Offaly Hurling 2026

[faithfulfanatic]

Fair enough, yet he carried us game on game (if not tell me where some other player led the charge) in many of the lower tiered games/competitions.. A Year or two out and back again last year, more than likely that pace and drive would not be there now at this level, very unfair to say at best he was a decent club player more so than a county player...inter County managenent always seemed to be moan his absence when he was injured etc.. He was a drive and engine sadly missing in alot of players of those days, some only last year or two having stepped up to any sort of level required, yet we're there with Kiely etc in the lower tiers..hes not liked is obvious but like it or lump it he was unfortunate to be at his peak during lesser times when even some of current squad were very average players even at those levels..anyway.. each to their own as they say..

Cillian Kiely was a good hurler and was important for Offaly, but you’re just misrepresenting things.
You said he was out for a year or two and back again last year. This is incorrect, he played the full season in 2024.
He came on against Dublin last year in Parnell Park and missed a crucial effort late on.
He then got a lift home rather than travelling with the team.
He was in the pub at home before the team finished their meal in Dublin. And was still given another chance against Galway the week after.
Served his time but never recovered or got back to full fitness after that horrible belt on the hand he got against Castletown Geoghegan.

You’ve fairly retreated from your view point that Cathal Kiely ‘carried us through the wilderness’.

Far from retreating on Cathal Kiely, he didn't feature as much as Killian, Cathal had loads of promise and was in around the panel and came on in some games... for reasons not relevant on here he didn't remain involved, my point was merely asking if both were still involved would they be of assistance.. fair question....Killian was away from the set up for at least a season, he did come back and by your logic is in the wilderness over missing a chance or chances against Dublin last year, so by that logic he is rightly in your view dismissed, whether he ate dinner with the rest of the team or was in the pub before them is the usual bluster we hear when any player in any county throws a strop.. 20% correct and 80% rumour mill in most cases..certainly give youth it's fling, we tend to be slow enough in Offaly doing that, bar rare exceptions like young Screeney....its only a question I rose, what's there seem to be progressing thank God after a dreadful league campaign where many on here were asking hard questions, now all is looking better all of a sudden..

Yes we’ve been very slow to give youth a fling, just 9 lads 22 or younger starting against Wexford, with the youngest average team and squad age of any county.

[Faithfully]

Fair enough, yet he carried us game on game (if not tell me where some other player led the charge) in many of the lower tiered games/competitions.. A Year or two out and back again last year, more than likely that pace and drive would not be there now at this level, very unfair to say at best he was a decent club player more so than a county player...inter County managenent always seemed to be moan his absence when he was injured etc.. He was a drive and engine sadly missing in alot of players of those days, some only last year or two having stepped up to any sort of level required, yet we're there with Kiely etc in the lower tiers..hes not liked is obvious but like it or lump it he was unfortunate to be at his peak during lesser times when even some of current squad were very average players even at those levels..anyway.. each to their own as they say..

Cillian Kiely was a good hurler and was important for Offaly, but you’re just misrepresenting things.
You said he was out for a year or two and back again last year. This is incorrect, he played the full season in 2024.
He came on against Dublin last year in Parnell Park and missed a crucial effort late on.
He then got a lift home rather than travelling with the team.
He was in the pub at home before the team finished their meal in Dublin. And was still given another chance against Galway the week after.
Served his time but never recovered or got back to full fitness after that horrible belt on the hand he got against Castletown Geoghegan.

You’ve fairly retreated from your view point that Cathal Kiely ‘carried us through the wilderness’.

Far from retreating on Cathal Kiely, he didn't feature as much as Killian, Cathal had loads of promise and was in around the panel and came on in some games... for reasons not relevant on here he didn't remain involved, my point was merely asking if both were still involved would they be of assistance.. fair question....Killian was away from the set up for at least a season, he did come back and by your logic is in the wilderness over missing a chance or chances against Dublin last year, so by that logic he is rightly in your view dismissed, whether he ate dinner with the rest of the team or was in the pub before them is the usual bluster we hear when any player in any county throws a strop.. 20% correct and 80% rumour mill in most cases..certainly give youth it's fling, we tend to be slow enough in Offaly doing that, bar rare exceptions like young Screeney....its only a question I rose, what's there seem to be progressing thank God after a dreadful league campaign where many on here were asking hard questions, now all is looking better all of a sudden..

Slow to give youth its fling. 10 of the starting team vs Dublin in round 1 were on the U20 panel that played Tipp in Nowlan Park in 2024. Charlie Mitchell one year older than that crew. The youngest team in Ireland. Screeney apparently an exception despite the likes of Shirley and Ravenhill breaking through before him as teenagers...

Honestly don't know what points you are trying to make here, between that and asking for the Kielys to return (Cathal made 2 substitute appearances 3 years ago, hardly the only one who hasn't stayed on since then, so not the victim of a banishing as you seem to imply).

[Bord na Mona man]

So we need to:
a) Keep spots for fellas because they soldiered through the lower tier years
b) Promote emerging talent faster than we're already doing

[Plain of the Herbs]

Oh yes. As well as quotas: six from the county champions, four from last year's runners up, and so on. And two places for players from Junior clubs. And five selectors.

So we need to:
a) Keep spots for fellas because they soldiered through the lower tier years
b) Promote emerging talent faster than we're already doing

[Bord na Mona man]

Oh yes. As well as quotas: six from the county champions, four from last year's runners up, and so on. And two places for players from Junior clubs. And five selectors.

So we need to:
a) Keep spots for fellas because they soldiered through the lower tier years
b) Promote emerging talent faster than we're already doing

It makes sense. Let the trainer train the team and selectors pick the team.

[Asiseeit]

Cillian Kiely was a good hurler and was important for Offaly, but you’re just misrepresenting things.
You said he was out for a year or two and back again last year. This is incorrect, he played the full season in 2024.
He came on against Dublin last year in Parnell Park and missed a crucial effort late on.
He then got a lift home rather than travelling with the team.
He was in the pub at home before the team finished their meal in Dublin. And was still given another chance against Galway the week after.
Served his time but never recovered or got back to full fitness after that horrible belt on the hand he got against Castletown Geoghegan.

You’ve fairly retreated from your view point that Cathal Kiely ‘carried us through the wilderness’.

Far from retreating on Cathal Kiely, he didn't feature as much as Killian, Cathal had loads of promise and was in around the panel and came on in some games... for reasons not relevant on here he didn't remain involved, my point was merely asking if both were still involved would they be of assistance.. fair question....Killian was away from the set up for at least a season, he did come back and by your logic is in the wilderness over missing a chance or chances against Dublin last year, so by that logic he is rightly in your view dismissed, whether he ate dinner with the rest of the team or was in the pub before them is the usual bluster we hear when any player in any county throws a strop.. 20% correct and 80% rumour mill in most cases..certainly give youth it's fling, we tend to be slow enough in Offaly doing that, bar rare exceptions like young Screeney....its only a question I rose, what's there seem to be progressing thank God after a dreadful league campaign where many on here were asking hard questions, now all is looking better all of a sudden..

Slow to give youth its fling. 10 of the starting team vs Dublin in round 1 were on the U20 panel that played Tipp in Nowlan Park in 2024. Charlie Mitchell one year older than that crew. The youngest team in Ireland. Screeney apparently an exception despite the likes of Shirley and Ravenhill breaking through before him as teenagers...

Honestly don't know what points you are trying to make here, between that and asking for the Kielys to return (Cathal made 2 substitute appearances 3 years ago, hardly the only one who hasn't stayed on since then, so not the victim of a banishing as you seem to imply).

I remember now why I fell out with this forum.. I merely asked had either Kiely anything to to give the current set up.. I elaborated Killians contribution during our rock bottom days just as precursor, Cathal was great underage and came on senior, made a few appearances, life took its own route for him and nothing can be done about that.. I never said they Should be involved now, some made valid points, saying pace is too much now (for Cillian).. Others misrepresent my point by using it to get their annual bash against them... for the record I do not know either of them, nor will I ever in the future ide say...so thanks for the good replies.. And good luck (again) to those waiting to drive home their own view point in a forum for debating Offaly GAA..its only a discussion form, the sun will rise and set again tomorrow like..over and out..

[Faithfully]

Far from retreating on Cathal Kiely, he didn't feature as much as Killian, Cathal had loads of promise and was in around the panel and came on in some games... for reasons not relevant on here he didn't remain involved, my point was merely asking if both were still involved would they be of assistance.. fair question....Killian was away from the set up for at least a season, he did come back and by your logic is in the wilderness over missing a chance or chances against Dublin last year, so by that logic he is rightly in your view dismissed, whether he ate dinner with the rest of the team or was in the pub before them is the usual bluster we hear when any player in any county throws a strop.. 20% correct and 80% rumour mill in most cases..certainly give youth it's fling, we tend to be slow enough in Offaly doing that, bar rare exceptions like young Screeney....its only a question I rose, what's there seem to be progressing thank God after a dreadful league campaign where many on here were asking hard questions, now all is looking better all of a sudden..

Slow to give youth its fling. 10 of the starting team vs Dublin in round 1 were on the U20 panel that played Tipp in Nowlan Park in 2024. Charlie Mitchell one year older than that crew. The youngest team in Ireland. Screeney apparently an exception despite the likes of Shirley and Ravenhill breaking through before him as teenagers...

Honestly don't know what points you are trying to make here, between that and asking for the Kielys to return (Cathal made 2 substitute appearances 3 years ago, hardly the only one who hasn't stayed on since then, so not the victim of a banishing as you seem to imply).

I remember now why I fell out with this forum.. I merely asked had either Kiely anything to to give the current set up.. I elaborated Killians contribution during our rock bottom days just as precursor, Cathal was great underage and came on senior, made a few appearances, life took its own route for him and nothing can be done about that.. I never said they Should be involved now, some made valid points, saying pace is too much now (for Cillian).. Others misrepresent my point by using it to get their annual bash against them... for the record I do not know either of them, nor will I ever in the future ide say...so thanks for the good replies.. And good luck (again) to those waiting to drive home their own view point in a forum for debating Offaly GAA..its only a discussion form, the sun will rise and set again tomorrow like..over and out..

I've never seen such word salad to essentially say nothing in my life.

You don't really believe strongly they should be there yourself, you merely ask the question (to use your own phrasing) and then subsequently get affronted when people responded to said question with their points of view.

[biffinbanner]

lads and lassies. the thing closest too my heart is offaly hurling i was brought over by my father to birr to witness offaly club games in the 70s id say some of the finest players ive ever seen then or now. paddy molloy gerry burke the whelehans the healions the flahertys the kellys the horans the gormans the kirwans.and many many more i remember the national commentary at the time was offaly have talent but the local rivalry is what killing them?.this shite about the kielys is rubbish. if they are good enough they will be brought back. leave it to johnny kelly and his team. offaly on the way back. slow train. let it roll.

[greenairfield]

One player on the bench roasted Kiely last year in county semi final. That player cant get a minute currently were going that well.
So not sure where that would leave kiely on the pecking order.

[frankthetank]

One player on the bench roasted Kiely last year in county semi final. That player cant get a minute currently were going that well.
So not sure where that would leave kiely on the pecking order.

Correct & right.

After that semi final Cillian Kiely was moved to wing back for the county final and 1st round Leinster Championship game with Brecon Kavanagh hurling centre back.

[Bord na Mona man]

[G91]

That's a young lad I had completely forgotten about Leigh kavanagh great to see him and Kelly back

[Géill Slí]

Strongest possible team named. So many of the u20s of a couple of years ago making the step up to senior in their stride, it’s another good opportunity for Colin Spain to be the next one to make a breakthrough alongside his u20 midfield partner. His touch was a bit off in the Kilkenny game (eg leading to TJ’s brilliant shot and Liam Hoare’s equally brilliant save), would be great to see a big performance from him this time around. I was hoping for the same from Eoghan Cahill a couple of games ago and boy has he delivered!
Best of luck to the lads, I hope we keep our standards high, get the win, and see what happens in the other game. History would suggest Kilkenny, but on form Dublin should have a great chance.

[biffinbanner]

proud day . to be honest i never thought id see it but jaysus... up the faithful!!

[jimbob17]

Absolutely massive set of results. Well done to all involved.