Offaly Intermediate Hurling Championship teams profiled

Intermediate Hurling

Group 1: Shamrocks, Drumcullen, Edenderry, Seir Kieran.

Group 2: Coolderry, St Rynagh's, Shinrone, Ballinamere.

Group 1

Shamrocks

Manager – Tom Dempsey;

Selectors – Eamon Buckley;

Captain – Conor Condron and Cathal Healion.

Retirements/Long term injuries/absentees – Shane O’Toole Green, Sean Cantwell.

New players – Dara Bates, Eoin Corcoran, Eoghan Meacle, Brooke Healion, Ger Keating;

Prospects – Shamrocks should be capable of winning this championship but we just don't know. Relegated from senior B last year, they often struggle to flourish as a dual club and this has already led to some friction in the club this year. They should be strong at this lower level and are contenders.

Drumcullen

Manager – Brian Troy;

Selectors – Padraig Cashin, Tadgh O’ Brien, Martin Ryan, Pearse Gath.

Captain – John Cashin;

Retirements/Long term injuries – None;

New players – Killian Spain, John Troy, Jack Ryan, Dylan Hollywood, Patrick Lyons.

Prospects – A very proud club with a great long tradition, Drumcullen won't be one bit happy at being in Offaly's third tier. They are working so hard at trying to turn the corner but this is a competitive grade and as they discovered last year, titles are not easily won. They are strong contenders but there are a few teams out there who could take them and they need a really big year.

Edenderry

Manager - Martin Keogh;

Selectors – Michael Kane, Pat Quirke, Mark O'Donohue, Pat Temple;

Captain – Lorcan O'Dwyer;

Retirements/Long term injuries – Marcus Byrne has retired; Loughlin Walsh is out because of work commitments and long term injuries are Briain Nolan, Conor McCann, Sean Foran, all with cruciates.

New players – Darragh Hickey, Conor McCann, Kingsley Chimezie, Conor Holohan, Cillian Foran, Regan Kelly, Denis Murphy, James Young, Adam Boyne, Dylan Quinn, Diego Capocci.

Prospects – It didn't happen for Edenderry last year after winning junior in 2022 and they will be hoping to launch a much stronger challenge. They are well capable of hurling but as usual, their football progress will determine a lot and it remains to be seen how they go.

Seir Kieran

Manager – Joe Guinan;

Selectors – Kevin Kinahan;

Captain – Not picked;

Retirements/Long term injuries – None;

New players – Young players coming up out of underage ranks;

Prospects – Seir Kieran's second team should not be strong enough to win this grade but they command complete respect and have gone very close before. You would imagine that the second team of clubs with senior prospects would be stronger than them but this hasn't always been the way. Seir Kieran is pure hurling territory and have gone very close to winning this grade very recently. A lot will depend on not losing players to senior and the type of commitment their players show.

Group 2

Coolderry

Manager – Mark Maloney;

Selectors – Paul Maloney, Tommy Teehan, Martin Ryan, Brian Hynes;

Captain – Martin Corcoran;

Retirements/Long term injuries – None;

New players – Ajay Cleary, Marc Ryan;

Prospects – Capable of launching a genuine bid at the title.

St Rynagh's

Manager – Colm Keane;

Selectors – Stephen Wynne, David Mahon, Dermot Shortt, Billy Costello;

Captain – Not picked;

Retirements/Long term injuries – Former senior stalwart Dermot Shortt is a long term injury;

New players – Daire Daly, Daniel Healy, Eanna Mulhare, Niall Flannery, Harry Grant Michael Boylan, Paul Cannon and Kian Costello

Prospects – St Rynagh's should be very competitive and could mount a strong challenge.

Shinrone

Manager – Thomas Brereton;

Selectors – Denis Doughan, Christy Franks;

Captain – Not picked;

Retirements/Long term injuries – None;

New players – A few players progressing out of underage ranks;

Prospects – It is a golden era for Shinrone and they have a lot of hurlers. They should go well and you never know but it is still a big ask for them to win this title.

Ballinamere

Manager – Martin Og Buggy;

Selectors – Daniel Minnock and Andy Bourke;

Captain – Daryl Troy;

Retirements/Long term injuries/absenetees – Sean Duignan

New players – Ben Spollen, Sean Kenny, Aran O'Gorman

Prospects – Ballinamere have a lot of hurlers at their disposal and their second team should be competitive. They won the junior championship last year and nothing would surprise you with them.