O'Connor stays on as Offaly U20 hurling manager

LIMERICK man Leo O'Connor has agreed to stay on for another year as the Offaly under 20 hurling manager.

There had been speculation that O'Connor would opt out after Offaly's hopes of retaining their All-Ireland U20 hurling title were ended by Dublin in the Leinster championship a few months ago.

While there will be no real anticipation about Offaly's prospects in 2026, O'Connor has reaffirmed his commitment to the county by giving another year.

A member of the Limerick squad that was beaten by Offaly in the 1994 All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship final in 1994, O'Connor has made a sensational impact in the county since coming in as minor manager a few years ago.

He was the manager when Offaly were pipped agonisingly by Tipperary in the 2022 All-Ireland minor hurling final. He took over as U20 hurling manager in 2023, leading them to the All-Ireland final where Cork were too strong. The minor and U20 hurlers galvanised the Offaly GAA public over the last few years, drawing huge crowds to their big fixtures and they finally fulfilled their dreams when beating Tipperary in the 2024 All-Ireland U20 final.

They had realistic prospects of retaining their crown in 2025 but with injuries and senior commitments disrupting preparations, Offaly never got going and their defeat by Dublin was not a surprise.

O'Connor was linked with the Westmeath senior hurling job but that went to a local man, Kevin O'Brien.

There is no doubt that he has ambitions to be the Offaly senior hurling manager but Portumna man Johnny Kelly is back for another year and if Offaly make progress in 2026, beating one of Dublin, Wexford, Kilkenny or Galway, he will probably have the right of refusal for 2027 as well – though a vacancy will emerge at some stage in the coming years.

Mickey Harte and Delcan Kelly will be reappointed as Offaly senior football joint managers at a County Board meeting next week, as will minor hurling manager Brian Carroll.

There is vacancies for the U20 and minor football managements. The recommendation of a review committee that Tullamore man Mark Plunkett be replaced as U20 manager was rubber stamped at a recent meeting of the Offaly GAA Management Committee and is likely to be passed at the board meeting.

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Shannonbridge man Roger Ryan is the warm favourite to succeed him. He managed Offaly to a superb Leinster minor football title win in 2025 and is understood to be keen to step up to U20. Shamrocks club man, Nigel Dunne, a coach with Ryan this year, is the front runner to be the new minor football manager. A committee has been set up to see both managers.