Draws made for Offaly hurling and football championships
Senior champions Kilcormac/Killoughey and Tullamore learn group opponents
THE draws for this year's hurling and football championships were made on Wednesday night.
Reigning senior hurling champions Kilcormac/Killoughey have been drawn in Group 2 along with St Rynagh's, Shinrone, Kinnitty and Belmont.
This means that last year's beaten finalists Ballinamere are in the same group as neighbours Tullamore, as well as Coolderry, Birr and Seir Kieran.
Each senior hurling team will have one home and one away game with the remaining matches at neutral venues.
Like last year, the top team in each group will advance to the semi-finals while the second and third teams will contest quarter-finals with second in Group 1 facing third in Group 2 and third in Group 1 facing second in Group 2.
There will be draws for the semi-finals but the top team in each group will be seeded.
The nine-team senior football championship is split into a five-team Group 1 and four-team Group 2.
Champions Tullamore are drawn in the same group as Shamrocks, surprise group table toppers last year. Last year's senior B champions Clonbullogue, along with Bracknagh, are also in Group 2.
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The championship runners-up in 2024 Ferbane are in Group 1 with Edenderry, Durrow, Ballycommon and Rhode.
Each team will have one home game and one away game with the remaining games at neutral venues.
The knockout stages will be run in a similar manner to the hurling.
The quarter-finals and semi-finals in both hurling and football will go to penalties if necessary to determine a winner on the day.
The finals will be replayed if drawn but the rematch must conclude on the day.
As was announced at Tuesday night's Offaly County Board meeting, there will be no relegation from the senior football championship to senior B in 2025.
Both senior B championships this year will be run on a one-group basis. This means that Ballinagar, Leinster junior football champions in 2024, are guaranteed at least six matches in this year's campaign.
The championship groups are as follows:
Senior Hurling – Group 1: Ballinamere, Coolderry, Birr, Seir Kieran and Tullamore; Group 2: Kilcormac/Killoughey, St Rynagh's, Shinrone, Kinnitty, Belmont
Senior B Hurling – Carrig & Riverstown, Clara, Clodiagh Gaels, Coolderry, Kilcormac/Killoughey, Lusmagh
Intermediate Hurling – Group 1: Birr, St Rynagh's, Seir Kieran, Belmont; Group 2: Drumcullen, Shinrone, Shamrocks, Ballinamere
Junior A Hurling – Group 1: Brosna Gaels, Kilcormac/Killoughey, Crinkle, Carrig & Riverstown, Birr, Clodiagh Gaels; Group 2: Edenderry, Ballyskenagh/Killavilla, Kinnitty, Shamrocks, Tullamore
Senior Football – Group 1: Ferbane, Edenderry, Durrow, Ballycommon, Rhode; Group 2: Tullamore, Shamrocks, Bracknagh, Clonbullogue
Senior B Football - Ballinagar, Ballycumber, Cappincur, Clara, Daingean, Gracefield, Tubber
Intermediate Football - Group 1: Walsh Island, Tullamore, St Rynagh's, Kilcormac/Killoughey; Group 2: Raheen, St Brigid's, Ferbane, Edenderry
Junior A Football – Group 1: Shannonbridge, Rhode, Clara, Durrow; Group 2: Erin Rovers, Clodiagh Gaels, Doon, Kilclonfert