Offaly Hurling 2026

[JimBwobb]

I actually think we have good strength in depth in the panel.

[frankthetank]

With a full deck to choose from you would have last night’s 16 plus Donal Shirley, Brecon Kavanagh and Charlie Mitchell. That’s a serious first 19.

[backofthenet]

Obviously not a fan I see, Killian was our mainstay in lower etchelons and carried us many a day, Cathal was on panel and did play and score for Offaly too.. they aren't a phobia or something that should be forgotten about, Kiely and Conneely carried us out of the wilderness we were in..

I remember getting crucified for suggesting he wasnt the right fit for centre bacm about 18 months or so ago, but anyone in oconnor park the last few weeks can see he does not suit intercounty hurling.

He was a very good servant to offaly in bad times and should be commended, but even in the mcdonagh final he struggled with the pace of the game at times and the pace this year is much much quicker.

A good club player who unfortunately was born into the wrong era for intercounty hurling

[frankthetank]

Obviously not a fan I see, Killian was our mainstay in lower etchelons and carried us many a day, Cathal was on panel and did play and score for Offaly too.. they aren't a phobia or something that should be forgotten about, Kiely and Conneely carried us out of the wilderness we were in..

I remember getting crucified for suggesting he wasnt the right fit for centre bacm about 18 months or so ago, but anyone in oconnor park the last few weeks can see he does not suit intercounty hurling.

He was a very good servant to offaly in bad times and should be commended, but even in the mcdonagh final he struggled with the pace of the game at times and the pace this year is much much quicker.

A good club player who unfortunately was born into the wrong era for intercounty hurling

Totally agree with these points.

[backofthenet]

On last night...wow we made hard work of it...as if the players had been listening to the whispers both inside & outside the county about the favourites tag...there was a huge amount of nerves in the first half display.

Once we got our noses in front the shackles came off and in truth we could have won by another 6 or 7 points.

The good:
Eoghan Cahill is a new man its amazing what confidence can do, he is now our main man in a forward line that looks to have a nice look of size and speed about it.

The backline was immense and on top for the whole match in most areas including keeping lee chin incredibly quiet.

Getting over the line...finally and the good vibes that will flow from that regardless of how next week pans out, the buzz is back in offaly and hopefully it encourages players and management to double down for next year, still missing a few that would add greatly to that team, shirley & mitchell to name but two.

Improvements:

Slow starts, we look nervous in most games this year and its natural, but costly. Hopefully this year and the results gained this year will help this but it is something to look at.

Sidelines, we now have at least 2 marquee free takers in the squad, but sidelines in scorable positions are something most top teams have in their locker now for the last 5-10yrs. A free shot at goal is not to be sniffed at and could be the difference.

Apart from that, i have to commend and thank the team and management for what they have already achieved this year, its already hugely successful and with a bit of luck we could yet reach new heights!

[greenairfield]

I was dissapointed not see other subs used. I know what some of them bring and it would be closely on par to some lads if playing quiet on a day.

Duignan prob needed to go the other day but didnt, on the other hand its the first time under kellys watch our starting 15 has a consistent look too it.

[Thomas mc]

would it be sacrilegious to suggest we might be better off finishing 4th this year? another year into the physical development we will be much stronger in 2027? a physiched up munster team in croke park might not be the best idea?

I can see how you might think it would do us harm but it wont, we need that exposure.. as competetive as we are now in leinster we always stuggle with athleticism and physicality of Galway.. we can beat dublin who beat Galway but we cant hack it with teams like Galway, munster finalist will be like that aswell and it will be a good experience and sure you'd never know what would happen

[Lone Shark]

I'm a huge fan of PM O'Sullivan's writing and I would recommend his substack very highly, and he made a good point about how the new system this year, with four weeks of clear run into the quarter-finals for the 3rd placed teams, is an ideal block to get a lot of work done, and have a little bit of a jump on the team that comes into that game on the back of losing a provincial final.

Is that going to be enough for Offaly to turn over a team like Limerick, Cork or Clare? Almost certainly not, given where those teams are in their development. But much the same as the game in O'Connor Park in 2024 stood to Offaly and particularly the younger players in the group, getting another game like that would be very beneficial too.

But much more than the game itself, it's about the chance to spend four weeks in good Summer conditions, training as a group, gaining ground on some of the teams that we're hoping to match and overtake in the years ahead. That is a huge benefit, and more than enough to make it unequivocal in my mind that the best thing for Offaly hurling from where we are right now on this Monday morning is to finish in third and get into the All-Ireland series.

[aigne]

Brilliant experience to be in O'Connor Park on Saturday evening, particularly when team and crowd got going in second half. I did wonder would I see days like it again

[oneshot]

well done to the players and managment in achieving top tier hurling for 2027 . a bit of luck we could get a quarter final spot if the dubs beat kilkenny. great progress this year should have also beaten dublin and kilkenny but that will come in time.

i think next year or 2028 this squad will be coming to their peak the future is were bright for offaly with players get a good run of health and a good league run next year i see no reason why we can't make a leinster final in the next year or two.
if we could get Donal Shirley and please god Charlie Mitchell back we will be a force to reckon with. as for people on about the support the other night you wonder why they weren't out all year or last years games to get behind the team a lot of sun shine supporters there alright.

[Asiseeit]

Obviously not a fan I see, Killian was our mainstay in lower etchelons and carried us many a day, Cathal was on panel and did play and score for Offaly too.. they aren't a phobia or something that should be forgotten about, Kiely and Conneely carried us out of the wilderness we were in..

I remember getting crucified for suggesting he wasnt the right fit for centre bacm about 18 months or so ago, but anyone in oconnor park the last few weeks can see he does not suit intercounty hurling.

He was a very good servant to offaly in bad times and should be commended, but even in the mcdonagh final he struggled with the pace of the game at times and the pace this year is much much quicker.

A good club player who unfortunately was born into the wrong era for intercounty hurling

Totally agree with these points.

Fair enough, yet he carried us game on game (if not tell me where some other player led the charge) in many of the lower tiered games/competitions.. A Year or two out and back again last year, more than likely that pace and drive would not be there now at this level, very unfair to say at best he was a decent club player more so than a county player...inter County managenent always seemed to be moan his absence when he was injured etc.. He was a drive and engine sadly missing in alot of players of those days, some only last year or two having stepped up to any sort of level required, yet we're there with Kiely etc in the lower tiers..hes not liked is obvious but like it or lump it he was unfortunate to be at his peak during lesser times when even some of current squad were very average players even at those levels..anyway.. each to their own as they say..

[faithfulfanatic]

I remember getting crucified for suggesting he wasnt the right fit for centre bacm about 18 months or so ago, but anyone in oconnor park the last few weeks can see he does not suit intercounty hurling.

He was a very good servant to offaly in bad times and should be commended, but even in the mcdonagh final he struggled with the pace of the game at times and the pace this year is much much quicker.

A good club player who unfortunately was born into the wrong era for intercounty hurling

Totally agree with these points.

Fair enough, yet he carried us game on game (if not tell me where some other player led the charge) in many of the lower tiered games/competitions.. A Year or two out and back again last year, more than likely that pace and drive would not be there now at this level, very unfair to say at best he was a decent club player more so than a county player...inter County managenent always seemed to be moan his absence when he was injured etc.. He was a drive and engine sadly missing in alot of players of those days, some only last year or two having stepped up to any sort of level required, yet we're there with Kiely etc in the lower tiers..hes not liked is obvious but like it or lump it he was unfortunate to be at his peak during lesser times when even some of current squad were very average players even at those levels..anyway.. each to their own as they say..

Cillian Kiely was a good hurler and was important for Offaly, but you’re just misrepresenting things.
You said he was out for a year or two and back again last year. This is incorrect, he played the full season in 2024.
He came on against Dublin last year in Parnell Park and missed a crucial effort late on.
He then got a lift home rather than travelling with the team.
He was in the pub at home before the team finished their meal in Dublin. And was still given another chance against Galway the week after.
Served his time but never recovered or got back to full fitness after that horrible belt on the hand he got against Castletown Geoghegan.

You’ve fairly retreated from your view point that Cathal Kiely ‘carried us through the wilderness’.

[backofthenet]

I remember getting crucified for suggesting he wasnt the right fit for centre bacm about 18 months or so ago, but anyone in oconnor park the last few weeks can see he does not suit intercounty hurling.

He was a very good servant to offaly in bad times and should be commended, but even in the mcdonagh final he struggled with the pace of the game at times and the pace this year is much much quicker.

A good club player who unfortunately was born into the wrong era for intercounty hurling

Totally agree with these points.

Fair enough, yet he carried us game on game (if not tell me where some other player led the charge) in many of the lower tiered games/competitions.. A Year or two out and back again last year, more than likely that pace and drive would not be there now at this level, very unfair to say at best he was a decent club player more so than a county player...inter County managenent always seemed to be moan his absence when he was injured etc.. He was a drive and engine sadly missing in alot of players of those days, some only last year or two having stepped up to any sort of level required, yet we're there with Kiely etc in the lower tiers..hes not liked is obvious but like it or lump it he was unfortunate to be at his peak during lesser times when even some of current squad were very average players even at those levels..anyway.. each to their own as they say..

I think youre misrepresenting what i am saying, i think intercounty hurling now in this era does not suit any well built individual player. The era of the big no 6 who would rule the skies is gone at least a decade at the top level.

Cillian is of that ilk and 10-20yrs ago would have likely had a good intercounty career ahead of him, however this era its difficult to see where he would suit apart from full forward ala Joe Brady 15yrs ago...even that is at a push as again even that position has more mobility about it than previous.

But his skillset is not at all suited to that position and when you look at the forward line offaly have...there are probably 10-12 better forwards at least in the county with at least 4 (Doyle, Duignan, Kelly & Cormac Egan) who i would put ahead of him for physical presence in the forward line.

As said a good hurler born to the wrong era

[greenairfield]

Anyonr who thinks either Kiely brother would make a difference at this level is high.
There is a reason they are where they are and its not down to them.
Focus on the youth and whats coming through not the past.

[Asiseeit]

Totally agree with these points.

Fair enough, yet he carried us game on game (if not tell me where some other player led the charge) in many of the lower tiered games/competitions.. A Year or two out and back again last year, more than likely that pace and drive would not be there now at this level, very unfair to say at best he was a decent club player more so than a county player...inter County managenent always seemed to be moan his absence when he was injured etc.. He was a drive and engine sadly missing in alot of players of those days, some only last year or two having stepped up to any sort of level required, yet we're there with Kiely etc in the lower tiers..hes not liked is obvious but like it or lump it he was unfortunate to be at his peak during lesser times when even some of current squad were very average players even at those levels..anyway.. each to their own as they say..

Cillian Kiely was a good hurler and was important for Offaly, but you’re just misrepresenting things.
You said he was out for a year or two and back again last year. This is incorrect, he played the full season in 2024.
He came on against Dublin last year in Parnell Park and missed a crucial effort late on.
He then got a lift home rather than travelling with the team.
He was in the pub at home before the team finished their meal in Dublin. And was still given another chance against Galway the week after.
Served his time but never recovered or got back to full fitness after that horrible belt on the hand he got against Castletown Geoghegan.

You’ve fairly retreated from your view point that Cathal Kiely ‘carried us through the wilderness’.

Far from retreating on Cathal Kiely, he didn't feature as much as Killian, Cathal had loads of promise and was in around the panel and came on in some games... for reasons not relevant on here he didn't remain involved, my point was merely asking if both were still involved would they be of assistance.. fair question....Killian was away from the set up for at least a season, he did come back and by your logic is in the wilderness over missing a chance or chances against Dublin last year, so by that logic he is rightly in your view dismissed, whether he ate dinner with the rest of the team or was in the pub before them is the usual bluster we hear when any player in any county throws a strop.. 20% correct and 80% rumour mill in most cases..certainly give youth it's fling, we tend to be slow enough in Offaly doing that, bar rare exceptions like young Screeney....its only a question I rose, what's there seem to be progressing thank God after a dreadful league campaign where many on here were asking hard questions, now all is looking better all of a sudden..