Regarding the notion that hurling is somehow confined to South Offaly, Killeigh, Tullamore, Rahan, Killoughey, and Edenderry, have looked after the small ball game, for as long as the GAA exists. We followed Offaly teams in hurling and football down the years, and if hurling is to develop it needs to be played all over the county if there is an interest.
Plain of the Herbs wrote:For me one of the joys of having been a sports reporter for a number of years was that I sometimes got assigned to cover matches I wouldn't otherwise have attended, and that occasionally one of those matches might be a real classic. That mightn't necessarily be for the quality of the hurling, mind, rather there may be a significant breakthrough for the winners.
One such memorable occasion was Killurin’s Junior Final win over Ballinamere in 2008. Killurin’s first Junior Final win, that they came from behind to overtake their opponents, that the occasion was tinged with grief as they had seen the tragic passing of a key club man earlier that week, all made it a Final to cherish. O’Connor Park wasn't packed, or anything like it, but it didn't have to be to capture the emotions of the winners. The captain didn't lift the cup, two leading players did, but not before the captain proudly instructed them to “lift her up good and high lads, we’re going up to Intermediate”.
Therefore I am sorry that Killurin probably will be no more. They put up a great struggle from their inception and developed a fine grounds. They languished in the basement division for long enough before their breakthrough years finally arrived. Then three years ago the club had a county man when Dwayne Dunne lined out for Offaly in the Walsh Cup. In earlier years Owen Dillon was part of a Leinster Minor hurling Final win when he was sub goalkeeper to John Troy. Dillon was probably the only one of that Offaly Minor panel still hurling last year, and his van is a familiar sight at Killurin’s matches.
I read somewhere previously that the Killurin club were drawn from just three townlands, which is quite phenomenal. Sadly smaller families and the ensuing falling birth rates make it impossible for the very small clubs to survive. Killavilla were in a similar boat and I recall reading around the time the tricolours won their Intermediate title that they were drawn from just 29 houses.
However, while mergers will become more commonplace at underage level, I think the smaller clubs such as Lusmagh, Clareen, Drumcullen and Kinnitty have sufficient resources to continue as independent entities, at least for the foreseeable future.