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

GROUP 1 - TULLAMORE

Manager - Shane Hand 

Selectors: Declan Hogan, Brendan Kennedy;

Captain: To be announced;

Injuries/Retirement: Diarmuid Egan is a long term injury absentee and Ger Crowe is also injured. Long serving Cappincur permission player Ger Treacy has retired from senior hurling, Tom Furlong is unavailable and Jack Dooley is travelling;

New players - Peter Fox and Luke Egan have returned to hurling, Martin Keogh transferred from Edenderry;

Star player – Niall Furlong;

Key players – Shane Dooley, Cormac Egan, Cillian Bourke (if he hurls);

Last year – Lost to Belmont in a relegation play off but got a reprieve when Kilcormac-Killoughey won senior “B”;

Prospects – The appointment of jilted Kilcormac-Killoughey manager Shane Hand was a coup for Tullamore and a perfect fit for both parties – Hand picked very wisely by not going to one of K-K's big contenders and if they were to get out of the group, it would be a great step forward for Tullamore. They will be difficult to beat and have a decent hurling team. The problem they face is they have a few dual players and football will take precedence in the club. Some of their best players are playing football – the football fitness can also be a great asset but for Tullamore, it is all about staying up.

CLICK ON THE ARROWS ABOVE TO GO THROUGH THE TEAMS