Offaly All-Ireland winning sides feted in County Council civic reception

TWO Offaly All-Ireland winning sides were accorded the ultimate honour by their home county politicians when they were the guests of honour at an Offaly County Council civic reception last Friday evening.

Members of the Offaly teams that won the All-Ireland U20 Hurling Championship in 2024 and the All-Ireland Camogie Intermediate Championship this year were joined by County Board officials, team management members and councillors for a very well received function.

It was a particularly proud occasion for the chairman of Offaly County Council, John Leahy. The Kilcormac business man has been immersed in the GAA all his life, playing football and hurling for Kilcormac-Killoughey in the 1990s and 2000s and managing their senior hurlers while Clodagh Leahy, daughter of John and his wife, Lavinia, was one of the stars of the Offaly camogie team this year.

In an eloquent few words, Cllr Leahy explained the reason for giving the civic reception, telling the players that they had “brought great pride” to their county.

He talked about what it meant to people at those games, joking that he even saw Ballinamere and Kilcormac-Killoughey lads hugging each other after the final whistle of the 2024 All-Ireland U20 hurling final win over Tipperary in Kilkenny. “It didn't matter what club you were from, everyone in the stands were over joyed. That is the pride and joy ye brought and it is very hard to quantify that but when ye were celebrating on the field, we were celebrating up in the stand.”

Anna Marie Delaney, Chief Executive of Offaly County Council described them as “two great achievements” that “brought pride and joy to every corner of Offaly”.

She told the players their wins were a culmination of years of hard work and effort.

Offaly U20 hurling manager Leo O'Connor talked about the support they received over the few years, describing it as “such a unique thing”.

The Limerick man mentioned the lift it gave to hurling in Offaly, noting that seventeen of this panel has joined the Offaly senior hurling squad.

Mr O'Connor smiled: “For me and everyone associated with the Offaly management team, it is a distinct honour, we will never, ever forget. In 25/30 years time when we meet each other at reunions, we will have a smile on our face because we will always remember 2024 but also 2021, 2022, 2023.”

U20 captain Dan Bourke thanked the Council for giving them this tribute.

2025 Offaly camogie manager David Sullivan described the reception as a “tremendous honour”, stating that their win was the product of years of effort by the players, their clubs and parents. Labelling it as a “historic year”, he noted that their venture started in 2023 when they were appointed as Offaly management and tried to raise standards and accountability.

The Tipperary man reflected on how a disappointing 2024 All-Ireland semi-final defeat helped lay the foundation for 2025. “At some stages the excuses had to stop and we needed as a group to stand up and be counted for. We welcomed back some stalwarts and some very good young talented players into our group for 2025 and felt from the beginning of the year we were in a better place mentally and confidence wise than 2024. It is a time of my life that I will always look back on very fondly.”

Offaly camogie captain Orlagh Phelan described 2025 as “very special” and said they were very proud of what they achieved. “It took every bit of support from our families and community and standing here today, we feel the full weight of that support.”

She referred to the team bond and friendships they made along the way, ones that will last for years.

Offaly GAA chairman Tom Parlon stated that the civic reception was the highest tribute the County Council could give the players. He talked about the never say die attitude in Offaly teams and their passion and heart on the field of play.

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Chairman of Offaly Camogie, Donal Rigney said it was a “huge honour” to be from Offaly and to be present at a function where everyone was “singing off the same hymn sheet”.

The Mountbolus man saluted both teams for their achievements while he thanked Offaly GAA for the support they give Offaly camogie.