Offaly Senior Hurling Championship teams profiled as Championship gets underway this weekend

GROUP 1 - BALLINAMERE

Manager - Niall Rigney and Michael Duignan 

Selectors - Pat Cleary & Stephen Ravenhill; Coach- Joe O'Callaghan, S&C David Gillespie 

Captain - Ciaran Burke

Absentees, long term injuries, retirements from last year – Kevin McDermott, outstanding in the group in particular last year, isn't playing this year and forward, John Murphy is in Australia at the moment. Dan Ravenhill got a knee operation two weeks ago and his recovery could take six to eight weeks. Jack Fogarty has a hamstring injury and is a doubt for Saturday's opener against Coolderry.

New players - Not this year with minor at U18;

Star player – Brian Duignan;

Key players – Dan Bourke, Dan Ravenhill, Ciaran Bourke, Ross Ravenhill;

Last year – Beaten county finalists;

Prospects – A huge year for Ballinamere after reaching the county final last year. With youth on the side of so many of their team, it would be wrong to describe this as a make or break year but they may never get a better chance of winning a first championship. They have seven players who played senior hurling for Offaly this year – the above names five along with Mark Troy and Sam Bourke - and that is a hell of a foundation. Their age profile is almost perfect with Ciaran Burke, Brian Duignan and Ross Ravenhill all coming into their prime. Kilcormac-Killoughey's young guns still have a bit of developing to do and there is a great opportunity for Ballinamere to fulfill their dreams this year. They do need almost everything to go according to plan, they don't have the same depth in strength as K-K and just can't afford injuries to any of their key players. If they remain at full strength, they can win it and they are second favourites at the moment.

CLICK ON THE ARROWS ABOVE TO GO THROUGH THE TEAMS