The Offaly Senior “B” Football Championship Team of the Year

7: Left half back – Conor Doyle (Clara): It is a measure of Conor Doyle's importance to Clara that their supporters nearly had palpitations when he was knocked out in the dying moments of their semi-final win over Cappincur, lying on the fields for some minutes before being assisted to the line. He was clearly dazed and Clara's concern was obvious – that it was a concussion injury which would have ruled him out of the final against Ballinagar a week later. No doubt Clara adapted a safety first approach and applied the full concussion protocol but had they decided to risk it and take a chance on the player being okay, it would have been entirely understandable. Doyle was excellent for Clara all year, a very competent defender, a great attacking wing back who could score. He is athletic, carried the ball well and was one of Clara's best players all year. His absence was a factor in their group defeat by Ballinagar and his performances will have been noted by Offaly senior football joint managers Mickey Harte and Declan Kelly. Doyle was excellent as Offaly won the All-Ireland U20 hurling title in 2024 and hurling is his preferred sport. It is not certain, however, that he will make it at the highest level for Offaly in that, though he deserves a chance – Offaly senior hurling manager Johnny Kelly could well dictate whether his intercounty future is in football or hurling this year but his performances for Clara suggest that he would fit in very comfortably on an Offaly senior football panel. Ballinagar's Aaron Gorman and Daingean's Steven Joyce were considered.