Offaly Club Hurling Championship 2025

[jimbob17]

This could be controversial.. Now that the SHC is over, these are my current power rankings at the end of the 2025 season.

1. Kilcormac Killoughy - speaks for itself, best players and squad depth in the county.
2. Shinrone - came through some real battles this year and could have pipped another Sean Robbins if certain things went their way.
3. Birr - made real strides this year with some quality youth players coming through.
4. Ballinamere - One of the real losers this year, but quality does not go away overnight. Still a force to be reckoned with.
5. Belmont - Big bounce back from a relegation scare this year despite same old problems at semi final stage.
6. Coolderry - Some good wins in the group, maximising their talent pool.
7. Rynaghs - Trending downwards I think, hope I am wrong but only 1 win in SHC this year.
8. Tullamore - One of the winners from this year, could have won any of those group games this year and led by youth players.
9. Kinnitty - Shipped some very heavy losses and will be most disappointed with the Rynaghs game.
10. Seir Kieran - Feels like a last song for the older in that SK group. Still fielding 3 adult teams with a lot of young faces on the panel which keeps them inside the top 10, but not guaranteed to bounce straight back up.
11. Lusmagh - Brilliant performances all year long, all came together in the final. Hope to see them stay up (which is absolutely possible despite previous comments). Would be higher if the bench was just a bit deeper.
12. C&R - Think their time is coming soon, good panel with lots of potential - expect will have a big say in Snr B next year.
13. Clara - A lot of work being done in Clara, they are passionate and a close group of players. A torn in the side for all teams in Snr B.
14. Drumcullen - Proud club trending upwards again after a few years in doldrums. Momentum is in their favour.
15. Clodiagh Gaels - Significant drop off from previous years and a few bad Snr B final appearances. Maybe heart is gone out of the hurling scene, but very disappointing year with very little immediate youth to freshen it up.
16. Shamrocks - WIll also be disappointed with their season, need to bounce back sooner rather than later but always a threat when they reach semi final stage.
17. Brosna Gaels - Good year, hopefully they build on it and at least retain status - were senior A less than 10 years ago.
18. Ballyskenagh Killavilla - Topped the group in Jnr A, will be disappointed not to reach final.
19. Edenderry - Seems to be a good group of passionate hurlers, underage progress will energise them.
20. Crinkill - Poor year all round, lots of scope for improvement.
21. Gracefield - Lots done, more to do.

This is where my head is at - I am not intending to offend you or your club before you call me a clown

Interested to hear what other contributors would change from these rankings.

Good post Bogman and interesting read. Agree with most but Id have couple of adjustments to it. I'd have Belmont ahead of Ballinamere given they topped the group, drew with KK in group stages and got so close to Shinrone in contrast to Ballinamere capitulation v KK and their struggle to make q-final.

Would also have Tullamore ahead of Rynaghs for similar reasons. They were a hell of a lot closer to making a q-final than St Rynaghs who have majorly fallen off. It wasn't so long ago they were winning 3 in a row.

Surely Lusmagh get nod over Clareen given seasons both teams had also?

[Lone Shark]

Just to be clear, I'd be delighted to see Donal stay with BG, and of course it would be best for the team if he stays, and you could make a strong argument for saying that it would be best for Offaly as well, since it would be a huge boost to hurling in that area. I just think that the jury is out on whether or not it would be best for the man himself, and in an amateur game, the idea that there should be some sort of obligation on him to do anything more than follow the rules of the association doesn't really sit well with me.

Just on a few bits, and I won't be as long-winded as I was the last time:

(1) I'm genuinely shocked to find out that footballers are expected to take part in hurling training and challenge games on football weeks, never mind the week of a championship semi-final. If Belmont had organised a challenge game three days before Ferbane played Edenderry or if Ferbane organised a challenge game three days before Belmont played Shinrone, it would be assumed that it was for single code players only and there would be absolute uproar if it was even hinted that lads should tog out three days before the biggest game in one club's season up to that point. If a manager tried to genuinely ask for players to tog out in a game like that, I would fully expect the executive to step in and dismiss them, even at that stage of the season. I cannot stress enough how bananas that sounds to me and I'm stunned that Doon were okay with it.

(2) With regard to the Farrells, two things make that case different for me. Firstly, the fact that they would have had to transfer out of a club that was consistently competitive and occasionally triumphant in the Offaly SFC is a game-changer. Secondly, the geography is a factor there. For either or both of them to go to a club that was significantly stronger than Edenderry, that's a long journey.

(3) With regard to some of the other examples cited, such as some of the Ballyskenach or Clodiagh Gaels lads, they might have been there when the club was poor, but there were a few of them in it, and given the general profile of the clubs at the time, it was widely expected that they would move up at least one grade. I know there are a couple of other promising youngsters in the Brosna Gaels dressing room but it's also true to say that the county final team earlier this month had (I'm pretty sure?) more lads over 30 than under it, while underage has been underwhelming this year, I think that's fair to say. The Ger Oakley case is fair enough, albeit C&R did get to senior briefly in his time. I don't think they were ever third tier, but there were more clubs at senior back then than there are in Senior A now so if BG are about the 18th ranked side in Offaly right now, there probably was a fair bit of time when C&R were about the same.

(4) Obviously yes, BG's chances of success are greatly enhanced if they have a 22/23/24 year old Donal Shirley driving them on. I guess what I'm saying is that even with him, there's no guarantee they would get up to Senior B in that time, and it's probably slightly more likely that they don't. I'm not trying to say that the prospect of that happening is the same, regardless of whether or not Donal stays around, obviously he's a huge game changer at that level.

[Plain of the Herbs]

No issues here anyway. Great post.

This could be controversial.. Now that the SHC is over, these are my current power rankings at the end of the 2025 season.

Interested to hear what other contributors would change from these rankings.

[HardAsTar]

FYI Kevin, of the 32 Brosna Gaels players togged out last Saturday, 21 under 30, 8 of the starting 15 under 30 and all 3 subs used under 30. Also, challenge match arranged 5 days before football match and on a hurling training night. Life in the auld (or young) dog yet.

[Lone Shark]

FYI Kevin, of the 32 Brosna Gaels players togged out last Saturday, 21 under 30, 8 of the starting 15 under 30 and all 3 subs used under 30. Also, challenge match arranged 5 days before football match and on a hurling training night. Life in the auld (or young) dog yet.

Three or five days before, I find it absolutely mind-blowing that players would tog out for a hurling challenge game with their football club's biggest match of the season just around the corner, and that the Doon club management would be okay with that.

I come from a dual parish, I moved to another dual parish, I've been involved in club executives in both parishes and I've done a fair bit of research around the country as to what they do in places like Slaughtneil, St. Finbarr's, Loughmore etc., just in case we were missing a trick anywhere. I have never heard of a single one where a team wouldn't be given the full week to prepare as a collective unit with no interference from the other sport in the lead up to a knockout championship game.

[Runner_bean]

Just to be clear, I'd be delighted to see Donal stay with BG, and of course it would be best for the team if he stays, and you could make a strong argument for saying that it would be best for Offaly as well, since it would be a huge boost to hurling in that area. I just think that the jury is out on whether or not it would be best for the man himself, and in an amateur game, the idea that there should be some sort of obligation on him to do anything more than follow the rules of the association doesn't really sit well with me.

Just on a few bits, and I won't be as long-winded as I was the last time:

(1) I'm genuinely shocked to find out that footballers are expected to take part in hurling training and challenge games on football weeks, never mind the week of a championship semi-final. If Belmont had organised a challenge game three days before Ferbane played Edenderry or if Ferbane organised a challenge game three days before Belmont played Shinrone, it would be assumed that it was for single code players only and there would be absolute uproar if it was even hinted that lads should tog out three days before the biggest game in one club's season up to that point. If a manager tried to genuinely ask for players to tog out in a game like that, I would fully expect the executive to step in and dismiss them, even at that stage of the season. I cannot stress enough how bananas that sounds to me and I'm stunned that Doon were okay with it.

(2) With regard to the Farrells, two things make that case different for me. Firstly, the fact that they would have had to transfer out of a club that was consistently competitive and occasionally triumphant in the Offaly SFC is a game-changer. Secondly, the geography is a factor there. For either or both of them to go to a club that was significantly stronger than Edenderry, that's a long journey.

(3) With regard to some of the other examples cited, such as some of the Ballyskenach or Clodiagh Gaels lads, they might have been there when the club was poor, but there were a few of them in it, and given the general profile of the clubs at the time, it was widely expected that they would move up at least one grade. I know there are a couple of other promising youngsters in the Brosna Gaels dressing room but it's also true to say that the county final team earlier this month had (I'm pretty sure?) more lads over 30 than under it, while underage has been underwhelming this year, I think that's fair to say. The Ger Oakley case is fair enough, albeit C&R did get to senior briefly in his time. I don't think they were ever third tier, but there were more clubs at senior back then than there are in Senior A now so if BG are about the 18th ranked side in Offaly right now, there probably was a fair bit of time when C&R were about the same.

(4) Obviously yes, BG's chances of success are greatly enhanced if they have a 22/23/24 year old Donal Shirley driving them on. I guess what I'm saying is that even with him, there's no guarantee they would get up to Senior B in that time, and it's probably slightly more likely that they don't. I'm not trying to say that the prospect of that happening is the same, regardless of whether or not Donal stays around, obviously he's a huge game changer at that level.

What would your meaning behind this be?

“ the idea that there should be some sort of obligation on him to do anything more than follow the rules of the association doesn't really sit well with me”

[private joker]

In relation to playing a hurling match the week Doon were playing I would almost be certain it was for lads not playing football and giving the extended panel game time. There would be no expectation that lads playing football that week would tog out.

[Doon Exile]

In relation to playing a hurling match the week Doon were playing I would almost be certain it was for lads not playing football and giving the extended panel game time. There would be no expectation that lads playing football that week would tog out.

Doon have one starter on BG team and he definitely played that night. Just checked the Dates and it was the Monday night so HardasTar is correct in the 5 days as opposed to my 3!!

I was at the game (played under lights in Doon) and pretty sure Bernard Allen played too that night but memory is a bit scetchy. All 4 football teams were out that weekend so I’d say that definitely there were other footballers playing that night in the hurling challenge as they simply don’t have the numbers otherwise.

See, Brosna Gaels do take their hurling serious. I’d say they’ll be the team to stop KK drive for ten in a row…….. (if we keep DS of course)

[Dodge83]

I'm very wary of offending anyone with this post, because I know several people involved with Brosna Gaels that are ferociously committed to the cause, so I'm going to keep this as factual as I can.

(1) It's all very well to say that in an ideal world, players would stick with their own club until it's logistically impractical to do so, i.e. they live a long distance away from home etc. However there is the ideal world, and there is the world we live in. Lads who are a cut above in small teams will always be courted by bigger neighbours, and they will know that in practical terms, if they want to give themselves the best chance of staying on top of their game by intercounty standard, they increase their chances by going to a competitive senior team. I don't want to drag this topic down another tangent so I'm not going to be specific, but out of the top 5 or 6 club teams in Offaly in both hurling and football, the clubs that DON'T have someone in their ranks who by rights should probably be playing with a smaller nearby club are the exception.

(2) I know there are geographic comparisons, but I don't consider the Vinny Claffey case to be at all comparable. If there was a Vinny Claffey in Doon NOW, in 2025, that would be different. But the Doon team that Vinny played on at his peak had plenty of players that had played for Offaly and in his latter years, they were championship contenders. Yes, Vinny was a big part of their success, but even without him, that Doon team would have made their way to senior at some point on their own steam.

I mean come on, at one stage towards the end of his career you would have had Claffey in a forward line alongside Donie Ryan, Trevor Phelan, Damien Hunt and James Coughlan - that's five players who played senior Leinster championship football for Offaly, and for good measure you could throw in Niall Kelly, who would have played in a few league games. Even earlier in his career, he didn't have the younger lads of those but he would have played alongside Eugene Boland, Kieran Rigney, Willie Ryan and a few more. That is not remotely comparable to the situation Shirley finds himself in at BG, where it would take a huge stretch of the imagination to see them even getting into the second tier of Offaly club hurling, never mind the top. In fact it's entirely possible, some would say even likely, that if Shirley did hurl for BG for the next ten years, he might never share a dressing room with another player who got Leinster championship minutes at senior level for Offaly.

(3) It is a fact to say that Tubber is a GAA club, one that I have a real soft spot for due to their history and the effort that some stalwart people had to go to in order for them to break free from the shackles of tyrannical Westmeath oppression. It is a fact to say that Brosna Gaels is not a club, it is a combination team. That's not to say that there isn't affection there, even in the case of a 20-year old who has probably played relatively few games for standalone Brosna Gaels teams in his entire life.

But in general, the connection a player will have with his club, any club, will always be completely different to that which he will have for a combination team.

(4) Again, facts only: Brosna Gaels are in an area where football is the first code, and where even if they get full buy-in from the four football clubs, the best they can hope for is to run meaningful training sessions every second week. I've no doubt that they will have some sort of gathering on football weeks, but for a lad of elite ability, what they would be able to do without the lads who are focusing on championship football for Tubber/Ballycumber/Doon/Erin Rovers would be very little. It's not the same as in Ferbane, Shamrocks, Tullamore or Rynaghs where there are second and third teams in both codes, so you can still run decent sessions with the non-dual players.

(5) Brosna Gaels may have dropped Bernard Allen for the semi-final, based on missing training (I didn't hear that, but I would completely trust the bona fides of Doon Exile) but even if they wouldn't have said that out loud, BG would have been the overwhelming favourites for that game against Edenderry and would have been expected to win at their ease - and they still brought him on before half-time, just to be safe. Then they started him in the final, which would have been a much more competitive match on paper. They dropped him when they thought it would have no consequence, when there was risk, the principles went out the window.

Now just to be clear, I'm not criticising the decision to start/drop/introduce him in either of those games. I'm not in the dressing room to know the environment and I'm well aware that being completely 'pure' is often very counterproductive. But when you say he missed training, I'm assuming that means he missed training on a hurling week, which in his case might mean no hurling at all for two or three weeks. It's not the same as missing a couple of sessions in Ballyskenach or Crinkill. And even then, they didn't properly drop him, they did the stereotypical GAA thing of not starting him, and then getting itchy to bring him on as soon as they felt their point was made.

Of course BG have to cut their cloth to suit their measure, but that's not the behaviour of a serious club team where there are high standards across the board. That's the behaviour of a team that are doing their best to be at their best in an environment where there are serious restrictions on what they can do before players say 'no thanks' and walk away.




Once again, it is a great thing for Offaly GAA that Brosna Gaels was brought into existence, I applaud those who put in the hard yards to give the kids and adults of that area access to hurling, and I wish them well. Also to repeat, I don't know Donal Shirley personally, and if he chooses to stay with BG on into his peak hurling years, I will say fair play, and I genuinely hope it works out exactly as he hopes with both his club and with Offaly.

But if Donal Shirley does choose to look elsewhere, then I personally would have no truck with this idea that he is somehow letting down Brosna Gaels, or being untrue to the GAA ethos, as was suggested here. And the fact that the only comparison that people are using to make that point is Vinny Claffey, which for the reasons I listed above, isn't a fair comparison at all, says a lot to me. If someone wants to point out a better example of a player who stayed loyal to a third (or worse) tier club all their adult life and still thrived with the Offaly seniors, I'd love to hear it, but I can't think of any in the last 30 odd years.

All fairly presented Kevin.

To answer your last question, I think that my whole point would be that there wasn’t too many (from a hurling standpoint anyway) operating in third tier or below for a couple of reasons:

1. Structures have changed in Offaly hurling and I can’t find timelines of when each club would have been in each tier, so apologies for any inaccuracies.

2. There are very few hurling clubs in Offaly and even less who would have operated at third tier or below consistently. Carrig, Ballyskenach, Shamrocks, Brosna Gaels, Clara, Drumcullen and Killurin have all operated in the first or second tier at various times. Edenderry, Killeigh, Gracefield and Crinkill are the only ones I can think of who have been consistently below this grade, although Edenderry did win a junior A in 1996 & 2022 and Crinkill in 2013. And Killeigh and Killurin have obviously now joined.

3. I don’t think Chris McDonald or Tom Spain were still involved with Offaly/close to coming back to the setup when they left Brosna Gaels. Leaving didn’t prolong their I/C careers.

4. I think your question is a bit of a paradox. There aren’t many examples of lads operating third tier and below because when the lads do stay, the teams improve. Would Carrig have been as competitive without Ger Oakley in his pomp? How would Ballyskenach have fared without Brendan Murphy and David Franks? (although Franks did move to Kilkenny at 27/28.) What influence did Cillian and Sean Og Farrell have on hurling in Edenderry? Would the Killeigh/Killurin amalgamation have worked as well if the Langton brothers, Joey Keenaghan and more who were involved in Offaly underage teams decided that departing for Tullamore, KK or Ballinamere was more beneficial? I don’t want to get involved in the civil parish war, but Crinkill would have been far more competitive if the talent drain to Birr was turned off (Dodge and Greenairfield, please don’t start ).

A rising tide lifts all boats. The influence of a star player in a small club can give lads hope, it can keep lads involved and the benefits far exceed just their hurling ability.

If Donal decides that departing is in his best interests, best of luck to him. But in a small county like Offaly, we need as many clubs competing and striving to improve as possible.

Crinkill won Junior C in 94 , junior B in 95 and Junior A in 2001 and operated at intermediate level until relegation in 2012 and won junior A again in 2013. They got to intermediate quarter final in 2014 & 2015 but due to losing significant number of players that winter they looked to be regraded to junior A and again looked to be regraded to junior B in winter 2020. They won junior B in 2022. So they have only been relegated once in that period

[frankthetank]

Just wondering why Lusmagh have to hurl Ballyfin in Leinster IHC in Birr?

Is there some rule in place that Leinster Club SHC & IHC must be at a designated county ground?

[private joker]

Leinster matches have to be played at County grounds. So it was either Ocp or Birr.

[Drumcullen man]

Leinster matches have to be played at County grounds. So it was either Ocp or Birr.

Drumcullen match against barrow rangers is now switched to the Sunday, same day as k/k match with kilkenny champions which is in nolan park. Looks like that won't be in the county grounds now

[Géill Slí]

Ballyhale looked v impressive today in a fiercely physical game. Will be a huge test for KK, who will need to be back to their best. Hopefully a big performance in them.

[oneshot]

lets hope thats ballyhales all ireland today. one thing kk will have to do is keep away from making it a physical match they will know nowlan park well keep in wide and open they have the forward to trouble ballyhale back line. but also ballyhale probably have the best forward line in club hurling in mullen, cody,TJ, niall shortail so kk backs will be the winning of it if they are to get over the line. weather could play a part two.

[SearingDrive]

lets hope thats ballyhales all ireland today. one thing kk will have to do is keep away from making it a physical match they will know nowlan park well keep in wide and open they have the forward to trouble ballyhale back line. but also ballyhale probably have the best forward line in club hurling in mullen, cody,TJ, niall shortail so kk backs will be the winning of it if they are to get over the line. weather could play a part two.

KK will get nothing easy v Ballyhale in Nowlan Park in 2 weeks time.