Offaly Senior A Hurling Championship 2023

[TerraceTalk]

Tend to agree myself - think Ryanaghs will just be too strong and should have enough quality to not be dragged into a battle, but Coolderry have proved they aren’t ready to disappear just yet. Will be interesting to see how they use Brian Carroll, if he starts on the bench and they are within touching distance with 20 minutes to go he could be the game changer as he so often has been for them in the past. Hoping for a great battle.

On Birr v Shinrone, this has the potential to be a battle. I think there will be huge pressure on Shinrone and serious questions will be asked of them as holders. Would give Birr a serious chance provided Cahill is fit to go. Hopefully he can and we’ll see a great battle.

[TownieInOz]

A good point about Brian Carroll. Seen him in Birr when he came in against Ballinamere second half, Ballinamere were cruising and ahead by 9 and Carroll caused havoc at the end and the game ended with just 3 in it. Now it was by no means a 3 point game but it just shows what someone with his class can do when opportunities arise and he could possibly be a game changer. I do fancy rynaghs to have too much for them however.

In the other game from what I’ve seen this year shinrone have been the better team but it’s hard to judge birr without Cahill who is one of the best in the county, if he’s back and close to his best I actually fancy him to swing it for Birr.

[frankthetank]

Just some statistics ahead of today’s relegation final.

Since Seir Kieran lost the 2017 county semi-final by a point to St Rynaghs this will be their 4th relegation final.

2018: Lost relegation final to Kinnitty in Birr
2019: Hurled in Senior B and won it out beating Clodiagh Gaels in final in Birr
2020: No relegation as Senior increased from 8 teams to 10.
2021: Beat Drumcullen in relegation final in Kinnitty
2022: Beat Clodiagh Gaels in relegation final in Rath


Since Kinnitty lost the 2017 county Quarter Final to Belmont by 3 points this will be their 3rd relegation final.

2018: Beat Seir Kieran in relegation final in Birr
2019: Lost to Ballinamere in relegation final AET in O’Connor Park.
2020: Hurled in Senior B and won in out beating Drumcullen in final in O’Connor Park.
2021: Had group stage victories over Seir Kieran and Drumcullen thus avoiding relegation trouble.
2022. Had a group stage victory over Clodiagh Gaels and a draw vs St Rynaghs thus avoiding relegation trouble.

Probably going to be tight with only a point or 2 either way. Too close to call for me but Seir Kieran are the bookies choice.

[Onionbag]

Right good fame in O Connor park. Coolderry will be kicking themselves with the missed chances. Rynaghs scrape through. Always a good sign getting to semi final stage without getting into top gear.

[chimbonda]

Do clareen stay up if KK win senior B?

[private joker]

I think so. No relegation if its a club 2nd team wins senior B.

[greenairfield]

The result yesterday highlighting how uncompetitive senior B is.

Bad need to return to 8 senior teams ditch senior B championship.

Crazy it was allowed in the first place.

[faithfulfanatic]

The result yesterday highlighting how uncompetitive senior B is.

Bad need to return to 8 senior teams ditch senior B championship.

Crazy it was allowed in the first place.

Can’t see what that move accomplishes.
Senior B has been a very competitive championship aside from yesterday.

By all accounts, that KK senior B side would beat a nice few of the Senior A teams.

I seem to remember tullamore having 2 junior A football teams a couple of years ago, if KK’s second team is as strong as it seems and they win a few Senior B in a row, what happens then?

[private joker]

Senior b is one of the most competitive championship in offaly. Lusma obviously either didn't show up or a number of their players have left the country workwise. Last years county finalists clara in relegation and tullamore managed to stay up in senior A. Year to year anyone could win it. Think gaels will win it out.

[Onionbag]

When is draw for Senior Semi finals

[SearingDrive]

Shinrone showed the advantage of being champions today. On 3 occasions Birr scored goals, which would have deflated past Shinrone teams. After conceding a first half goal, which put Birr 4-5 points up, Shinrone rallied and led at the break. They looked comfortable when leading by 7 points late on, but Birr chipped away, and equalised with a goal in the 5th minute of added time. Shinrone faced extra time, and when Birr added a third goal, the team in red rallied, and outscored Birr, to win by 1-30 to 3-22.
A very exciting match, with Shinrone deserving winners. Birr played very well in the match.
This game was of a higher standard than the Preceding B semi final. Clodiagh Gaels will be missing 2 red carded players in the final v Kilcormac Killoughey.

[private joker]

The senior A semi was of a higher standard to the senior B? Is that surprising? I'd be very worried for offaly hurling if it was otherwise.

[Plain of the Herbs]

Not necessarily. Only recent precedent is around a decade ago when Rhode won the Intermediate football, Shamrocks were still relegated and there were 11 Senior clubs the following year. But there was no relegation at the end of that year.

Nothing in the competition regulations on the matter.

Do clareen stay up if KK win senior B?

[DerekCarroll]

Great game in tullamore yday afternoon. It's easy to run down Offaly hurling but the championship still produces exciting games once it reaches the knock out stages and there is a wider spreader of quality clubs that the usual 4 teams in the football.

After winning a semi final in dramatic circumstances last year Shinrone were close to going out in a similar fashion yday. They were the slicker outfit over the 80 minutes but would have lost if Nolan finished that goal in the first half of ET. Once A Cleary went out as the third midfielder Shinrone completely took over and Birr struggled to mark P and S Cleary with all that O Connor park space left inside and ended up conceding 30 points. Hats off to Birr for coming back the way they did and never giving up. We could easily be looking at another Shinrone KK final depending how the draw goes tonight.

The senior b final was a very scrappy affair, which Birr could have won. Hard to see CG beating KK with two lads suspended.

[private joker]

So there's no rules or regulations in place to decide whether kk go up or if clareen come down?