Offaly Intermediate Hurling Championship teams profiled ahead of start of Championship

GROUP 2 - SHAMROCKS

Manager – Ciaran Slevin (Kilcormac-Killoughey);

Selectors - Darren Smyth, Cal Ahearne, Trevor Darcy, Barry Kelly and David Spain;

Captain -  Darragh Minnock;

Long Term Injuries - Stephen Malone, Shane Kearney and Neil Minnock;

New players - Jack Bates. Johnny O'Toole-Greene, a very good dual player a few years ago, is returning home from abroad, though his transfer back to Shamrocks hasn't gone through yet.

Last year – Lost to St Rynagh's in the quarter-final;

Prospects – Shamrocks should be the favourites for this grade but it is a designation one would give them with reluctance as they have had a real vulnerability in the past couple of years. With Johnny O'Toole-Greene likely to come back into the fray and his brother David still a very good player, Shamrocks have a lot going for them. They have appointed long time Kilcormac-Killoughey stalwart Ciaran Slevin as manager and should be very strong. Their dual commitments is an issue and with their senior footballers going well, the big ball game will have to take precedence. At the same time, there is a great hurling tradition in the parish and they are well equipped to win this championship. At the moment, however, we can't say that they will win it with real conviction and the jury is out on them.