Offaly Senior Hurling Championship team of the year

THE similarities between the Offaly Senior Football and Hurling Championships were remarkable. Both competitions had dominant, almost unstoppable forces seeking four in a row. The reigning champions were hot favourites to retain their title in both cases but both blew hot and cold in the group.

Yet there was no sense of crisis in either camp and at the end of the day, the cream came out on top with Tullamore winning their fourth senior football title in succession and Kilcormac-Killoughey matching them in hurling.

Kilcormac-Killoughey did have to worry a bit more than Tullamore in the group stages – Tullamore lost two games but had their passage to the knockout stages booked early whereas Kilcormac-Killoughey went into their final group game against Birr, knowing that a defeat would put them out.

Birr's performance that day was one of the big disappointments of the campaign. They had their quarter-final place booked and couldn't make the semi-final but there was an opportunity to put K-K out and open up the race for them and everyone else. They never went after it but having said that, K-K were excellent that day and would more than likely have won even if Birr had performed at the peak of their powers.

An opening round defeat to Coolderry had put K-K under unexpected pressure and with Charlie Mitchell out for the year, Adam Screeney absent for the entire group programme, Cillian Kiely suspended for their opening two games, they were more vulnerable than usual early on.

However, they got better and better as the season progress. The Birr game was a knockout one for them and when the gun was to their head, they were sensational, quality oozing out of them.

Ballinamere returned to the final for the second time in three years. They were in great form in the group and continued that for 40 minutes in the semi-final against Belmont but were almost overhauled late on.

In the final, they were clearly second best for most of the day but almost rescued an unlikely draw late on. Like Ferbane in football, Ballinamere are unfortunate that their emergence has co-incided with a great force of nature elsewhere. They will keep going in the hunt for an elusive title but it won't be easily won.

There were other talking points in a very enjoyable championship.

One was the form of St Rynagh's. They looked like they were heading into transition but turned the corner quicker than expected, played some of the best hurling of the year and almost took Kilcormac-Killoughey out in the semi-final, only falling away in extra time of the game of the year.

Shinrone's struggles was another. They have been a breath of fresh air to the Offaly hurling scene in recent years but never got going this year. They fell into the quarter-finals, relying on Ballinamere beating Belmont to send them through and were duly beaten by Belmont at that stage.

Belmont's tale of woe continues. Their players are massive characters, returning time and time again but they suffered another devastating semi-final defeat. Their loss to Ballinamere was as hard to take as their 2022 defeat by Shinrone as they missed a handful of late frees that would have put them into the final.

Tullamore's form was another welcome development. They beat Shinrone in the first game and almost made a quarter-final. They were unlucky to lose out on scoring difference and were left to reflect on the concession of two disastrous late goals in that win over Shinrone – Tullamore had the game won when those goals went in and they only conceded one, they would have been through.

Lusmagh were relegated and will be replaced by senior B champions Clodiagh Gaels while Coolderry's first round win over Kilcormac-Killoughey proved delusionary and they made a tame exit.

The following is a personal selection of a team of the year, and we all see different things in players and games. Again, there are players unlucky to be left out and there will be people out there to tell the selector that he “hasn't a clue”! No matter what team you pick, it will be “wrong” and you will never get agreement on a selection of this nature – you could easily pick a few different combinations. As with the football, all selections are made for very genuine reasons. They shouldn't be a “lynching” offence and teams of this nature are a fun thing to do, forcing an indepth look back at the championship and games and it generates debate and conversation among other observers.

There are hard calls and one big dilemma was Adam Screeney – K-K would not have won the championship without him but he missed the entire group campaign and do you pick a player who played two out of six games?

1 – Goalkeeper: Mark Troy (Ballinamere)

Mark Troy had an excellent year in goals for Ballinamere. While Conor Slevin achieved his customary levels of excellence for Kilcormac-Killoughey and Eamonn Cleary had another very solid year for Shinrone, Troy was so good that he has to make it. He made a series of excellent saves and was also accurate in his puckouts and clearances, concentrating on finding a team mate.

2 – Right corner back: Ciaran Burke (Ballinamere)

Ciaran Burke had another very solid year for Ballinamere. A great example of a man who goes out and performs most days, he was a key figure on Ballinamere's march to the final.

3 – Full back: Ben Conneely (St Rynagh's)

Ben Conneely is an automatic selection on the team. Now one of the most experienced hurlers on the Offaly team, he had one of his best ever seasons in 2026. He carried his outstanding Offaly form into the club campaign and was a major factor in St Rynagh's going so close to making the final.

4 – Left full back: James Mahon (Kilcormac-Killoughey)

James Mahon scarcely put a foot wrong for Kilcormac-Killoughey on their full back line. His hurling was tidy and efficient as he swept up a lot of ball and used it well.

5 - Right half back: Ter Guinan (Kilcormac-Killoughey)

Ter Guinan crowned an excellent season with a man of the match of the match performance in the county final win over Ballinamere. He played in the attack early on as Kilcormac-Killoughey juggled their resources but went to his best position on the half back line from the Birr game on. One of the fastest players in Offaly, he was defensively solid and attacked very well.

6 – Centre half back: Cillian Kiely (Kilcormac-Killoughey)

A sort of a mixed campaign for Cillian Kiely in terms of the time he spent on the field but his importance to Kilcormac-Killoughey was profound. He missed the first two games through suspension and with Charlie Mitchell and Adam Screeney also out, his absence was a definite factor in their first round loss to Coolderry. He was superb in their group win over St Rynagh's, scoring three points from centre half back, he was very close to man of the match in the crucial defeat of Birr. He went off after 40 minutetes in the semi-final against St Rynagh's – he was carrying an injury and was also in card trouble – while his influence in the final against Ballinamere was immense.

Kiely was the glue that held the K-K defence together to an extent and he makes the team ahead of Ballinamere's Ross Ravenhill, who was close while Joey O'Connor of St Rynagh's was also in the mix – O'Connor's displays at centre half back was a crucial part of St Rynagh's improving.

7 – Left half back: Colm Mulrooney (Birr)

It was a strange year for Birr, who qualified comfortably for the quarter-finals but didn't perform in the big games when it really counted. Their group defeat by Kilcormac-Killoughey was disappointing and Belmont were clearly the better team in the quarter-final. Colm Mulrooney was one of their best players. Man of the match in the win over Coolderry and in great form against Kinnitty, he tackled tenaciously, got forward for scores and impressed in his use of the ball.

8 – Midfield: Colin Spain (Kilcormac-Killoughey)

Colin Spain was one of the first names marked down on this team. He had a series of high quality displays and it was his best season in the Kilcormac-Killoughey colours. He scored five points and was man of the match in their group win over St Ryangh's. He was also on fire in their following win over Birr, scoring four points and the quality of his hurling took the breath away. He continued that form into the semi-final and final and is an automatic selection.

9 – Midfield: Patrick Taaffe (Belmont)

A fast improving player, Patrick Taaffe had a very good year for Belmont. He played in defence and midfield and did a lot of unseen work, hooking and blocking as well as mopping up ball. He used the ball well and is one of Belmont's main men. He had a great game in their quarter-final win over Birr and scored three points in the narrow semi-final loss to Ballinamere.

10 – Right half forward: Dan Bourke (Ballinamere)

Dan Bourke is well worth his place, starting at midfield in a few games and also playing in attack. He wasn't at his best in the final but had a very good year up to that. He was a delight to watch in the group win over Belmont, scoring four points from play and he trumped that with 1-4 in a terrific display in the semi-final win over the same opposition. One of the most naturally gifted hurlers in Offaly, he moves so well.

Shinrone's Adrian Cleary was considered and he oozed class at times for them.

11 – Centre half forward: Conor Mahon (Kilcormac-Killoughey)

Conor Mahon continues to defy age and expectations that he should be heading down the wrong side of the hill at this stage of his career. There from K-K's emergence in 2012, his value to the team shone through in the games that really counted at the end of the season.

He was solid in the early group games but really came to his milk when the gun was to their head. He was sensational early on in the crucial group win over Birr – he got two quick points, put in some fierce hits and turned over ball. His team mates had no option but to follow and K-K's season got going with a hugely impressive win. He replicated that in the semi-final and final and you can make a very convicing argument that K-K would not be champions without his form in the last three games and as a result, he deserves to be on this team.

Ballinamere's Joe Maher had a great year and was a serious consideration and Evan Houlihan also did some good hurling for St Rynagh's, having his best game of the year in the semi-final.

12 – Left half forward: David Nally (Belmont)

You couldn't but feel sorry for David Nally after Belmont's semi-final loss to Ballinamere. He missed a couple of frees as they made a late charge that almost brought them to a first final and he was clearly devastated after it. Nally, however, can hold his head up very high. He is one of the players who keeps going for Belmont hurlers and Ferbane footballers, despite several heartbreaking defeats. His value to both teams is immense and he was a big factor in Belmont being so close to making the final. He was excellent in most games, scoring from frees and play and he makes the team ahead.

There were other players very close to making it.

Leigh Kavanagh was an unsung hero for Kilcormac-Killoughey and had a great final. St Rynagh's Shane Rigney who was on fire at times but struggled for consistency while Belmont's Paddy Clancy is very close to making the final cut – Clancy had some outstanding displays and was a huge performer for Belmont and Ferbane in 2026. Eoin Woods did a lot of scoring for St Rynagh's, hitting the target from play and frees – he was one of the most prolific scorers in the campaign and was also in the mix.

13 – Right corner forward: Daniel Hand (Kilcormac-Killoughey)

With Charlie Mitchell out for the season and Adam Screeney only returning for the semi-final, Kilcormac-Killoughey needed other forwards to step forward and Daniel Hand certainly put his hand up. He scored well from frees and play early in the campaign and had particularly good games in the two outings against St Rynagh's. Hand is a work in progress with improvements to make but he is on the right road and looks hungrier for the ball, more willing to take shots on than he was a couple of years ago – even if they don't all hit the target. He played very well for K-K in 2026 and makes the cut on merit.

14 – Full forward: Brian Duignan (Ballinamere)

In some ways, Brian Duignan is Ballinamere's single most important player and he once again produced the goods for them. When he is on song, Ballinamere generally play well and he had a huge influence on their campaign. He got a lot of scores from frees and play while he almost rescued Ballinamere late on in the final loss to Kilcormac-Killoughey. Duignan scored 0-10, 0-5 from play, v Lusmagh; 1-6, 1-2 from play, v Tullamore; 3-8, 3-3 from play, v Shinrone; 0-11, 0-1 from play v Belmont; 1-8, 1-2 from play v Belmont in the semi-final; and 0-8, 0-1 from play, v Kilcormac-Killoughey. That return would earn him his place by most criteria and his overall importance to Ballinamere cements it.

Shane Dooley was considered. He did very well for Tullamore as they went so close to making the quarter-finals and his display was pivotal to their first round win over Shinrone.

15 – Left full forward: Darragh Scully (St Rynagh's)

Darragh Scully really came of age in 2026 and his performances in the St Rynagh's full forward line caught the eye. Fast, lively and hungry, he caused a lot of problems for opposing defences. He got a lot of scores from play, goals and points, and was always looking to manufacture scores.

It was very hard to decide if Adam Screeney should be on a team of the championship as he only played the semi-final and final and missed the whole group campaign after getting a shoulder operation. It is a team of the championship, not just two games and we have made the call that a player would need to play more than twice to be selected. However, if Screeney had been selected, there probably wouldn't be any adverse reaction and we know that Kilcormac-Killoughey may not have retained their title without him getting back for the semi-final and final.

Of course, that is speculation but it is very doubtful if they would have survived the semi-final against St Rynagh's without his contribution, whatever about the final. The semi-final went to extra time and K-K just barely survived in normal time. Screeney scored 16 points, six from play, and was the difference between the teams. He was excellent in the first half of the final against Ballinamere, winning almost every ball that came his way and while he only got one point from play, his display was instrumental in K-K getting into a winning position.

Adam Landy had a very good year for Shinrone, getting important scores from play and frees. It didn't happen for Shinrone as a unit but Landy's contribution helped them make the quarter-finals and he played well in their defeat by Belmont.

Ailbe Watkins had a couple of great games for Birr and Eoghan Cahill also scored very well for them but missed games with injury.