Offaly Senior B Hurling Championship 2023

[faithfulfanatic]

Group of 6 as per previous years with 4 progressing to semis.

Always a very competitive championship, with the added dynamic of the 2 second teams.

Kilcormac-Killoughey
1st round: Lusmagh
Star Players: Shane Guinan, Karl Guinan, Conor Quinn, whichever of the u20s play
One to watch: Dylan Hand
No betting odds for this championship, but the Double Ks are surely favourites. A strong team that reached last year's semi, aided by a plethora of young talent. With Screeney, Mahon, Kavanaghs, Ter Guinan, etc making the step up for minor, they will be either on this team or else pushing established Senior A players onto this team. The sort of talent that all other clubs will envy. Seems a bit of a slip by the Co. Board to give them a bye in first round of Senior A - raises the possibility of the aforementioned players and the returning Dan Currams hurling the first evening against Lusmagh before taking their places in the Senior A side. I think they have the strength to dominate this championship for years to come - what will happen then?
Verdict: winners

Clara
1st round: Clodiagh Gaels
Star Players: Josh Fleming, Conor Doyle, Conor Egan, Barry Egan
One to watch: Cormac Delaney
Beaten semi finalists from last year. The returning Colm Doyle will make a big difference, although himself and his brother Ciaran are rumoured to be heading abroad at some stage. Their younger brother Conor is a star in the making. Expect them to push for a final place.
Verdict: beaten semi finalists

Lusmagh
1st round: KK
Star Players: Eimhin Kelly, Paul Kinsella, Ruairi Kelly
One to watch: Daire Temple
Relegation winners last year. Return of Eimhin Kelly and addition of Ruairi Kelly should strengthen their cause. Drawn the short straw with facing KK first.
Verdict: beaten semi finalists

Clodiagh Gaels
1st round: Clara
Star Players: Joey Keenaghan, Dylan Hyland, Langton brothers
One to watch: Ruairi Dunne
Relegated last year. Always a strong side in Senior B. Hard to look past as finalists.
Verdict: beaten finalists.

Shamrocks
1st round: Birr
Star Players: Padraig Cantwell, Shane O'Toole Greene, David O'Toole Greene
One to watch: Shane Kearney
Promoted from intermediate. Success of football team can impact on how the hurling goes. Remains to be seen whether Cantwell will play any part. Shane and David O'Toole Greene rumoured to be emigrating during the Summer. Will need a fast start.
Verdict: Lose relegation final

Birr
1st round: Shamrocks
Star Players: Joe Ryan, Mick Mulrooney, Stephen Lonergan, Thomas Bolger
One to watch: Darragh Tierney
As with KK, hard to pick star players/one to watch while not knowing who will be available. Elder statesmen such as Verney, Lonergan, Cleary will be backbone of the side. Will target a good start against Shamrocks
Verdict: Win relegation final

[Hurling2022]

Group of 6 as per previous years with 4 progressing to semis.

Always a very competitive championship, with the added dynamic of the 2 second teams.

Kilcormac-Killoughey
1st round: Lusmagh
Star Players: Shane Guinan, Karl Guinan, Conor Quinn, whichever of the u20s play
One to watch: Dylan Hand
No betting odds for this championship, but the Double Ks are surely favourites. A strong team that reached last year's semi, aided by a plethora of young talent. With Screeney, Mahon, Kavanaghs, Ter Guinan, etc making the step up for minor, they will be either on this team or else pushing established Senior A players onto this team. The sort of talent that all other clubs will envy. Seems a bit of a slip by the Co. Board to give them a bye in first round of Senior A - raises the possibility of the aforementioned players and the returning Dan Currams hurling the first evening against Lusmagh before taking their places in the Senior A side. I think they have the strength to dominate this championship for years to come - what will happen then?
Verdict: winners

Clara
1st round: Clodiagh Gaels
Star Players: Josh Fleming, Conor Doyle, Conor Egan, Barry Egan
One to watch: Cormac Delaney
Beaten semi finalists from last year. The returning Colm Doyle will make a big difference, although himself and his brother Ciaran are rumoured to be heading abroad at some stage. Their younger brother Conor is a star in the making. Expect them to push for a final place.
Verdict: beaten semi finalists

Lusmagh
1st round: KK
Star Players: Eimhin Kelly, Paul Kinsella, Ruairi Kelly
One to watch: Daire Temple
Relegation winners last year. Return of Eimhin Kelly and addition of Ruairi Kelly should strengthen their cause. Drawn the short straw with facing KK first.
Verdict: beaten semi finalists

Clodiagh Gaels
1st round: Clara
Star Players: Joey Keenaghan, Dylan Hyland, Langton brothers
One to watch: Ruairi Dunne
Relegated last year. Always a strong side in Senior B. Hard to look past as finalists.
Verdict: beaten finalists.

Shamrocks
1st round: Birr
Star Players: Padraig Cantwell, Shane O'Toole Greene, David O'Toole Greene
One to watch: Shane Kearney
Promoted from intermediate. Success of football team can impact on how the hurling goes. Remains to be seen whether Cantwell will play any part. Shane and David O'Toole Greene rumoured to be emigrating during the Summer. Will need a fast start.
Verdict: Lose relegation final

Birr
1st round: Shamrocks
Star Players: Joe Ryan, Mick Mulrooney, Stephen Lonergan, Thomas Bolger
One to watch: Darragh Tierney
As with KK, hard to pick star players/one to watch while not knowing who will be available. Elder statesmen such as Verney, Lonergan, Cleary will be backbone of the side. Will target a good start against Shamrocks
Verdict: Win relegation final

Clara reached the final last year against Tullamore.

[faithfulfanatic]

Group of 6 as per previous years with 4 progressing to semis.

Always a very competitive championship, with the added dynamic of the 2 second teams.

Kilcormac-Killoughey
1st round: Lusmagh
Star Players: Shane Guinan, Karl Guinan, Conor Quinn, whichever of the u20s play
One to watch: Dylan Hand
No betting odds for this championship, but the Double Ks are surely favourites. A strong team that reached last year's semi, aided by a plethora of young talent. With Screeney, Mahon, Kavanaghs, Ter Guinan, etc making the step up for minor, they will be either on this team or else pushing established Senior A players onto this team. The sort of talent that all other clubs will envy. Seems a bit of a slip by the Co. Board to give them a bye in first round of Senior A - raises the possibility of the aforementioned players and the returning Dan Currams hurling the first evening against Lusmagh before taking their places in the Senior A side. I think they have the strength to dominate this championship for years to come - what will happen then?
Verdict: winners

Clara
1st round: Clodiagh Gaels
Star Players: Josh Fleming, Conor Doyle, Conor Egan, Barry Egan
One to watch: Cormac Delaney
Beaten semi finalists from last year. The returning Colm Doyle will make a big difference, although himself and his brother Ciaran are rumoured to be heading abroad at some stage. Their younger brother Conor is a star in the making. Expect them to push for a final place.
Verdict: beaten semi finalists

Lusmagh
1st round: KK
Star Players: Eimhin Kelly, Paul Kinsella, Ruairi Kelly
One to watch: Daire Temple
Relegation winners last year. Return of Eimhin Kelly and addition of Ruairi Kelly should strengthen their cause. Drawn the short straw with facing KK first.
Verdict: beaten semi finalists

Clodiagh Gaels
1st round: Clara
Star Players: Joey Keenaghan, Dylan Hyland, Langton brothers
One to watch: Ruairi Dunne
Relegated last year. Always a strong side in Senior B. Hard to look past as finalists.
Verdict: beaten finalists.

Shamrocks
1st round: Birr
Star Players: Padraig Cantwell, Shane O'Toole Greene, David O'Toole Greene
One to watch: Shane Kearney
Promoted from intermediate. Success of football team can impact on how the hurling goes. Remains to be seen whether Cantwell will play any part. Shane and David O'Toole Greene rumoured to be emigrating during the Summer. Will need a fast start.
Verdict: Lose relegation final

Birr
1st round: Shamrocks
Star Players: Joe Ryan, Mick Mulrooney, Stephen Lonergan, Thomas Bolger
One to watch: Darragh Tierney
As with KK, hard to pick star players/one to watch while not knowing who will be available. Elder statesmen such as Verney, Lonergan, Cleary will be backbone of the side. Will target a good start against Shamrocks
Verdict: Win relegation final

Clara reached the final last year against Tullamore.

Correct and true, brain fart from me.

[faithfulfanatic]

First round fixtures out

Lusmagh and KK in Carrig on Friday 7th July at 8

Clodiagh Gaels and Clara in Tullamore on Saturday 8th at 4

Birr and Shamrocks in Lusmagh on Saturday 8th at 4

[Plain of the Herbs]

A bit of a Senior B round 1 form guide
LUSMAGH v KILCORMAC-KILLOUGHEY
An annual event now.
In 2020, Kilcormac-Killoughey won 2-18 to 0-21
In 2021, Lusmagh won 3-22 to 2-8
And last year, Kilcormac-Killoughey won 3-23 to 1-20

SHAMROCKS v BIRR
Shamrocks won 2014’s Intermediate group game 1-20 to 0-16
Shamrocks win the 2013 Intermediate group game 1-21 to 0-16, before
Birr won 2021’s Intermediate hurling final 0-16 to 1-12

CLARA v CLODIAGH GAELS
Clodiagh Gaels won 2016’s Intermediate semi-final 2-17 to 2-12
In 2020, they drew 2-14 each
And in 2021, Clara won 1-13 to 1-12.

[frankthetank]

Here is Kevin Corrigan's preview of the Senior B Championship.

https://www.offalyexpress.ie/news/home/ ... nship.html


And below is his team by team guide.

https://www.offalyexpress.ie/news/local ... nship.html

I personally feel he is holding Clodiagh Gaels in too high regard but we shall see.

[private joker]

The top 3 teams are clodaigh gaels, kk and clara. I'd see kk are slight favourites to win it out with the other two very close behind.

[frankthetank]

I feel this competition would benefit from a bit more bite to the group games. There is too much room for error in my eyes.

How about the top team goes directly to final and 2nd plays 3rd in the semi-final?

[SearingDrive]

I feel this competition would benefit from a bit more bite to the group games. There is too much room for error in my eyes.

How about the top team goes directly to final and 2nd plays 3rd in the semi-final?

Not a bad idea. I would like to see semi finals and a final, in the championships. Scrap q/ finals.

[private joker]

Good win for clodaigh gaels when down to 14 men. Clara hurled well but didn't position very well when a man up.

[faithfulfanatic]

Good win for clodaigh gaels when down to 14 men. Clara hurled well but didn't position very well when a man up.

Any team sheets from that game?

[faithfulfanatic]

Wins for Kilcormac, Lusmagh and Clodiagh Gaels.

It could be argued that every game so far has been won by the favourites?

Kilcormac and Clara the only game with a match report on the Offaly Express website.

Anyone at either of the other games?

[Doon Exile]

Wins for Kilcormac, Lusmagh and Clodiagh Gaels.

It could be argued that every game so far has been won by the favourites?

Kilcormac and Clara the only game with a match report on the Offaly Express website.

Anyone at either of the other games?

Was at the Lusmagh Shamrock game. Lusmagh deserved winners and lead from the start. Eihim Kelly and Rurari Kelly both played well. Ruairi probably wasted a little corner back - would like to see him a little bit further out the field.

[Plain of the Herbs]

Lusmagh v Clodiagh Gaels
In 2019, Clodiagh Gaels were 0-20 to 0-15 winners;
In 2021, Clodiagh Gaes won the group game 4-24 to 0-22;
And in 2021’s semi-final, Clodiagh Gaels won 0-23 to 0-17

Shamrocks v Kilcormac-Killoughey
In 2019, Kilcormac-Killoughey won the group game 2-18 to 2-16
In 2019, Kilcormac-Killoughey won the relegation match 0-20 to 3-10

Birr v Clara
Last year, Clara won the group game 2-15 to 1-15;
And later, Clara won the semi-final meeting 0-18 to 1-9.

[faithfulfanatic]

Lusmagh 1-21 Clodiagh Gaels 2-16

The first real ‘shock’ of the Senior B championship.

Lusmagh seemingly full value for their 2 point win, as CG got a late goal to make things nervy.

Anyone at it or with a teamsheet from it?