Great window of opportunity for all Offaly Senior Hurling Championship teams with genuine aspirations

A GREAT window of opportunity is open for the handful of teams with genuine aspirations of winning the Offaly Senior Hurling Championship.

Shinrone's stunning first ever title last year has shown every club what is possible and allowed all clubs to dream big.

With no real clearcut favourite at the moment, there is a definite chance there for a club to come up from the rear and snatch the Sean Robbins Cup.

Shinrone's success last year added a great touch of romance to the Offaly club hurling world. While they had improved over the previous years and were beginning to knock on the door, there was no evidence at the start of the year to suggest that they would win.

They got there on the merit, producing a series of big performances in the biggest games of the year and then steamrolling a shellshocked Kilcormac-Killoughey in the second half of a terrifically exciting final.

This year will provide a major examination for Shinrone. They won't want to be one season wonders but that possibility is certainly on the table for them. It happened Shannonbridge in football in 1996 and it happened Tullamore in hurling in 2009 – Tullamore had come from nowhere to bridge a 45 year gap when winning that championship and while they returned to the final the following year, losing out to Coolderry, they didn't manage to back it up with a second title.

That is the true hallmark of excellence and is the challenge now facing Shinrone. This season will tell a lot and it can go either way – they could very well win another and remain in the upper echelons for a few years or they could be competitive for another year or two and then slip back into the pack. This year will dictate a lot for them and the minimum requirement for them is to progress out of the group.

The championship is wide open this year and anyone of seven teams could win it. Those seven teams are Shinrone, Kilcormac-Killoughey, St Rynagh's, Birr, Belmont, Coolderry and Ballinamere. Seir Kieran, Kinnitty and Tullamore are the rank outsiders and it would be a massive upset if any of them did win it, notwithstanding the always present possibility for shocks in sport.

Normally, there are a couple of clearcut favourites for a championship but that is not really the case here. You could put St Rynagh's and Kilcormac-Killoughey down as the favourites, with Shinrone next and then Birr, Coolderry, Belmont and Ballinamere occupying the category of ones who could make that step up.

There are, however, sufficient doubts about St Rynagh's and Kilcormac-Killoughey for everyone of those seven clubs to have a decent chance. Birr haven't won since 2008 and are desperate for a return to the top. Coolderry are top of the Offaly hurling roll of honour and with a number of their longest serving players in the winter of their careers, they could be about to enter a transitional period. They would love to snatch another one before Brian Carroll, Kevin Brady and others drift from the scene.

Belmont and Ballinamere have never won a senior hurling title and they will have been most inspired by Shinrone's exploits. Belmont in particular have been knocking on the door for a few years but have been unable to jump the semi-final hurdle. They were so close to beating Shinrone in the semi-final last year and looked on with a measure of anguish and respect as the victors took the Sean Robbins Cup.

Injuries have dealt them a huge blow with their two best players out at the moment. Oisin Kelly suffered another cruciate injury earlier this year while David Nally sustained a bad hand injury in the Joe McDonagh Cup final against Carlow and will be out for a couple of weeks. They simply can't afford the absence of players of this excellence and while they may plan ahead without Kelly, getting Nally back will determine a lot for them.

Ballinamere look to have the hurlers to mount a challenge. It hasn't happened for them yet and they have flattered to deceive a bit but it is important to be fair to them, to acknowledge the tremendous strides they have made. With a handful of the Offaly senior hurling team in their ranks, they should be able to mount a challenge but they still have a very big leap to make. That jump is not simple to make. With their best players in their early to mid 20s, time is on their side but they do need to make progress very soon. They really need to make the knockout stages this year and a semi-final is the target for them.

The reality is that championships are very hard won and opportunities must be taken when they arise and you have the right quality of players at your disposal. With an outstanding array of talent emerging on the scene in Kilcormac-Killoughey, the Sean Robbins may be a lot harder won in the next few years and 2023 represents a golden opportunity for all clubs with realistic ambitions.

Kilcormac-Killoughey won't be taking anything for granted about future success. They know from bitter past experience that outstanding underage success is no guarantee of adult wins. They cleaned up at underage level in the 1990s but those players didn't win a Senior Hurling Championship and it was a later group who made their big breakthrough in 2012.

They have been dominant at underage level again in recent year but there is a big difference now. Their best players have also performed on successful county teams, playing a leading part as Offaly won Leinster Minor and U-20 Hurling Championship titles in 2022 and 2023, reaching All-Ireland finals in both years.

All the 2022 minors are now eligible to play at adult level and it is a very exciting time for Kilcormac-Killoughey hurling. They won't be rushing them all in and will take their time. They will be very aware of the need to protect the players and not damage them by playing them too early. It is a delicate balancing act but when a player is ready, he is ready and the trick for K-K is to know who is and who isn't.

Adam Screeney and Brecon Kavanagh would be definite additions to Kilcormac-Killoughey's senior team, even at this stage while James Mahon could bolster the defence.

K-K have the talent to win a few championships and perhaps to embark on a sustained run of success. They could also win one this year and their prospects are as good as anyone.

It is also a very big year for St Rynagh's. Their four in a row ambitions never truly ignited last year and they will be keen to make a quick return. They are well capable of it. They looked a tired team last year but should be back on track this year.

The groups are the exact same as last year with the exception of Tullamore having come up from senior B in place of relegated Clodiagh Gaels. The top team in each group qualifies for the semi-finals while the second and third go into two quarter-finals.

Group A is Kilcormac-Killoughey, Birr, St Rynagh's, Kinnitty and Tullamore. Kilcormac-Killoughey and St Rynagh's should definitely advance and Birr are favourites to claim the third spot.

Group 2 will be a real dogfight with Shinrone, Belmont, Ballinamere, Coolderry and Seir Kieran all in it. Seir Kieran are the outsiders here and you couldn't predict the three qualifiers at the moment. Belmont could be vulnerable early on but have a proven pedigree of performing at this stage of the championship.

Those games will be ferociously fought and will make for compelling viewing. The championship is fairly wide open and the above mentioned seven teams can all dream big. Kilcormac-Killoughey have a lot going for them and they could well emerge on top of the pile.

Verdict – Kilcormac-Killoughey.

First round games

Friday, July 7

Group 1

O'Connor Park: Tullamore v St Rynagh's 8pm; Verdict – St Rynagh's;

Crinkle: Kinnitty v Birr 8pm; Verdict – Birr.

Group 2

Rath: Seir Kieran v Belmont 8pm; Verdict – Belmont;

Birr: Coolderry v Shinrone 8pm; Verdict – Shinrone.