Offaly U20 Hurlers 2025

[Lone Shark]

60 hour rule means they can't play in all matches.. if u20s reach the Leinster final and they play in that it would rule them out of the 2 senior games.. I'm confused I don't really see the problem.. they aren't being deprived of anything, they will be playing Leinster senior championship a higher level which is their ultimate goal and what any player with any ambition wants.. if u20s reach a semi final on the 14th and the senior lads play that game it would rule them out of the senior match against wexford.. that simply cannot happen.. the simple solution is they play senior, look after the senior team and get the best team and players out and the u20 team will look after itself. Does anyone genuinely think we should play senior match v Wexford and Antrim without the u20 lads?

In a world where this was the last year of GAA activity, and we were folding up the association this Christmas, then this would make sense.

However there is a longer term view to be had here, which is that:

(1) You're right, playing Leinster Senior Championship is the ultimate goal. It's also something that barring injury, will be available to these lads for the next 10-12 years, at least. They've only one more year of U-20.
(2) The value to Offaly GAA of the type of occasions we've seen with these young players over the past three years is immeasurable. Every game that young kids get to watch where Offaly are competitive, or better yet win games, against elite counties, cements their love of the game in a different type of way. Yes we'll send coaches into schools and we'll try to keep a vibrant club scene going and all that stuff, but this will give us the kind of boost that kids in other similar counties never get. More than this, because the whole county goes bananas for it, we get far more long-term benefit out of these underage wins than bigger counties would.

.. I'm confused I don't really see the problem..

I'll be honest, a line like this makes me think you're just trolling at this stage. I don't know you from Adam, I don't know if you're a club player, club coach, club officer, or simply a supporter. Either way, you're entitled to your opinion, and I'll take it at face value. But you've had this spelled out to you so many times and it's one thing to disagree with it, but to continue to let on to be confused means you're either not reading any of the replies, or else you're being deliberately obtuse about it.

Does anyone genuinely think we should play senior match v Wexford and Antrim without the u20 lads?

For now, all we're talking about are the upcoming games against Waterford, where you are quite literally the only one on this board who thinks that these dead rubber matches should be prioritised over the U-20 matches against Galway and Laois.

As regards the Wexford match, a lot depends on the lie of the land when we get that far. It's not as simple as being a binary option, either the U-20s play or they don't. If we come into that game with one or two positive results from the first two matches and the possibility of getting into the top three is on the table, then the conversation is very different to a scenario where we've lost to Dublin, Galway and Kilkenny, and it's all going to boil down to how we fare against Antrim in OCP.

More than likely, Antrim at home will be the biggest game we play all year. It's hard to see either team being three points ahead of the other by then, so that will be a straight relegation playoff, in which case it's all out, leave nothing behind.

Even by then however, I'd say it'll just be a case - for both seniors and U-20s - of put out their best team, mind the lads in between, and where possible, restrict minutes of the lads playing both, but accepting that this might not be possible at all.

[Bord na Mona man]

Does anyone genuinely think we should play senior match v Wexford and Antrim without the u20 lads?

Against Wexford, we should not use any U20s.
An U20 knockout game is far more important than a routine Leinster group game, unlikely to be of consequence in staving off relegation.

Obviously a piss take and you're winding me up?

Let me get this straight, 8 days before a likely do-or-die play off against Antrim, you'd send a full strength Offaly team down to Wexford Park to try and give Wexford plenty of it, (probably to lose, but even a win may be worthless), using the U20 players in your cavalry charge, instead of sparing them for their U20 Leinster Championship?

Barber: "Pity the U20s lost their All Ireland crown"
joe123: "Ah, but we gave Wexford a right rattle and only lost by 4 points"

[Lone Shark]

Obviously a piss take and you're winding me up?

Consider this a yellow card. As explained above, it's one thing to hold the opinions you hold, it's quite another to continue with this malarkey of pretending to be shocked that others disagree (and by others, I mean everyone else that has spoken up about it, from what I can tell).

And there's no need for the language either. I'm sure you have other words in your vocabulary you can use to communicate.

[joe123]

Obviously a piss take and you're winding me up?

Consider this a yellow card. As explained above, it's one thing to hold the opinions you hold, it's quite another to continue with this malarkey of pretending to be shocked that others disagree (and by others, I mean everyone else that has spoken up about it, from what I can tell).

And there's no need for the language either. I'm sure you have other words in your vocabulary you can use to communicate.

Not everyone disagrees only 2 or 3 here that are writing back, "everyone that has spoken up about it" doesnt constitute all others.. my language is fine also as piss take is a turn of phrase and not meant in terms of bad language. I am genuinely shocked that lads are considering an u20 leinster championship more important than senior championship. If you consider a lot of the u20 squad will never be good enough to play senior, some of them probably aren't currently on their club senior teams, it's genuinely shocking how you are comparing the 2 and suggesting u20 is more important. Now that's what I'd call malarkey. And Kevin I've been reading articles and stuff from you for 20 years and no better man to carry on with the same malarkey every year when reviewing/previewing clubs, players etc. If I wanted a man to beat the same drum about a particular point and carry on with malarkey as you put it, I'd have you in my corner . Now before you reply, you'll note that all my opinions are just that and I haven't taken personal aim at anyone. But you've chosen to take aim at me because you don't like my opinion.

[joe123]

Against Wexford, we should not use any U20s.
An U20 knockout game is far more important than a routine Leinster group game, unlikely to be of consequence in staving off relegation.

Obviously a piss take and you're winding me up?

Let me get this straight, 8 days before a likely do-or-die play off against Antrim, you'd send a full strength Offaly team down to Wexford Park to try and give Wexford plenty of it, (probably to lose, but even a win may be worthless), using the U20 players in your cavalry charge, instead of sparing them for their U20 Leinster Championship?

Barber: "Pity the U20s lost their All Ireland crown"
joe123: "Ah, but we gave Wexford a right rattle and only lost by 4 points"

Let me get this straight 4 days before a possible do or die game against Antrim, you'd have 3 or 4 of our important starting team play an underage leinster final?

[joe123]

60 hour rule means they can't play in all matches.. if u20s reach the Leinster final and they play in that it would rule them out of the 2 senior games.. I'm confused I don't really see the problem.. they aren't being deprived of anything, they will be playing Leinster senior championship a higher level which is their ultimate goal and what any player with any ambition wants.. if u20s reach a semi final on the 14th and the senior lads play that game it would rule them out of the senior match against wexford.. that simply cannot happen.. the simple solution is they play senior, look after the senior team and get the best team and players out and the u20 team will look after itself. Does anyone genuinely think we should play senior match v Wexford and Antrim without the u20 lads?

In a world where this was the last year of GAA activity, and we were folding up the association this Christmas, then this would make sense.

However there is a longer term view to be had here, which is that:

(1) You're right, playing Leinster Senior Championship is the ultimate goal. It's also something that barring injury, will be available to these lads for the next 10-12 years, at least. They've only one more year of U-20.
(2) The value to Offaly GAA of the type of occasions we've seen with these young players over the past three years is immeasurable. Every game that young kids get to watch where Offaly are competitive, or better yet win games, against elite counties, cements their love of the game in a different type of way. Yes we'll send coaches into schools and we'll try to keep a vibrant club scene going and all that stuff, but this will give us the kind of boost that kids in other similar counties never get. More than this, because the whole county goes bananas for it, we get far more long-term benefit out of these underage wins than bigger counties would.

.. I'm confused I don't really see the problem..

I'll be honest, a line like this makes me think you're just trolling at this stage. I don't know you from Adam, I don't know if you're a club player, club coach, club officer, or simply a supporter. Either way, you're entitled to your opinion, and I'll take it at face value. But you've had this spelled out to you so many times and it's one thing to disagree with it, but to continue to let on to be confused means you're either not reading any of the replies, or else you're being deliberately obtuse about it.

Does anyone genuinely think we should play senior match v Wexford and Antrim without the u20 lads?

For now, all we're talking about are the upcoming games against Waterford, where you are quite literally the only one on this board who thinks that these dead rubber matches should be prioritised over the U-20 matches against Galway and Laois.

As regards the Wexford match, a lot depends on the lie of the land when we get that far. It's not as simple as being a binary option, either the U-20s play or they don't. If we come into that game with one or two positive results from the first two matches and the possibility of getting into the top three is on the table, then the conversation is very different to a scenario where we've lost to Dublin, Galway and Kilkenny, and it's all going to boil down to how we fare against Antrim in OCP.

More than likely, Antrim at home will be the biggest game we play all year. It's hard to see either team being three points ahead of the other by then, so that will be a straight relegation playoff, in which case it's all out, leave nothing behind.

Even by then however, I'd say it'll just be a case - for both seniors and U-20s - of put out their best team, mind the lads in between, and where possible, restrict minutes of the lads playing both, but accepting that this might not be possible at all.

I'm entitled to keep making my point.. Senior is ultimate goal, more important than u20. And u20 is for development and winning is a bonus. The job is done with the u20 senior starters, they should be prioritised for senior because they are good enough and they are important and winning at senior level is far more important than winning at u20 level. The league final against Waterford is not a dead rubber match, tell that to Ben Connelly and lads like that that have slogged away in the doldrums for years that the u20 golden boys are more important.

[Bord na Mona man]

Obviously a piss take and you're winding me up?

Let me get this straight, 8 days before a likely do-or-die play off against Antrim, you'd send a full strength Offaly team down to Wexford Park to try and give Wexford plenty of it, (probably to lose, but even a win may be worthless), using the U20 players in your cavalry charge, instead of sparing them for their U20 Leinster Championship?

Barber: "Pity the U20s lost their All Ireland crown"
joe123: "Ah, but we gave Wexford a right rattle and only lost by 4 points"

Let me get this straight 4 days before a possible do or die game against Antrim, you'd have 3 or 4 of our important starting team play an underage leinster final?

Yes.

[joe123]

60 hour rule means they can't play in all matches.. if u20s reach the Leinster final and they play in that it would rule them out of the 2 senior games.. I'm confused I don't really see the problem.. they aren't being deprived of anything, they will be playing Leinster senior championship a higher level which is their ultimate goal and what any player with any ambition wants.. if u20s reach a semi final on the 14th and the senior lads play that game it would rule them out of the senior match against wexford.. that simply cannot happen.. the simple solution is they play senior, look after the senior team and get the best team and players out and the u20 team will look after itself. Does anyone genuinely think we should play senior match v Wexford and Antrim without the u20 lads?

In a world where this was the last year of GAA activity, and we were folding up the association this Christmas, then this would make sense.

However there is a longer term view to be had here, which is that:

(1) You're right, playing Leinster Senior Championship is the ultimate goal. It's also something that barring injury, will be available to these lads for the next 10-12 years, at least. They've only one more year of U-20.
(2) The value to Offaly GAA of the type of occasions we've seen with these young players over the past three years is immeasurable. Every game that young kids get to watch where Offaly are competitive, or better yet win games, against elite counties, cements their love of the game in a different type of way. Yes we'll send coaches into schools and we'll try to keep a vibrant club scene going and all that stuff, but this will give us the kind of boost that kids in other similar counties never get. More than this, because the whole county goes bananas for it, we get far more long-term benefit out of these underage wins than bigger counties would.

.. I'm confused I don't really see the problem..

I'll be honest, a line like this makes me think you're just trolling at this stage. I don't know you from Adam, I don't know if you're a club player, club coach, club officer, or simply a supporter. Either way, you're entitled to your opinion, and I'll take it at face value. But you've had this spelled out to you so many times and it's one thing to disagree with it, but to continue to let on to be confused means you're either not reading any of the replies, or else you're being deliberately obtuse about it.

Does anyone genuinely think we should play senior match v Wexford and Antrim without the u20 lads?

For now, all we're talking about are the upcoming games against Waterford, where you are quite literally the only one on this board who thinks that these dead rubber matches should be prioritised over the U-20 matches against Galway and Laois.

As regards the Wexford match, a lot depends on the lie of the land when we get that far. It's not as simple as being a binary option, either the U-20s play or they don't. If we come into that game with one or two positive results from the first two matches and the possibility of getting into the top three is on the table, then the conversation is very different to a scenario where we've lost to Dublin, Galway and Kilkenny, and it's all going to boil down to how we fare against Antrim in OCP.

More than likely, Antrim at home will be the biggest game we play all year. It's hard to see either team being three points ahead of the other by then, so that will be a straight relegation playoff, in which case it's all out, leave nothing behind.

Even by then however, I'd say it'll just be a case - for both seniors and U-20s - of put out their best team, mind the lads in between, and where possible, restrict minutes of the lads playing both, but accepting that this might not be possible at all.

And I'm a currently a club player, former county player, club officer and huge supporter. I can tell you while playing u21 back in the day, had I got a call to play senior leinster championship, I wouldn't be long forgetting the u21 leinster championship match . I'd have jumped at the senior match because that was simply more important and it was the holy grail. And I can tell you my team mates at the time all felt the same way and I'd suggest that these u20 seniors who no doubt are savagely ambitious think no different. And I'd hope they'd feel that way to he honest. There were a few of our u21 squad that weren't starting senior for their club and I'd say that's the case with this bunch aswell so frankly to suggest it's more important and or to allow it hinder the senior team in anyway is simply ludacris.

[joe123]

Let me get this straight, 8 days before a likely do-or-die play off against Antrim, you'd send a full strength Offaly team down to Wexford Park to try and give Wexford plenty of it, (probably to lose, but even a win may be worthless), using the U20 players in your cavalry charge, instead of sparing them for their U20 Leinster Championship?

Barber: "Pity the U20s lost their All Ireland crown"
joe123: "Ah, but we gave Wexford a right rattle and only lost by 4 points"

Let me get this straight 4 days before a possible do or die game against Antrim, you'd have 3 or 4 of our important starting team play an underage leinster final?

Yes.

Lone Shark is gonna eat me but I'm genuinely shocked, I've no words. You don't want a full team against wexford 8 days before Antrim but you want a few of them to play an underage game 4 days before Antrim? Are you suggesting that it's OK if the senior teams chances of survival are hindered as long as we win the Leinster u20? That's pretty warped thinking

[Bord na Mona man]

The last time Offaly had a group capable of winning an U21 title was 35 years ago.
The "golden boys" as you disparagingly referred to them, are a big deal for Offaly people. You'll just have to get over it and get used to it.

I am quietly confident that the senior team will be able to secure Liam MacCarthy status for 2026, without needing to block the progress of the U20s in any way.

[joe123]

The last time Offaly had a group capable of winning an U21 title was 35 years ago.
The "golden boys" as you disparagingly referred to them, are a big deal for Offaly people. You'll just have to get over it and get used to it.

I am quietly confident that the senior team will be able to secure Liam MacCarthy status for 2026, without needing to block the progress of the U20s in any way.

So you're more worried about the senior team blocking the progress of the u20s than the u20s blocking the progress of the seniors? That is genuinely hard to understand. The work these boys have put in to get back to where we are and you are tellin them that you want to prioritise an underage team instead of them?

[joe123]

The last time Offaly had a group capable of winning an U21 title was 35 years ago.
The "golden boys" as you disparagingly referred to them, are a big deal for Offaly people. You'll just have to get over it and get used to it.

I am quietly confident that the senior team will be able to secure Liam MacCarthy status for 2026, without needing to block the progress of the U20s in any way.

Yea they are quite rightly a big deal so don't deprive them of the opportunity to play leinster senior championship so you can chase glory of winning another u20. Them lads want to play senior, same as I did when I played u21, same as every 10 year old will tell you they want to play! Let them play and benefit the senior team and that will have the knock on effect of more lads getting chances at u20 level to develop.

[Bord na Mona man]

The last time Offaly had a group capable of winning an U21 title was 35 years ago.
The "golden boys" as you disparagingly referred to them, are a big deal for Offaly people. You'll just have to get over it and get used to it.

I am quietly confident that the senior team will be able to secure Liam MacCarthy status for 2026, without needing to block the progress of the U20s in any way.

So you're more worried about the senior team blocking the progress of the u20s than the u20s blocking the progress of the seniors? That is genuinely hard to understand. The work these boys have put in to get back to where we are and you are tellin them that you want to prioritise an underage team instead of them?

I'm not worried about anything, because it's not going to happen the way you'd try to map it out.
No player will be stopped from playing U20 due to anything going on at senior. No U20 player will be needlessly flogged in an inconsequential match against Wexford, days before a U20 match.

That's the way it will happen and I'm fully on board. You can fret all you want about it.

[joe123]

The last time Offaly had a group capable of winning an U21 title was 35 years ago.
The "golden boys" as you disparagingly referred to them, are a big deal for Offaly people. You'll just have to get over it and get used to it.

I am quietly confident that the senior team will be able to secure Liam MacCarthy status for 2026, without needing to block the progress of the U20s in any way.

So you're more worried about the senior team blocking the progress of the u20s than the u20s blocking the progress of the seniors? That is genuinely hard to understand. The work these boys have put in to get back to where we are and you are tellin them that you want to prioritise an underage team instead of them?

I'm not worried about anything, because it's not going to happen the way you'd try to map it out.
No player will be stopped from playing U20 due to anything going on at senior. No U20 player will be needlessly flogged in an inconsequential match against Wexford, days before a U20 match.

That's the way it will happen and I'm fully on board. You can fret all you want about it.

No u20 player will be flogger before u20 final, but they will be flogged before the "do or die" Antrim game? You're sayin it's more important they play the underage final than be ready for the senior "DO or die"?

[joe123]

The last time Offaly had a group capable of winning an U21 title was 35 years ago.
The "golden boys" as you disparagingly referred to them, are a big deal for Offaly people. You'll just have to get over it and get used to it.

I am quietly confident that the senior team will be able to secure Liam MacCarthy status for 2026, without needing to block the progress of the U20s in any way.

So you're more worried about the senior team blocking the progress of the u20s than the u20s blocking the progress of the seniors? That is genuinely hard to understand. The work these boys have put in to get back to where we are and you are tellin them that you want to prioritise an underage team instead of them?

I'm not worried about anything, because it's not going to happen the way you'd try to map it out.
No player will be stopped from playing U20 due to anything going on at senior. No U20 player will be needlessly flogged in an inconsequential match against Wexford, days before a U20 match.

That's the way it will happen and I'm fully on board. You can fret all you want about it.

You don't want them to be flogged before the u20 match but you don't mind them being flogged before the senior match? Lads have fought tooth and nail to get back to leinster and you're gonna tell me that a leinster championship match against wexford is inconsequential? Are you actually being serious?