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Well mickey what do you think of that for a weekend of senior B hurling? Drumcullen didn’t have the legs at the end from what I hear and Clodiagh Gaels saw off a much fancied Lusmagh side.

Clodiagh Gaels overcame an early six point deficit to win by four. No complaints, the Killeigh side were by far the better team, they had a plan and carried it out well. Liam Langton scored 0-6 from play, Dwayne Dunne scored 0-6 between play and frees while David Buckley scored three second-half points. Hard to know what went wrong, Lusmagh left their form behind them and really only Eoin Quinlan played well.


On a separate, though not unrelated point, it was a bad weekend for rural clubs from the west and south of the county. Lusmagh well beaten, and while blessed with a brilliant generation currently (the 2013 Minors), with declining birth rates and the emigration of the last decade, this could well be the last such generation.

Drumcullen were poor during the second-half and the extra time that followed their quarter-final defeat by Shamrocks and their short term future is insecure. Ballyskenagh-Killavilla look likely to be relegated back to Junior. They contested a Senior final just 15 years ago but that’s a hazy memory now. And in football, Doon were relegated back to Junior at the weekend, another rural club with a proud record for punching above their weight, who supplied great men to Offaly teams, nearly made a Senior final, but again that’s folklore now. It’s very sad.

Couple of teams will really struggle in the coming years.
Seeing clodiagh gaels winning and Clara puting up big scores in the intermediate, ballinnamere could win the senior b. North Offaly seems to be replacing these traditional rural teams.

Stop stirring the pot...Clara won't win the intermediate.

8 senior team all from south Offaly next year ye will have one who will go straight back down unless ye cause a huge upset which I can't see happening.

South Offaly is where it is at.

Is KK and Belmont now in south offaly

Need to count the fingers again there. I have it as 5 from the south (coolderry rynaghs birr shinrone (kinitty or clareen))

I was replying to the post about declining numbers, not stirring anything and I don't know who you are talking about when you "ye"?
Lusmagh are declining population wise with no sign that will change, same with Drumcullen. I can see ballinnamere and clodiagh gaels getting stronger. Underage coming through and seem to be well organised. With regards to Clara, they also have a big population, and could grow with numbers coming out from tullamore. Have no idea if they will win inter championship but I suppose they have a chance been in last 4. A north team will win the senior b.

private joker wrote:I was replying to the post about declining numbers, not stirring anything and I don't know who you are talking about when you "ye"?
Lusmagh are declining population wise with no sign that will change, same with Drumcullen. I can see ballinnamere and clodiagh gaels getting stronger. Underage coming through and seem to be well organised. With regards to Clara, they also have a big population, and could grow with numbers coming out from tullamore. Have no idea if they will win inter championship but I suppose they have a chance been in last 4. A north team will win the senior b.

The 4 neighbouring teams in the Senior B hurling are there on merit, the quarter finalists defeated teams from south and west Offaly.
It is good for Offaly that teams from north of the county are doing well. The hurling base needs to expand in addition to the southern clubs, by providing a better spread of players to county teams.

Great young lads out there in ballinamere, like that young mike brien and and Darell Troy. Very committed young men and ballinamere will go a long way if they keep it up.

Ballinamere v Clodiagh Gaels
Ballinamere by 3 points - something like Ballinamere 2-18 Clodiagh Gaels 0-21

Tullamore v Shamrocks
Tullamore by 4 points - something like Tullamore 1-15 Shamrocks 0-14

Went in today to see the 2 games. Ballinamere were in complete control against Clodiagh Gaels maintaining a 6-7 point lead all through the game, however a goal late in injury time had the gap down to 2 points, Ballinamere deserved the victory and were the much better team over the 60 min.

In the second game the first half was stop start with a level game at half time, a special word to the Tullamore physio who earned the money today!!. This resulted in 8 minutes injury time after the 3-4 stoppages. Tullamore went 3 ahead playing into the breeze and with the extra man. Shamrocks came back and thought they had taken the lead in the 57-58 min but i think a square ball was called after a discussion. They got the goal a min or 2 later i think the ball going into the net from a long range free and the insurance point was added then.

Ballinamere and Shamrocks in the final, Shamrocks a big strong team against a youthful Ballinamere team.

Derek Molloy wasnt on the Shamrocks panel, any idea why?, know he was back training at start of year but never heard what happened to him after that.

Buttons wrote:Went in today to see the 2 games. Ballinamere were in complete control against Clodiagh Gaels maintaining a 6-7 point lead all through the game, however a goal late in injury time had the gap down to 2 points, Ballinamere deserved the victory and were the much better team over the 60 min.

In the second game the first half was stop start with a level game at half time, a special word to the Tullamore physio who earned the money today!!. This resulted in 8 minutes injury time after the 3-4 stoppages. Tullamore went 3 ahead playing into the breeze and with the extra man. Shamrocks came back and thought they had taken the lead in the 57-58 min but i think a square ball was called after a discussion. They got the goal a min or 2 later i think the ball going into the net from a long range free and the insurance point was added then.

Ballinamere and Shamrocks in the final, Shamrocks a big strong team against a youthful Ballinamere team.

Derek Molloy wasnt on the Shamrocks panel, any idea why?, know he was back training at start of year but never heard what happened to him after that.

He did his cruciate in May or June when training with Offaly so that’s why he has not featured

Will be an interesting final. good healthy rivalry between the clubs. To be fair i think alot of the more bitter rivalrys will be in the stand. its probably a thing of the past with lads shouting on tullamore and rhode in senior finals and taking great relief in shamrocks blowing those finals. outside a minority though in general there would be good friendship between the players and supporters in the clubs. both clubs would always help eachother out when required. alot of lads would of played together through school and would socialise together. so yes it will be a rivalry but dont expect fireworks.
But im sure there will be an edge to it.


Id fancy ballinamere durrow to win it. shamrocks have a distraction with the football this week which they are favourites in and will be focused on that. not ideal preparation. they showed a bit of character to win the last two games after losing 3 on the trot. credit to their young management team. they seem to get the best out of what they have to work with.

overall alot of expectation that ballinamere durrow have had successful underage teams and they will be driving them back into senior proper. i expect it to go as expected with a ballinamere win but hoping shamrocks might produce a shock. good luck to both clubs.

Healthy rivalry? Shamrocks are a disgrace both on and off and off the field at most grades I have noticed them time and time again they are all full of mouth and more interested in fighting than playing hurling..

greenairfield wrote:Healthy rivalry? Shamrocks are a disgrace both on and off and off the field at most grades I have noticed them time and time again they are all full of mouth and more interested in fighting than playing hurling..

That’s some statement

greenairfield wrote:Healthy rivalry? Shamrocks are a disgrace both on and off and off the field at most grades I have noticed them time and time again they are all full of mouth and more interested in fighting than playing hurling..

Sounds like someone has a sour taste in their mouth.

All i say is fair play to the Shamrocks lads reaching both Senior B finals with a huge crossover of players. Not easy being a dual club these days and also being successful in both.

Will no doubt be underdogs against Ballinamere but should be red hot favourites for the football.