Offaly county hurling team

Offaly

Sport:	Hurling
Irish:	Uíbh Fhailí
Nickname(s):	The Faithful County
County board:	Offaly GAA
Home venue(s):	Glenisk O'Connor Park, Tullamore Grant Heating St Brendan's Park, Birr
Recent competitive record
Last championship title:	2024
First colours Second colours

The Offaly county hurling team represents Offaly in hurling and is governed by Offaly GAA, the county board of the Gaelic Athletic Association. The team plays in the Leinster Senior Hurling Championship, part of the top tier of the All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship. At senior level, the county have won four All-Ireland championships, nine Leinster championships and one National Hurling League title.

Offaly's home grounds are Glenisk O'Connor Park, Tullamore and Grant Heating St Brendan's Park, Birr. The team's manager is Johnny Kelly.

The team last won the Leinster Senior Hurling Championship in 1995, the All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship in 1998 and the National Hurling League in 1991.

History

After a scheme developed by the Gaelic Athletic Association in the 1970s to encourage the playing of hurling in non-traditional counties, Offaly was one of the first teams to benefit. As a result, the county won six Leinster Senior Hurling Championship titles in the 1980s, as well as its first All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship in 1981.

The county has since gone on to win three other All-Irelands. Perhaps Offaly's most famous win came in the All-Ireland Final of 1994 in what has come to be remembered as the "five minute final." Limerick looked set to win their first All-Ireland title since 1973 until Offaly staged one of the greatest comebacks of all time, scoring two goals and five points in the last five minutes. They defeated Limerick by 3–16 to 2–13.

In the 1998 All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship semi-final, Offaly defeated All-Ireland champions Clare in a second replay. Offaly had lost the first replay after referee Jimmy Cooney blew for full-time too early, leading Offaly fans to blockade the pitch in protest. ^[1]

Offaly conceded a walkover to Kildare in the 2020 Christy Ring Cup after an outbreak of COVID-19 forced "almost every member" of the panel into isolation due to Health Service Executive (HSE) advice that they were "close contacts". ^{[2] [3] [4]} Later in the same competition, in the semi-final, Down knocked Offaly out in a first ever inter-county hurling penalty shootout. ^[5]

On 8 June 2024, at Croke Park in Dublin, Offaly defeated Laois in the Joe McDonagh Cup final by 2–23 to 0–26. This was the first success in this competition and also earned them promotion to the 2025 Leinster Senior Hurling Championship.

Current panel

Team as per Offaly vs Laois in the Joe McDonagh Cup Final, 08 June 2024

No. Player Position Club 1 Mark Troy Goalkeeper Durrow 2 Ben Conneely Right corner back St Rynagh's 3 Ciarán Burke Full back Durrow 4 Cathal King Left corner back Carrig & Riverstown 5 David King Right half back Coolderry 6 Cillian Keily Centre back Kilcormac–Killoughey 7 Donal Shirley Left half back Tubber 8 Jason Sampson(c) Midfield Shinrone 9 Eimhin Kelly Midfield Lusmagh 10 Killian Sampson Right half forward Shinrone 11 Brian Duignan Centre forward Durrow 12 Eoghan Cahill Left half forward Birr 13 Dan Bourke Right corner forward Durrow 14 Charlie Mitchell Full forward Kilcormac–Killoughey 15 Adam Screeney Left corner forward Kilcormac–Killoughey

No. Player Position Club 16 Stephen Corcoran Substitute Coolderry 17 Oisín Kelly Substitute Belmont 18 Sam Bourke Substitute Durrow 19 Colin Spain Substitute Kilcormac–Killoughey 20 Jack Clancy Substitute Belmont 21 Ross Ravenhill Substitute Durrow 22 Padraig Cantwell Substitute Shamrocks 23 Dara Maher Substitute Shinrone 24 Luke Watkins Substitute Shinrone 25 James Nally Substitute Belmont 26 Kieran Connors Substitute Seir Kieran

^INJ Player has had an injury which has affected recent involvement with the county team.
^RET Player has since retired from the county team.
^WD Player has since withdrawn from the county team due to a non-injury issue.

Current management team

• Manager: Johnny Kelly, appointed head of the 2023 season
• Selectors: Barry Teehan (Coolderry) ^[6]
• Performance coach: Brendan Maher (Borris-Ileigh, Tipperary) ^[6]
• Goalkeeping coach: Colm Callanan (Kinvara, Galway) ^[6]
• Strength and Conditioning Coach: Brian Roache
• Other backroom: Martin Maher (Brendan's brother) ^[6]

Managerial history

Offaly have a history of appointing "foreign" managers. ^[7] In 2016, the former Waterford hurler Kevin Ryan became Offaly's ninth "foreign" manager in a quarter of a century. ^[8]

Andy Gallagher 1976–1983

Dermot Healy 1983–1986

Georgie Leahy 1986–1988

P. J. Whelahan 1988–1989

Paudge Mulhare 1989–1990

Pádraig Horan 1990–1992

Éamonn Cregan 1992–1996

John McIntyre 1996–1997

Babs Keating 1997–1998 ^{[9] [10]}

Michael Bond 1998–1999 ^[11]

Pat Fleury 1999–2000 ^{[12] [13] [14] [15]}

Michael Bond (2) 2000–2001 ^{[16] [17]}

Tom Fogarty 2001–2002 ^{[18] [19]}

Mike McNamara 2002–2004 ^{[20] [21]}

John McIntyre (2) 2004–2007 ^{[22] [23]}

Joe Dooley 2007–2011^{[ additional citation(s) needed ] [24]}

Ollie Baker 2011–2013 ^{[25] [26]}

Brian Whelahan 2013–2015 ^{[27] [28]}

Éamonn Kelly 2015–2016 ^{[29] [30] [31]}

Kevin Ryan 2016–2017 ^{[32] [33] [34] [35]}

Kevin Martin 2017–2019 ^{[36] [37] [38] [39]}

Joachim Kelly 2019** ^[40]

Michael Fennelly 2019–2022 ^{[41] [42]}

Johnny Kelly 2022–Present ^[43]

**=In a caretaker role

Players

Notable players

For individual player details, see Category:Offaly inter-county hurlers.

Records

Most appearances

Further information: All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship records and statistics § All-time appearances

Top scorers

Further information: All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship records and statistics § All-time top scorers

Colours and crest

Team sponsorship

The food company Carroll's of Tullamore sponsored Offaly since the GAA first permitted shirt sponsorship deals in 1991 until 2021. It was the sport's longest running shirt sponsor. In 2022, Glenisk became the County's Camogie, Football and Hurling sponsors, with them becoming the Ladies Football sponsors in 2023 once their current sponsorship with CMG closes.

Professional golfer Shane Lowry and Offaly announced a five-year partnership in April 2021. ^{[44] [45]}

Period	Kit manufacturer	Shirt sponsor
1991–2021	O'Neills	Carroll's of Tullamore
2022–		Glenisk

Honours

National

• All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship
  • Winners (4): 1981, 1985, 1994, 1998
  • Runners-up (3): 1984, 1995, 2000
• Joe McDonagh Cup
  • Winners (1): 2024
  • Runners-up (1): 2023
• Christy Ring Cup
  • Winners (1): 2021 ^[46]
• All-Ireland Junior Hurling Championship
  • Winners (2): 1923, 1929
  • Runners-up (1): 1915
• All-Ireland Under-20 Hurling Championship
  • Winners (1): 2024
  • Runners-up (4): 1989, 1991, 1992, 2023
• National Hurling League
  • Winners (1): 1991
  • Runners-up (2): 1980–81, 1987–88
• National Hurling League Division 2
  • Winners (4): 1966, 1988, 2005, 2009
• National Hurling League Division 2A
  • Winners (1): 2021, 2023
• All-Ireland Minor Hurling Championship
  • Winners (3): 1986, 1987, 1989
  • Runners-up (1): 2022 ^{[47] [48]}

Provincial

• Leinster Senior Hurling Championship
  • Winners (9): 1980, 1981, 1984, 1985, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1994, 1995
  • Runners-up (14): 1901, 1924, 1926, 1928, 1969, 1982, 1983, 1986, 1987, 1996, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2004
• Leinster Junior Hurling Championship
  • Winners (7): 1915, 1922, 1923, 1924, 1929, 1938, 1953
  • Runners-up (4): 1908, 1912, 1937, 1959
• Leinster Under-21/Under-20 Hurling Championship
  • Winners (7): 1978, 1989, 1991, 1992, 2000, 2023, 2024
  • Runners-up (13): 1967, 1972, 1973, 1982, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1996, 1997, 1999, 2007, 2008, 2016
• Leinster Minor Hurling Championship
  • Winners (5): 1986, 1987, 1989, 2000, 2022 ^[49]
  • Runners-up (10): 1948, 1950, 1957, 1982, 1988, 1994, 1995, 1997, 2003, 2020
• Walsh Cup
  • Winners (5): 1977, 1981, 1990, 1993, 1994
  • Runners-up (5): 1966, 1974, 1987, 1995, 2008
• Walsh Cup Shield
  • Winners (2): 2011, 2012
  • Runners-up (1): 2009
• Kehoe Cup
  • Winners (1): 2020 ^[50]

References

1. "Back to '98: 'I broke my hurl clear off his shoulder before the ball was thrown in'". The42.ie. 8 July 2017.
2. "Offaly forfeit Christy Ring opener to Kildare due to COVID contacts". Newstalk. 22 October 2020.
3. "Offaly's Christy Ring Cup tie against Kildare in doubt after positive Covid-19 test in panel". Irish Independent . 21 October 2020.
4. "Covid-19 case forces Offaly hurlers to forfeit Christy Ring Cup opener". The42.ie. 22 October 2020.
5. "Great Scenes In Newry As Down Shock Offaly In Christy Ring Semi-Final". Balls.ie. 15 November 2020.
6. "Offaly role for Tipp great Maher". Hogan Stand. 5 October 2022.
7. Breheny, Martin (24 November 2012). "The import and export business". Irish Independent.
8. Breheny, Martin (10 November 2016). "Outsiders in fashion as Offaly show little faith in their own". Irish Independent.
9. Roche, Pat (22 October 1997). "Keating appointed Offaly's manager". The Irish Times.
10. Kilfeather, Sean (8 July 1998). "Offaly accept Keating's resignation". The Irish Times.
11. "Sport: Bond resigns as Offaly manager". RTÉ News. 25 September 1999. Bond took over from Michael 'Babs' Keating in controversial circumstances after last season's Leinster final defeat and guided the Faithful County to their second All-Ireland success of the '90's via the back door.
12. "Fleury new Offaly manager after Bond makes himself unavailable". The Irish Times. 6 October 1999.
13. O'Riordan, Tom (5 October 1999). "Fleury set to replace Bond at Offaly helm". Irish Independent.
14. "Fleury named as Offaly coach". RTÉ. 6 October 1999.
15. Hickey, Paddy (19 October 2000). "Faithful blow as Fleury resigns". Irish Independent.
16. "GAA: Managerial changes in Cork and Offaly". RTÉ. 8 November 2000.
17. Murray, Shane (5 September 2001). "Bond resigns Offaly hurling post". RTÉ.
18. "'Flu hits Enniskillen camp". BBC. 4 October 2001. Meanwhile, former Tipperary hurling boss Father Tom Fogarty has been appointed as the new Offaly manager. Fogarty replaces Michael Bond, who stepped down after this year's disappointing campaign which saw Offaly well-beaten by Kilkenny in the Leinster Semi-Final.
19. Wright, Rob (13 September 2002). "Offaly hurling boss resigns". RTÉ.
20. Grealis, Tom (21 November 2002). "McNamara named Offaly hurling manager". RTÉ.
21. Wright, Rob (14 September 2004). "Offaly footballers withdraw services". RTÉ. Archived from the original on 12 September 2012. Hurling manager, Mike McNamara also quit, citing a lack of support as the main reason for his decision. McNamara met with club delegates last night and then took questions from them during a two hour session. However following that meeting McNamara felt he did not have enough support and announced he would not be staying for next season.
22. "McIntyre is confirmed as Offaly manager". RTÉ. 15 November 2004.
23. "McIntyre steps down as Offaly hurling manager". Irish Independent. 8 August 2007.
24. "Dooley steps down as Offaly boss". RTÉ. 28 June 2011.
25. "Baker named as new Offaly hurling boss". The Irish Times. 10 October 2011.
26. "Ollie Baker steps down". Hogan Stand. 29 October 2013.
27. Kelly, Niall (23 October 2013). "Brian Whelahan to be named Offaly hurling manager". The42.ie.
28. O'Riordan, Ian (14 July 2015). "Brian Whelahan resigns as Offaly hurling manager after rejecting extension: Former All-Ireland winner first high-profile managerial casualty of the season". The Irish Times.
29. "Eamonn Kelly is new Offaly manager". Tipp FM. 9 September 2015.
30. Russell, Adrian (8 September 2015). "Offaly appoint Eamonn Kelly as hurling boss with a Sunday Game pundit to act as mentor". The42.ie.
31. "Kelly quits Faithful role". Hogan Stand. 14 August 2016.
32. "Kevin Ryan ratified as Offaly hurling manager". RTÉ. 16 November 2016.
33. "Kevin Ryan has been ratified as Offaly's new hurling manager". Irish Independent. 16 November 2016.
34. Cahill, Jackie (18 July 2017). "Ryan quits Offaly post". Hogan Stand.
35. Power, Claire (18 July 2017). "Kevin Ryan steps down as Offaly Manager". WLR FM.
36. "Two-time All-Ireland winner Kevin Martin is the new Offaly hurling boss". Irish Independent. 8 November 2017.
37. O'Toole, Fintan (8 November 2017). "Two-time All-Ireland winner confirmed as Offaly's new hurling boss". The42.ie.
38. "Two-time All-Ireland winner Kevin Martin appointed Offaly manager". RTÉ. 9 November 2017.
39. Connaughton, Gary (20 May 2019). "Kevin Martin Relieved Of Duties As Offaly Hurling Manager". balls.ie.
40. Sweeney, Peter (20 May 2019). "Kevin Martin steps down from Offaly post, Joachim Kelly named interim manager". RTÉ.
41. "Michael Fennelly Appointed Offaly Hurling Manager". Pundit Arena. 27 August 2019.
42. "Fennelly departs Offaly role". RTÉ. 26 July 2022.
43. "Kelly named as new Offaly hurling manager". Hogan Stand. 6 September 2022.
44. "Offaly GAA set to expand as Shane Lowry becomes sponsor". RTÉ. 29 April 2021.
45. "Shane Lowry: Open champion partners with Offaly GAA to offer support to home county". BBC. 29 April 2021.
46. "Offaly hit 0–41 in massive Christy Ring Cup final victory over Derry". The42.ie. 30 July 2021. Retrieved 4 August 2021.
47. "Contentious All-Ireland MHC final decision overlooked on 'Sunday Game'". Hogan Stand. 4 July 2022.
48. "'To me they are the All-Ireland champions'". Hogan Stand. 5 July 2022.
49. "Offaly beat Laois to secure first Leinster minor hurling title in 22 years". The42.ie.
50. "Oisín Kelly's late score secures Kehoe Cup honours for Offaly". The Irish Times .