Offaly Senior A Hurling Championship 2023
Posted: Mon Jun 19, 2023 2:50 pm
With the Intercounty now concluded and club due to begin in a matter of weeks, I thought I would do a preview of the championships, starting with Senior A.
Exact same groups as last year with Tullamore replacing CG.
I have no idea of managers or absentees/returns for most clubs, so do let me know.
SAHC Group 1
Kilcormac-Killoughey
Odds: 2/1 (Fav)
Bye first round
Star Players: Cillian Kiely, Charlie Mitchell, Adam Screeney
One to watch: Any of the 4 Kavanagh brothers that could potentially hurl, Lochlann, Leigh, Alex and Brecon
Last year's beaten finalists with the golden generation now coming through.
Despite a lot of talk otherwise, Adam Screeney simply has to hurl Senior A. Despite having never hurled a Senior club game before, the best 18 year old in the country will certainly light up the championship. Dan Currams back too. Will be interesting to see how many of the young lads hurl Senior A.
Won league final without Kiely, Jack Screeney, Mitchell and 7-8 lads from the u20 panel.
Favourites and deservedly so.
Verdict: Champions
St Rynaghs
Odds: 5/2 (2nd Fav)
First round: Tullamore
Star Players: Ben Conneely, Luke O'Connor, Aidan Treacy
One to watch: Shane Rigney
Disappointing finish to last year. Aging team with not too many youngsters coming through - hard to know whether this is a help or a hindrance. Beaten league finalists against KK.
Verdict: Come through group in second, beaten in semi.
Birr
Odds: 13/2
First round: Kinnitty
Star Players: Eoghan Cahill, Rory Carty, Oisin Murphy
One to watch: Padraig Watkins
Beaten in last years semi by KK. Could be one last roll of the dice for the old guard as they look for a title back in St Brendans Park. Relatively successful at u20 in recent years. Fitness of Eoghan Cahill for first round versus Kinnitty could be key.
Verdict: 3rd in group, beaten finalists.
Kinnitty
Odds: 25/1
First round: Birr
Star Players: Shane Kinsella, James Dempsey, Paddy Delaney
One to watch: Cathal Robinson
Sleeping giant of Offaly GAA. Narrowly pipped by Birr last year to get out of group. Always capable of a surprise.
Verdict: 4th again
Tullamore
Odds: 50/1
First round: Rynaghs
Star Players: Shane Dooley, Ger Crowe, Cormac Egan
One to watch: Luke Egan
Offaly's town club back in the big time. A lot will depend on the extent to which footballers are allowed to hurl. I expect Cormac Egan to hurl regardless. Will fancy chances against Kinnitty, Birr and Rynaghs.
Verdict: win relegation final
SAHC Group 2
Shinrone
Odds: 11/2
First round: Coolderry
Star Players: Jason & Killian Sampson, Adrian Cleary
One to watch: DJ McLoughlin
Won first ever title last year. 5-6 with the county who will only be back this week. Along with 4-5 others missing from last year for various reasons, I can envisage a hangover period. Coolderry will be eager to remind their neighbours of their 31 titles the first day out.
Verdict: 2nd in group, beaten in QF.
Belmont
Odds: 5/1
First round: Seir Kieran
Star Players: David Nally, Damien Egan, Clancy brothers
One to watch: Patrick Taaffe
Heartbreak in last year's semi after 2 late mistakes. Will have looked on enviously all Winter at Shinrone. Their golden generation around the 25-29 mark now, know it could be their time. Absence of Oisin Kelly again is a huge blow. Timeline of David Nally's return from injury will be crucial. He ran up scores of 1-11, 0-14, 0-13 and 0-12 in different games last year.
Verdict: 3rd and beaten in QF.
Coolderry
Odds: 10/1
First round: Shinrone
Star Players: David King, Eoghan Parlon, Conor Molloy
One to watch: Gearoid McCormack
Offaly's most successful hurling club. Will be eager to atone for last year. With the old guard seeming to have been forced out of the setup by management, onus is on the next generation to stand up. Will fear nobody, as always.
Verdict: 4th, but barely.
Ballinamere:
Odds: 18/1
First round: Bye
Star Players: Ciaran Burke, Brian Duignan, Ravenhill brothers
One to watch: Dan Bourke
The up-and-coming team. 8 lads across Offaly senior and u20 teams. Will fancy their chances. 18/1 from 25/1 last week. Hammered by Birr in last year's QF. Another year older and wiser. My dark horse.
Verdict: 1st in group, beaten semi finalists.
Seir Kieran
Odds: 33/1
First round: Belmont
Star Players: Joe Bergin, Kevin Dunne, Tom Dooley
One to watch: Luke Carey
Few losses to emigration is never easy for a rural club. Too reliant on an aging Joe Bergin for too long. More relegation trouble.
Verdict: Relegated
Exact same groups as last year with Tullamore replacing CG.
I have no idea of managers or absentees/returns for most clubs, so do let me know.
SAHC Group 1
Kilcormac-Killoughey
Odds: 2/1 (Fav)
Bye first round
Star Players: Cillian Kiely, Charlie Mitchell, Adam Screeney
One to watch: Any of the 4 Kavanagh brothers that could potentially hurl, Lochlann, Leigh, Alex and Brecon
Last year's beaten finalists with the golden generation now coming through.
Despite a lot of talk otherwise, Adam Screeney simply has to hurl Senior A. Despite having never hurled a Senior club game before, the best 18 year old in the country will certainly light up the championship. Dan Currams back too. Will be interesting to see how many of the young lads hurl Senior A.
Won league final without Kiely, Jack Screeney, Mitchell and 7-8 lads from the u20 panel.
Favourites and deservedly so.
Verdict: Champions
St Rynaghs
Odds: 5/2 (2nd Fav)
First round: Tullamore
Star Players: Ben Conneely, Luke O'Connor, Aidan Treacy
One to watch: Shane Rigney
Disappointing finish to last year. Aging team with not too many youngsters coming through - hard to know whether this is a help or a hindrance. Beaten league finalists against KK.
Verdict: Come through group in second, beaten in semi.
Birr
Odds: 13/2
First round: Kinnitty
Star Players: Eoghan Cahill, Rory Carty, Oisin Murphy
One to watch: Padraig Watkins
Beaten in last years semi by KK. Could be one last roll of the dice for the old guard as they look for a title back in St Brendans Park. Relatively successful at u20 in recent years. Fitness of Eoghan Cahill for first round versus Kinnitty could be key.
Verdict: 3rd in group, beaten finalists.
Kinnitty
Odds: 25/1
First round: Birr
Star Players: Shane Kinsella, James Dempsey, Paddy Delaney
One to watch: Cathal Robinson
Sleeping giant of Offaly GAA. Narrowly pipped by Birr last year to get out of group. Always capable of a surprise.
Verdict: 4th again
Tullamore
Odds: 50/1
First round: Rynaghs
Star Players: Shane Dooley, Ger Crowe, Cormac Egan
One to watch: Luke Egan
Offaly's town club back in the big time. A lot will depend on the extent to which footballers are allowed to hurl. I expect Cormac Egan to hurl regardless. Will fancy chances against Kinnitty, Birr and Rynaghs.
Verdict: win relegation final
SAHC Group 2
Shinrone
Odds: 11/2
First round: Coolderry
Star Players: Jason & Killian Sampson, Adrian Cleary
One to watch: DJ McLoughlin
Won first ever title last year. 5-6 with the county who will only be back this week. Along with 4-5 others missing from last year for various reasons, I can envisage a hangover period. Coolderry will be eager to remind their neighbours of their 31 titles the first day out.
Verdict: 2nd in group, beaten in QF.
Belmont
Odds: 5/1
First round: Seir Kieran
Star Players: David Nally, Damien Egan, Clancy brothers
One to watch: Patrick Taaffe
Heartbreak in last year's semi after 2 late mistakes. Will have looked on enviously all Winter at Shinrone. Their golden generation around the 25-29 mark now, know it could be their time. Absence of Oisin Kelly again is a huge blow. Timeline of David Nally's return from injury will be crucial. He ran up scores of 1-11, 0-14, 0-13 and 0-12 in different games last year.
Verdict: 3rd and beaten in QF.
Coolderry
Odds: 10/1
First round: Shinrone
Star Players: David King, Eoghan Parlon, Conor Molloy
One to watch: Gearoid McCormack
Offaly's most successful hurling club. Will be eager to atone for last year. With the old guard seeming to have been forced out of the setup by management, onus is on the next generation to stand up. Will fear nobody, as always.
Verdict: 4th, but barely.
Ballinamere:
Odds: 18/1
First round: Bye
Star Players: Ciaran Burke, Brian Duignan, Ravenhill brothers
One to watch: Dan Bourke
The up-and-coming team. 8 lads across Offaly senior and u20 teams. Will fancy their chances. 18/1 from 25/1 last week. Hammered by Birr in last year's QF. Another year older and wiser. My dark horse.
Verdict: 1st in group, beaten semi finalists.
Seir Kieran
Odds: 33/1
First round: Belmont
Star Players: Joe Bergin, Kevin Dunne, Tom Dooley
One to watch: Luke Carey
Few losses to emigration is never easy for a rural club. Too reliant on an aging Joe Bergin for too long. More relegation trouble.
Verdict: Relegated