Night of celebration for Offaly hurling as under 20 and Joe McDonagh Cup medals presented

OFFALY hurling celebrated the successes of the past year when the Leinster and All-Ireland winning under 20 team and the Joe McDonagh Cup winning team were presented with their medals at a gala occasion in the Tullamore Court Hotel on Saturday night.

Up to 400 people gathered in the hotel ballroom for the medal presentation when the achievements of both teams were lauded and everyone looked forward with great optimism to a brighter future for Offaly hurling.

Two of Offaly's former greats, Brian Whelahan and Joe Dooley, presented the medals to the winning teams and when interviewed on stage afterwards, expressed their hopes that Offaly would get back to very top again with Brian Whelahan confidently predicting that Offaly would win the All-Ireland Senior title again in the years ahead.

Chairman of Offaly County Board Michael Duignan acted as MC for the occasion and as well as interviewing Brian Whelahan and Joe Dooley, also conducted interviews with the managers and captains of the two winning teams after they received their medals, as well as representatives of their sponsors.

On the night Offaly GAA announced a major sponsorship partnership when they welcomed Condron Concrete Works as a partner and sponsor of their coaching and games programme.

Mr Duignan said it was an historic night for Offaly GAA. “For the first time ever we are presenting U-20/21 All-Ireland medals and for the first time ever we are presenting Joe McDonagh medals, so it is a brilliant night for everybody.

“I just want to say to everyone in the room tonight that you are all very special guests here tonight because everybody in this room has contributed either directly or indirectly to the successes of these brilliant young men who represented out county this year so well.

“The main people in the room tonight are our players. I have always said that from the first day that I got involved with Offaly GAA that the most important people are our players and lads you have been absolutely outstanding. Your management, led by Leo and Johnny, your backroom teams, you are incredible people, you bonded unbelieveably well for the last number of years and you represent our county with tremendous pride every time you take the field.

“To the parents here tonight, the families, wives, partners, the girlfriends, you are a huge part of this. You allow our players to be the best that they can be. You contribute every single day, you put up with the ups and downs, injuries, setbacks with not being picked, everything that goes with being an intercounty player. It is not easy and you pick up the flak and to each of you I say thank you very much because we would not be here tonight without you.

“I would like to thank our local media, they play a huge part. We might not always agree with their sentiments but they give huge coverage to Offaly GAA, I think we have one of the best local media presences in the country.”

The presentation night was sponsored by Condron Concrete Works and referring to their sponsors Mr Duignan said that “when the group of us came in five years ago sponsorship was a huge part of our strategy. We could not have the success on the field without the financial support behind it and rather that sponsors we looked to build partnerships with all these people. We wanted to be associated with strong Offaly brands and with people who shared our passion and commitment to the county.

“Glenisk led the charge and probably understood more than anybody what we wanted to to and what we wanted to achieve. I acknowledge Carroll's here tonight as well, they were with us for 31 years and they still support us. Yesterday Glenisk signed a new five year deal to support us for the next five years,” the chairman said

The other main sponsors included Galvin Tullamore, Tullamore Court Hotel (who have exgtended their sponsorships of the Offaly football championships for the next five years), Molloy Environmental (who also extended sponsorship of the hurling for the next five years). EJ Access Solutions, Shane Lowry, Grennan's of Rath, Kieran Keenaghan and Banagher Concrete, Tierney Transport Dunkerrin.

Speaking on behalf of the sponsors Vincent Cleary of Glenisk told Michael Duignan that “you and the lads have been great caretakers of the brand that is Offaly, and looked after the likes of us on that journey as well.

“We share a lot of similarities. When we came on board and shortly thereafter we had the fire, we found ourselves in similar circumstances. Offaly were pretty much on its knees but you and the lads and the players and other sponsors as well have got behind the county and as we grow we can see the county growing as well, so our fates are interwoven and hopefully we will remain so for the next five years or so anyway. Thanks to the lads for giving us all the pleasure for the last few years,” he said.

Speaking after the under 20s received their medals captain Da Bourke reflected on a tough road for all of them noting that they lost out to Kilkenny a couple of times in previous years. “Then last year we got to the All-Ireland final and it was tough to lose again but it made it ten times sweeter when we won it this year.”

Talking about manager Leo O'Connor, Dan said “we can't thank Leo enough for everything. He's been with us for four years now and he has instilled stuff in us, the work rate from day one, the whole vibe around training. You would be delighted going in knowing no one is going to be negative, no one is going to be giving out about anyone and that is a testament to Leo as he has brought that to us. I can say for everyone that we enjoy going to training and enjoy playing for Offaly.

“The players are a great bunch, everyone is brilliant, everyone worked as hard as they can to put in the effort and it showed this year when we got over the line, You wouldn't get there if we didn't have 39 lads at the pitch playing matches and training to push everyone one,” the captain said.

Under 20 manager Leo O'Connor said “we are extremely proud to have played a leading part in what has been an outstanding success story for Offaly GAA. Winning the All-Ireland under 20 championship in Kilkenny will long remain in our memories.

“The events of the last three years have provided a unique opportunity for Offaly County Board, the local authority sector, in showcasing the county to a national audience, and more importantly for Offaly people we have gained recognition for everything that we have done in a positive way,” he said.

“To the Offaly senior hurling team and management congratulations on a great success this year in getting back up to McCarthy Cup level. Special thanks to Johnny Kelly and the senior management team for co-operation during a very busy period of games, which ended with all having smiles on our faces.

“I want to pay special tribute to my colleagues on the management team for their incredible commitment and dedication and they surely should be proud of their efforts for the winning of an All-Ireland title. The atmosphere and sense of pride in the county during the course of 2024 will long remain in our memories.

“Finally thanks to our players, what has been an amazing achievement over the last few years, a once in a lifetime achievement. It is only when you get older that you will realise the process that you are going through now. The friendships, the highs, the lows and one thing that really epitomised everything – and there weren't too many there to witness it – we came in at half time and we were comfortable enough below in Kilkenny. We thought we were doing OK. There were fellows who spoke in that dressing room at half time that none of you will ever know about because it brought it to a new level. The last 10-15 seconds inside in that dressing room when we stood at the door and before we opened it to go back out, there was one thing coming through, we were not coming home without a cup. We succeeded and that is down to the players, the complete panel of 39. You drove each other on all year long and it will long remain in my memory what you did for us as a management team,” the Limerick man said.

“Some guys on this panel are going home tonight, they have played in three All-Irelands, they have three Leinster championship medals, they have an All-Ireland medal and they have a Leinster Senior Colleges medal and they are still only 19 years of age. That is a remarkable achievement.

“Let this be only the start and what these guys and the senior team can achieve for the next few years, you have no idea where you can go. Go out and develop it and prove yourselves at a higher level and push on the whole time,” he said.

There are three guys here that I cannot thank enough. To do what they have done for Offaly GAA no one will know only when you are really, really involved. Michael Duignan, Dervill Dolan and Colm Cummins, where you picked it up and where you are leaving it go is huge. It is not in terms of climbing Mount Everest, you climbed it on two or three occasions. I cannot thank you enough and I met you Michael after the All-Ireland Final and we both had tears in our eyes. The atmosphere below in Kilkenny is representative of what the three of you have done for the last three years,” he concluded.

After the Joe McDonagh Cup medals were presented Michael Duignan recalled that shortly after he became Chairman Offaly went to play Mayo in the Christy Ring Cup which showed how far they had fallen at that time. Senior captain Jason Sampson recalled that game. “I remember being down in Bekan Centre of Excellence in Mayo, we played Wicklow, Sligo and a couple more that year and Johnny was coach with Michael Fennelly as manager. We have come a long way since and being here tonight is a testament to that. I think the group we have, the culture we have created between both groups here tonight, and what you have driven from the top down has been great and hopefully it keeps going,” he said.

Senior Manager Johnny Kelly said “It has been quite a journey and as Jason said we started from low enough beginnings playing Mayo and Sligo and these teams, and there is nothing wrong with that, unfortunately that's where Offaly found themselves at the time, but where they were at that stage and where they are now, that didn't come about by just one person or a group of people, it takes an entire county. This is one of the best counties I know. For years as an outsider looking in at Offaly you would always admire the elegance with which the Offaly team played the game. We knew that was still here and we just had to uncork that again and tap into that. It didn't happen by accident, it happens with a County Board and sponsors and assembling a good backroom team as well, and that's key to it. Jason mentioned the culture and that's hugely important when you try to lead people or lead a unit to have a proper culture. That took a bit of time but we are where we are. It was great to win last year but there are challenges ahead and we are very cognisant of that but we really looking forward to 2025,” the Galway man said.

“We saw last year Carlow drew with Kilkenny in the Leinster Championship and ultimately are back down in Joe McDonagh again and I think that is slightly unfair on the counties in Leinster. You see Munster where there is no relegation and for me that doesn't work, it's lopsided but the change last year where where is now Division 1A and 1B gives us a chance to get our foot under the table but that's all it is, it is just a chance and we must take that with both hands.”

Jason Sampson was asked about the younger players moving up to the senior panel. “A couple of younger lads came in last year from the previous year, the likes of Charlie, Sam and Mark, they brought massive energy and I'm sure we'll get the same bounce off another few lads coming in. The boys are going to have their own campaign trying to retain their two titles, it's massively exciting for them, and then for us we were looking at some of the fixtures earlier today in the league and championship and we possibly could be playing Dublin in Croke Park in the league and could be going down to Nowlan Park to play Kilkenny, but that's what you want, that where you want to be hurling, that's why you win the Joe McDonagh to go back up there and we're not afraid of it and we're looking forward to the challenge. We have a huge amount of work ahead of us in the next few months but that's what we're there for,” the captain said.

Johnny Kelly referred to the crossover of players between the senior and under 20 panels. “One of the things someone asked me during the year was are these under 20 men or senior men and I replied they are Offaly men, so that's the approach we have taken as a management team. It is really important to work together as a unit. It is a unique situation when you have such a crossover of players with under 20 and it does take a bit of management but once you are transparent and open about these things and work together it is very much smooth sailing from there,” he said.

Michael Duignan thanked “Johnny in particular for leading the group, Jason as captain. There were dark days for Offaly hurling and it didn't look great but you believed and the senior players it would have been easy to give up and throw in the towel but you didn't do it and on behalf of everyone thanks for what you have done in bringing us back up to Leinster Senior Hurling.”

Concluding he said “it has been a great pleasure of mine to be given the honour of leading this county as chairperson. Colm and Dervill, I've said it before, you couldn't get two better men on your left and right hand side. Two unbelieveable workers, they're in the background working 24/7. John Hackett has taken over as Operations Manager in the last year, and Carina is up there in the office. We have change coming and we have to embrace it. We're not going too far away, we'll be there to help in any way we can in the future,” he said.