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Offaly with a big win over a very poor carlow 5 26 to 8 points. Joe furey making a bit of history as the first Edederry man since 1994 to play minor for offaly according to match reports.

Cillian Farrell played Minor hurling for Offaly in 1994 and 1995, but we won't split hairs over the year. And was on the frees in the latter year. Cillian went on to play three years with Offaly U21s, on the frees in 1997 and '98.

Pádraig Fitzsimons played Minor hurling for Offaly in 1993. Seán Óg Farrell didn't play Minor hurljng, but played U21 in 1992. Prior to that, Finbarr Cullen was full-back on the victorious Offaly Minor hurling team in 1989. Prior to that, Michael Kane played Minor hurling in 1980 and '81, the first from Edenderry to play Minor with Offaly since Paul McGuinness in 1972. Around then, Finbarr Grehan was three years an Offaly Minor hurler in 1970, '71 and '72. C Nolan (sorry, I don't have a first name)played county Minor in 1960, while Tommy Cullen was on the Offaly Minor hurling team that reached the 1957 Leinster Final, scoring 3-6 in a five game campaign.

Was there a Gracefield man playing too? Would he be the 1st from that club to represent OY at minor?

There is. Peter Fanning. The first from Gracefield to hurl Minor for Offaly since Tom Turley did in 1957 (the same Minor team Tommy Cullen was on - reached the Leinster final too and didn't do too bad against Kilkenny).

dubbiff wrote: ↑Tue Mar 24, 2026 12:08 am Was there a Gracefield man playing too? Would he be the 1st from that club to represent OY at minor?

It's nice to reminded that many of the Eastern Offaly clubs have had representatives, and often pivotal contributions, in past Offaly underage hurling teams. It's great to see the spread of representation.....it's something that needs to be encouraged and full credit given to these young men and their mentors. Love to see it.

Great result.lafs, great to see it spread the other side of the county off down in Edenderry. Best of luck in the next round super stuff

Offaly 2-14 to Westmeath 3-18. Offaly out of minor championship I think and now go into 2nd tier competition. Lost 2nd half playing against strong wind by 14 points after being 7 up at halftime.

What other county would reappoint a manager who oversaw a 31 point underage championship defeat to Laois?

frankthetank wrote: ↑Sat Apr 11, 2026 3:47 pm What other county would reappoint a manager who oversaw a 31 point underage championship defeat to Laois?

We’re lucky to have him, have you not heard him pontificating alongside Colm Parkinson, he seems pretty happy to offer an opinion on most everything else so no doubt he’ll have a full list of answers for the justifiable questions he’ll be asked

Quite clearly a disappointing term. There was always going to be a lull period, but it’s important to be competitive. We need to have teams that are competing at underage to keep our senior’s supplied with a couple of hurlers every year. This Westmeath team are very good and have standout hurlers, but we really need to maintain being competitive and Westmeath were the better team by far.

Despite success across football and hurling underage last 5/6 years and said in a more general tone, there have been some very barren seasons. It’s important to remember these ones as much as the great years and learn from them. Otherwise, we’ll be relying on the same cohort of players over and over.

You’d feel for those Minor hurlers today. When it comes to judgment day, you’d like to be judged on a more benign day, weather wise. Unfortunately that wasn’t the case. Imagine trying to hit a hurling ball into that wind. They talk about April borrowing days from March – these last few days have been borrowed from February.

That, and you’d like to have your preferred centre half-back on the field for the full game. Nothing more needs to be said.

Maybe dropping lads back from the start of the 2nd half, play a sweeper vs a very strong wind. Carry the ball and basically run it as far up the field as possible. 1 point from play in 2nd half out of the 4 scored. Not sure but think offaly played 15 v 15 for the whole of 2nd half. Did same last year vs laois

Plain of the Herbs wrote: ↑Sat Apr 11, 2026 4:54 pm You’d feel for those Minor hurlers today. When it comes to judgment day, you’d like to be judged on a more benign day, weather wise. Unfortunately that wasn’t the case. Imagine trying to hit a hurling ball into that wind. They talk about April borrowing days from March – these last few days have been borrowed from February.

That, and you’d like to have your preferred centre half-back on the field for the full game. Nothing more needs to be said.

What’s the centre back reference about?

Offaly lost their centre half-back to injury early in the second half.

Jim Troy wrote: ↑Sun Apr 12, 2026 11:16 am What’s the centre back reference about?

Fair enough- thank you,
Losing someone from such a pivotal position in poor weather conditions would indeed be a major swing.

Kerry beat Westmeath a few weeks ago if I’m correct?