stage?
Lusmagh’s lively corner forward Luke Bowe definitely worth a look for the 20s next year, if he hasn’t been involved already.
Mark O’Brien was the standout for Carrig at full forward, got 3 points from play and kept them in it at times.

Senior B won’t get any easier to win next year, Seir Kieran coming down, KK will probably have a few lads back from senior a who were used this year, along with the introduction of Odhran Fletcher and a few more young guns. Clodiagh Gaels will hopefully recover from a poor year this year. Clara never make it easy for anyone and Drumcullen or Birr will be more than capable of competing.

Delighted for POTH, I hope we get some stats from him later in the week when things have calmed down!

To only use 18 players across a seven game championship is incredible.

Unless lusma have a few lads coming next year they are in for some big defeats. 2-3 injuries and they will struggle to field at junior level. Will they be playing Div 1 league also?

Thanks. What's it to you what happens them? They won't be looking to you for inspiration anyway. And they won't shirk the challenge either. Prick!

private joker wrote: ↑Thu Oct 09, 2025 10:37 pm Unless lusma have a few lads coming next year they are in for some big defeats. 2-3 injuries and they will struggle to field at junior level. Will they be playing Div 1 league also?

Huge credit to Lusmagh and Mullins maybe a future Offaly coach I know how well he is regarded.

It's a forum, think you are a little precious. Cop on. I said nothing to cause offence but your easy to offend. I have great time for lusma, I love what they do and I am acquainted with a good few lads there. I'm just giving my thoughts without calling anyone names. It's in my opinion that they will struggle in senior A hurling with a very small group of players. When Tullamore came up they have struggled for three years and only for kk winning senior b they would have been playing lusma senior B this year that not an insult by the way just an actual fact/truth..

private joker wrote: ↑Thu Oct 09, 2025 10:37 pm Unless lusma have a few lads coming next year they are in for some big defeats. 2-3 injuries and they will struggle to field at junior level. Will they be playing Div 1 league also?

One of the most annoying things, if not the most annoying thing, that can be said in the immediate aftermath of a non top tier competition win is the version of ‘team x will find the going tough next year at the higher level’.
Offaly get this all the time at intercounty level. Some posters here would still have us at Christy Ring in hurling and Division 4 in football so that we’d avoid any trashings at a higher level.

That’s for next year. And maybe it won’t come to pass.
For now, all teams that have won, won anything, should savour the win.

I'm not from lusma, I'm delighted they won. I don't expect anyone from there to be thinking about next year only their next match and enjoying their huge achievement this year. I have a huge fondness for them and the players. This is a forum where people talk about hurling. Im just talking about next year and it ok to do that. There's another thread here about National league 2026. Are we allowed to contribute to that or is that not OK? Lads who don't want to contribute to a discussion can just do that, don't contribute.

Good grief lads resorting to that sort of manner over an opinion , good or bad shouldn’t happen no matter what your reputation is or who you are that’s simply uncalled for

There’s not many giving there views on this forum anymore and I’m not suprised

There's Ireland soccer about to play Portugal. Wouldn't you think they'd stay at home? They'll only get bet. And people will laugh at them.

Plain of the Herbs wrote: ↑Sat Oct 11, 2025 7:48 pm There's Ireland soccer about to play Portugal. Wouldn't you think they'd stay at home? They'll only get bet. And people will laugh at them.

At least you didn’t call another poster a prick this time I suppose.

The Republic of Ireland are in a 4 team group, for the FIFA World Cup 2026.
The format involves home and away games.
If that logic applied in th GAA, very few teams would play in the championship.

There are strong teams, and weak teams in all sports. It is the chance to compete, against stronger teams, and occasionally, the small team achieves success.. Offaly hurlers are a prime example of not accepting they are not good enough.

That’s a great win for Drumcullen. After the last day I thought Birr would have the beating of them but fair play to the Sash men they looked solid in defence from what I seen. Well done to them

Are they capable of making any progress at Senior B?

With 4 out of the 6 (which is too many. Top team should make final and 2 vs 3 in semi final IMO) making the semi finals, are they good enough of making the knockouts?