Offaly county hurling team explained

Offaly
Sport:Hurling
Irish:Uíbh Fhailí
Nickname:The Faithful County
County Board:Offaly GAA
Home Venues:Glenisk O'Connor Park, Tullamore
Grant Heating St Brendan's Park, Birr
Last Championship Title:2024
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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

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

Johnny Kelly, appointed head of the 2023 season

Colm Callanan (Kinvara, Galway)[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[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

Records

Top scorers

All Stars

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]

PeriodKit manufacturerShirt sponsor
1991–2021O'NeillsCarroll's of Tullamore
2022–Glenisk

Honours

National

Provincial

Notes and References

  1. News: Back to '98: 'I broke my hurl clear off his shoulder before the ball was thrown in'. The42.ie. 8 July 2017.
  2. News: Offaly forfeit Christy Ring opener to Kildare due to COVID contacts. Newstalk. 22 October 2020.
  3. News: Offaly's Christy Ring Cup tie against Kildare in doubt after positive Covid-19 test in panel. Irish Independent. 21 October 2020.
  4. News: Covid-19 case forces Offaly hurlers to forfeit Christy Ring Cup opener. The42.ie. 22 October 2020.
  5. News: Great Scenes In Newry As Down Shock Offaly In Christy Ring Semi-Final. Balls.ie. 15 November 2020.
  6. News: Offaly role for Tipp great Maher. Hogan Stand. 5 October 2022.
  7. News: The import and export business. Irish Independent. Martin. Breheny. Martin Breheny. 24 November 2012.
  8. News: Outsiders in fashion as Offaly show little faith in their own. Irish Independent. Martin. Breheny. Martin Breheny. 10 November 2016.
  9. News: Keating appointed Offaly's manager. The Irish Times. Pat. Roche. 22 October 1997.
  10. News: Offaly accept Keating's resignation. The Irish Times. Sean. Kilfeather. 8 July 1998.
  11. News: 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. News: Fleury new Offaly manager after Bond makes himself unavailable. The Irish Times. 6 October 1999.
  13. News: Fleury set to replace Bond at Offaly helm. Irish Independent. Tom. O'Riordan. 5 October 1999.
  14. News: Fleury named as Offaly coach. RTÉ. 6 October 1999.
  15. News: Faithful blow as Fleury resigns. Irish Independent. Paddy. Hickey. 19 October 2000.
  16. News: GAA: Managerial changes in Cork and Offaly. RTÉ. 8 November 2000.
  17. News: Bond resigns Offaly hurling post. RTÉ. Shane. Murray. 5 September 2001.
  18. News: '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. News: Offaly hurling boss resigns. RTÉ. Rob. Wright. 13 September 2002.
  20. News: McNamara named Offaly hurling manager. RTÉ. Tom. Grealis. 21 November 2002.
  21. News: Offaly footballers withdraw services. RTÉ. Rob. Wright. 14 September 2004. https://archive.today/20120912185053/http://www.rte.ie/sport/gaa/2004/0914/offaly.html. dead. 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. News: McIntyre is confirmed as Offaly manager. RTÉ. 15 November 2004.
  23. News: McIntyre steps down as Offaly hurling manager. Irish Independent. 8 August 2007.
  24. News: Dooley steps down as Offaly boss. RTÉ. 28 June 2011.
  25. News: Baker named as new Offaly hurling boss. The Irish Times. 10 October 2011.
  26. News: Ollie Baker steps down. Hogan Stand. 29 October 2013.
  27. News: Brian Whelahan to be named Offaly hurling manager. The42.ie. Niall. Kelly. 23 October 2013.
  28. News: 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. Ian. O'Riordan. 14 July 2015.
  29. News: Eamonn Kelly is new Offaly manager. Tipp FM. 9 September 2015.
  30. News: Offaly appoint Eamonn Kelly as hurling boss with a Sunday Game pundit to act as mentor. The42.ie. Adrian. Russell. 8 September 2015.
  31. News: Kelly quits Faithful role. Hogan Stand. 14 August 2016.
  32. News: Kevin Ryan ratified as Offaly hurling manager. RTÉ. 16 November 2016.
  33. News: Kevin Ryan has been ratified as Offaly's new hurling manager. Irish Independent. 16 November 2016.
  34. News: Ryan quits Offaly post. Hogan Stand. Jackie. Cahill. 18 July 2017.
  35. News: Kevin Ryan steps down as Offaly Manager. WLR FM. Claire. Power. 18 July 2017.
  36. News: Two-time All-Ireland winner Kevin Martin is the new Offaly hurling boss. Irish Independent. 8 November 2017.
  37. News: Two-time All-Ireland winner confirmed as Offaly's new hurling boss. The42.ie. Fintan. O'Toole. 8 November 2017.
  38. News: Two-time All-Ireland winner Kevin Martin appointed Offaly manager. RTÉ. 9 November 2017.
  39. News: Kevin Martin Relieved Of Duties As Offaly Hurling Manager. balls.ie. Gary. Connaughton. 20 May 2019.
  40. News: Kevin Martin steps down from Offaly post, Joachim Kelly named interim manager. RTÉ. Peter. Sweeney. 20 May 2019.
  41. News: Michael Fennelly Appointed Offaly Hurling Manager. Pundit Arena. 27 August 2019.
  42. News: Fennelly departs Offaly role. RTÉ. 26 July 2022.
  43. News: Kelly named as new Offaly hurling manager. Hogan Stand. 6 September 2022.
  44. News: Offaly GAA set to expand as Shane Lowry becomes sponsor. RTÉ. 29 April 2021.
  45. News: Shane Lowry: Open champion partners with Offaly GAA to offer support to home county. BBC. 29 April 2021.
  46. News: Offaly hit 0–41 in massive Christy Ring Cup final victory over Derry. 30 July 2021. The42.ie. 4 August 2021.
  47. News: Contentious All-Ireland MHC final decision overlooked on 'Sunday Game'. Hogan Stand. 4 July 2022.
  48. News: 'To me they are the All-Ireland champions'. Hogan Stand. 5 July 2022.
  49. News: Offaly beat Laois to secure first Leinster minor hurling title in 22 years. The42.ie.
  50. News: Oisín Kelly's late score secures Kehoe Cup honours for Offaly. The Irish Times.

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