Deja vu in senior hurling as Offaly championship draws made

SOME clubs will have experienced an acute sense of de javu as the draws for the Offaly GAA adult championships were made at a County Board meeting on Monday evening.

The Senior Hurling Championship is almost an exact replica of 2022. The only difference is that Tullamore replace relegated Clodiagh Gaels in group 1 where they are in with Kilcormac-Killoughey, Birr, St Rynagh's and Kinnitty. Group 2 will once again be ferociously fought where Seir Kieran will be the rank outsiders as they play champions, Shinrone, Belmont, Ballinamere and Coolderry.

The top team will qualify in each group with the next two into two quarter-finals in Senior Hurling and Football, Senior “B” Football, Intermediate and Junior Football and Hurling Championships. All six teams are in the one group in senior “B” hurling with the top four going into semi-finals.

In a new departure, the U-20 Football and Hurling Championships are on a league basis this year.

There has been no response to overtures by the County Board for the formation of parish or divisional teams. The Competitions Control Committee had said they would accommodate combined teams in any championship – it would have allowed intermediate and junior clubs to come together to enter a team in the senior or senior “B” champinships but there was no response to that.

The full draws are:

Senior Hurling Championship

Group 1: Kilcormac-Killoughey, Birr, St Rynagh's, Kinnitty, Tullamore;

Group 2: Shinrone, Belmont, Ballinamere, Coolderry, Seir Kieran .

Senior “B” Hurling Championship

Birr, Clara, Clodiagh Gaels, Kilcormac-Killoughey, Lusmagh, Shamrocks.

Intermediate Hurling Championship

Group 1: Drumcullen, St Rynaghs', Coolderry, Belmont;

Group 2: Seir Kieran, Carrig-Riverstown, Shinrone , Edenderry.

Junior Hurling Championship

Group 1: Ballinamere, Kilcormac-Killoughey, Shamrocks, Tullamore, Coolderry, Crinkill; Group 2: Brosna Gaels, Clodiagh Gaels, Carrig-Riverstown Ballyskenach-Killavilla, Kinnitty.

U-20 Hurling Championship

Group 1: Birr, Shamrocks, Tullamore, Na Fianna;

Group 2: CRC Gaels, Shinrone/Ballyskenach-Killavilla, Belmont, Coolderry;

Group 3: Ballinamere, St Rynagh's, Clara/Brosna Gaels;

Group 4: Kilcormac-Killoughey, Kinnitty/Lusmagh, Drumcullen/Seir Kieran.

Senior Football Championship

Group 1: Tullamore, Ferbane, Clara, Durrow;

Group 2: Rhode, Edenderry, Shamrocks, Bracknagh.

Senior “B” Football Championship

Group 1: Cappincur, Walsh Island, Ballycumber, St Rynagh's;

Group 2: Clonbullogue, Tubber, Gracefield, Ballycommon.

Intermediate Football Championship

Group 1: Erin Rovers, St Brigid's, Ferbane, Shannonbridge;

Group 2: Raheen, Tullamore, Daingean, Ballinagar.

Junior Football Championship

Group 1: Kilcormac-Killoughey, Edenderry, Tullamore, Doon;

Group 2: Clodiagh Gaels, Rhode, Kilclonfert, Ferbane.

Junior “B” Football Championship

Group 1: Gracefield, Kinnitty, Durrow, Clodiagh Gaels, Ballyfore;

Group 2: Birr, Lusmagh, Raheen, Clara, Ballycumber;

Group 3: Daingean, Clonmore Harps, Clonbullogue, Shamrocks, Ballinagar.

Junior “C” Football Championship

Group 1: Erin Rocvers, Bracknagh, Ballycommon, Rhode;

Group 2: Daingean, Ballyskenach-Killavilla, Tubber, St Rynagh's;

Group 3: Edenderry, Crinkill, Shamrocks, Cappincur.

U-20 Football Championship

Group 1: St Manchan's, St Vincent's, Shamrocks, Wheery;

Group 2: St Patrick's, St Rynagh's, Kilcormac-Killoughey;

Group 3: Na Fianna, St Broughan's, Durrow;

Group 4: Tullamore, St Michael's, Clara.