Draws made for 2024 Offaly hurling and football championships
Championships expected to start at end of July
THE draws for this year's Offaly hurling and football championships were made on Tuesday night and clubs now know what faces them in the year ahead as they all aspire to claim championship glory.
Senior hurling champions Kilcormac/Killoughey are in a group with St Rynagh's, Coolderry, Tullamore and Seir Kieran with three teams progressing to the knock out stages, group winners to semi-finals and second and third placed teams to quarter finals.
The second group in the senior championship is made up of 2022 champions and last year's beaten finalists Shinrone, with Ballinamere, Birr, Belmont and Kinnitty.
In the senior football championship Tullamore are pitted alongside Rhode, Bracknagh and last year's Senior 'B' champions Ballycommon. With the new format in the football championships this year, all four teams in the group stage will qualify for the knock out stages, taking the sting out of the group games.
The other group in the senior championship comprises last year's beaten finalist Ferbane alongside Edenderry, Durrow and Shamrocks.
The provisional dates for the start of the hurling championships are the weekend of July 19th to 21st with the football championships provisionally pencilled in for the following weekend, July 26th-28th.
In advance of that football leagues will commence weekending March 22nd-24th and hurling leagues on weekending April 12th-14th.
The full championship draws are as follows:
Senior Hurling
Group 1: Shinrone, Ballinamere, Birr, Belmont, Kinnitty.
Group 2: Kilcormac/Killoughey, St Rynagh's, Coolderry, Tullamore, Seir Kieran.
Senior 'B' Hurling
One group: Birr, Carrig & Riverstown, Clara, Clodiagh Gaels, Kilcormac/Killoughey, Lusmagh.
Intermediate Hurling
Group 1: Shamrocks, Drumcullen, Edenderry, Seir Kieran.
Group 2: Coolderry, St Rynagh's, Shinrone, Ballinamere.
Junior 'A' Hurling
Group 1: Brosna Gaels, Kilcormac/Killoughey, Coolderry, Shamrocks, Ballyskenach-Killavilla, Crinkill.
Group 2: Belmont, Clodiagh Gaels, Kinnitty, Tullamore, Birr.
Senior Football
Group 1: Tullamore, Rhode, Bracknagh, Ballycommon.
Group 2: Ferbane, Edenderry, Durrow, Shamrocks.
Senior 'B' Football
Group 1: Clonbullogue, Cappincur, Ballycumber, Tubber.
Group 2: Clara, Gracefield, Walsh Island, Daingean.
Intermediate Football
Group 1: St Rynagh's, Erin Rovers, Ferbane, Kilcormac/Killoughey.
Group 2: St Brigid's, Tullamore, Ballingar, Raheen.
Junior 'A' Football
Group 1: Edenderry, Clodiagh Gaels, Rhode, Tullamore.
Group 2: Shannonbridge, Doon, Kilclonfert, Clara.