Offaly Senior “B” Hurling Championship teams profiled

Birr

Manager – Gary Cahill;

Selectors – Paul Cleary, Kevin Donovan, Neil Tierney;

Captain – Not picked;

Retirements/Long term injuries – Michael Verney has retired;

New players – Charlie Loughnane, Adriano Szoma;

Last year – Beaten semi-finalists;

Star player – Paul Cleary;

Prospects – Birr are unlikely to be strong enough to win this championship but they could have a big say in what happens. A semi-final berth is a realistic target and they are capable of beating one of the more fancied teams.

Carrig-Riverstown

Manager – Paul Murphy;

Selectors – Mike Larkin, Mike Hoctor, Ger Oakley;

Captain – Brendan Hoctor;

Retirements/Long term injuries – None;

New players – None;

Last year – Intermediate champions;

Star player – Cathal King;

Prospects – Carrig-Riverstown have very realistic prospects of back to back promotions. They have a very exciting emerging team, a lot of quality at their disposal. Cathal King was outstanding for Offaly U-20s and seniors this year, Caelem Larkin was on the U-20 panel and Joe Hoctor played for the U-20s last year. The work they have done at underage level is reaping dividends and they are genuine contenders. This is a fairly cut-throat championship and you have to perform to claim a semi-final berth. Carrig-Riverstown should be able to manage that and anything is possible for them.

Clara

Manager – Sean Nolan; Coach, Ciaran Flannery;

Selectors – Patrick Phelan, Wesley Coyne, William Flynn;

Captain – Conor Egan ;

Retirements/Long term injuries – None;

New players – Liam Flynn, Christian McKeon, Greg Byrne, Scott Griffith, Kevin Minnock, Kevin Gavin, Ciaran McKeon, Brian Hogan, Myles Handy, Ryan Carroll;

Star player – Conor Doyle;

Last year – Survived relegation play off;

Prospects – With three members of the Offaly U-20 hurling panel, Conor Doyle, Barry Egan and Marcas Dalton in their ranks, Clara should be very competitive in this grade. They are real contenders and a win would not be a surprise, though there are some doubts about them.

Clodiagh Gaels

Manager – Ollie Hally;

Selectors/coaches – Paddy Guinan, Brian Lawlor, Conal Mahon, Johnny Sheeran;

Captain – Clint Horan;

Retirements/Long term injuries – None;

New players – Aaron Dunne, Eoin Dunne, Ryan Kinahan, Pat Lyons, Aaron Rattigan

Last year - Beaten finalists;

Star player – Liam Langton;

Prospects – Some people in Clodiagh Gaels may wonder at the selection of Liam Langton as their star player as he struggled to find his best form last year. Nonetheless, he is pivotal to their prospects and if he can rediscover some of his old magic, their title prospects will be much greater. Clodiagh Gaels have a lot of very good hurlers and will be there or thereabouts.

Kilcormac-Killoughey

Manager – Mark Leonard

Selectors – Shane Hand, Colm Cassidy, Tommy Bracken. Coach: Tony Gleeson. S&C: Sean Sweeney. Physio: Donie Ryan;

Captain – Shane Melia;

Retirements/Long term injuries – None;

New players – Mark Mulrooney, Richard Bracken and Harry Sweeney;

Last year – Champions;

Star player – Alex Kavanagh;

Prospects – Kilcormac-Killoughey had a dream year in 2023, winning both senior and senior “B” titles. The senior B was won with Offaly U-20 players, James Mahon, Ter Guinan, Leigh Kavanagh, Alex Kavanagh and Daniel Hand all playing. Mahon, Guinan, Leigh Kavanagh and Daniel Hand have all been named on K-K's first 18 and can only play in the top flight. The senior B team will be considerably weaker without them, though good players are emerging onto the scene, strong players bowing down from senior level and the depth of talent at K-K's disposal is the envy of all. Alex Kavanagh is not named on the first 18 but he is good enough to make any other team in this grade and could be used. With all those players gone, K-K will be beatable. They are still contenders and could retain it but they are not as formidable as last year.

Lusmagh

Manager – Brian Mullins;

Selectors – Gary Kelly, Fintan Kelly, Paul Hogan;

Captain – Not picked ;

Retirements/Long term injuries – Eimhin Kelly and Ruari Kelly have injuries;

New players – None;

Last year – Beaten semi-finalists;

Star player – Eimhin Kelly;

Prospects – Lusmagh will certainly not lack effort, commitment and desire and they have some very good hurlers. U-20 star Ruari Kelly and Offaly senior player Eimhin Kelly are pivotal to their prospects. They will be competitive and are capable of big wins but they are championship outsiders.