U20 hurling 2026

[Lone Shark]

I think that there has to be a line you draw somewhere, and for me, I would try and facilitate dual players at minor level. That mightn't be optimal for that player in that season, but in the long run, I think it'll work out better for them if they're accommodated, particularly when so much of the strength and conditioning work would overlap.

Now if it's a very marginal decision as to who goes into your squad and the choice is between a single code player and a player who will be splitting their time between two sports, then yeah, I think it's best to go with the single code player and let the dual guy just focus on the other sport that year, but when you have a guy who's going to contribute meaningfully to both teams, such as Eamon Maher and Ruairí Woods did last year, then my gut feeling is that you allow them to continue to develop at minor, and then at U-20, you're into more adult standards there.

From Offaly's point of view, I wouldn't say I know Eamon well, but I have spoken with him a bit, and he's genuinely into both sports, with no strong preference right now. It's not unreasonable to say that if he had been forced to pick one or the other, it's 50/50 or close enough which direction he would have gone in 2025. And would we win that Leinster title without him? Honestly, I don't think so.

At the point of U-20 I think it's reasonable to ask a player to choose which county team he wants to completely buy into, because what you're asking of players now is on another level, and it's not fair for anyone to look around and see someone that is hedging their bets when you're all in - but minor is very clearly a developmental grade, so I would say that playing dual at that level is fair enough.

[Thomas mc]

Having a player half committing to 2 sports means he wont develop full potential in either, he'll also struggle with full integration in the team and the team will suffer as a result, he also takes up a squad place where we could be developing a fringe player.. he'll also piss off a player thats close to making a team and we are potentially losing a player because we think this dual player is so important and is gonna be the next big thing.. of course potential isnt always everything and we dont want other players missin out, just because a player isnt top class at minor doesnt mean he wont be and shouldnt miss a chance at development to keep a dual player. And we are a dual county so its part of life and he will play one or the other so we wont lose out, arguably the sport he chooses the senior team will benefit as he is more likely to reach full potential focussing on one as opposed to the other. Important to remember that underage teams and competitions are about development for future senior teams more so than winning. Where there is an opportunity to develop an extra player or 2 and give them a chance this should be prioritised over winning an underage competition.. if we win an underage hurling title because we played a dual player but lost a squad player and maybe a fringe player and then the dual player decides to play football what use is the underage title to us only a bit of glory? now the senior hurlers have potentially lost 3 for future and the senior footballers are getting a player who was dual and less developed than he might have been had he focussed on one.. the day of the dual player is over at county level, demands are too high and add in tactics etc and its impossible for a player to tune in to both.

[Doon Exile]

Just to be clear, I’m not advocating for dual players at county level. The point I’m making is essentially in response to whenever we have a poor result, the inevitable response is what’s going wrong with Offaly and everyone from county board to team management get the blame.

But the reality is that we are one of the few genuine dual counties and our talent in the respective codes are thinner as a result, notwithstanding we have one of the smaller populations in the country to begin with.

A few examples:
Donal Shirley - Tubber
Joe Furey - Edenderry
Sean Óg Foley - Doon

All from traditional football clubs but committed to inter county hurling, which is absolutely their prerogative by the way. But each are fantastic football players and my point is that if were a one code county, and had these type of lads on the football teams, we’d be more competitive.

Finbarr Cullen won a minor all Ireland hurling title in 1989 but concentrated on football then.
Sean Grennan the same albeit he played a little hurling with the county afterwards.
John Ryan Shannonbridge won a hurling all Ireland and played minimal football with the county and would have been a huge asset at that time.
Cormac Egan is a fabulous hurler but playing football now.

Is this anyone’s fault, absolutely not and should never be. But it is a factor when we are not as successful as we’d like in alternative codes.

Overall, I’d still argue that we punch above our weight over all of teams from underage to senior and I would be fully supportive of the work happening at development squads across both codes.

[Offaly Hero]

Just to be clear, I’m not advocating for dual players at county level. The point I’m making is essentially in response to whenever we have a poor result, the inevitable response is what’s going wrong with Offaly and everyone from county board to team management get the blame.

But the reality is that we are one of the few genuine dual counties and our talent in the respective codes are thinner as a result, notwithstanding we have one of the smaller populations in the country to begin with.

A few examples:
Donal Shirley - Tubber
Joe Furey - Edenderry
Sean Óg Foley - Doon

All from traditional football clubs but committed to inter county hurling, which is absolutely their prerogative by the way. But each are fantastic football players and my point is that if were a one code county, and had these type of lads on the football teams, we’d be more competitive.

Finbarr Cullen won a minor all Ireland hurling title in 1989 but concentrated on football then.
Sean Grennan the same albeit he played a little hurling with the county afterwards.
John Ryan Shannonbridge won a hurling all Ireland and played minimal football with the county and would have been a huge asset at that time.
Cormac Egan is a fabulous hurler but playing football now.

Is this anyone’s fault, absolutely not and should never be. But it is a factor when we are not as successful as we’d like in alternative codes.

Overall, I’d still argue that we punch above our weight over all of teams from underage to senior and I would be fully supportive of the work happening at development squads across both codes.

I agree 100% with this. Well put.

[faithfulfanatic]

Leo gone

[GreenandYella]

Who will step in to this role now?

A huge thanks to Leo and his team for all their work. Some great memories of his tenure

[greenairfield]

To be honest it will be a hard roll fill the last 3 years we struggled at minor.

[oneshot]

To be honest it will be a hard roll fill the last 3 years we struggled at minor.

hope its not the manger or backroom team that was over the minors the last two years.

[greenairfield]

Why is that?

[Fairplayalways]

I wonder are the current Senior set up being kept on and Leo has said to himself "Ime waiting around for a job I will never get" ...its a tough one in ways...can the current senior management bring us on any further, I don't know. Not sure if Leo was in the radar still I know he was a few years back..Underage is very dramatic- groups and teams come and go - after two years you virtually have a new team again to work with as the older ones progress away from underage etc. Interesting to see now who we get for U20s..Personally, I think we probably do need a change at the senior level, again who is out there now?..Its not the days of yore where the intercounty management was almost a selfish job (not meant in a bad way) but family life now is more to the fore, alot of younger managers do a year or two and then thats its...

[faithfulfanatic]

Leo interviewed for the Westmeath senior gig last Autumn.
Told Johnny P that he would let him know what he was doing and if he was returning to the u20s.
Ended up coming back for the u20s but never told Johnny P.
He stayed around this year no doubt hoping the seniors would crash and burn and he would get the gig.

He didn't earn the moniker 'Leo the Liar' for nothing.

[Fairplayalways]

as the older folk would say "thats one side of the story"..if lads are goinng around saying what the counterparts told them thats not on either really...its easy put wheels on a story when it goes beyond second hand..we may have burnt our bridges with him though too by not involving him in senior set up earlier and now hes movinng on..dont know the man from Adam need I say..

[private joker]

Leo was never getting the senior gig.
Had a special group, two poor years after the all ireland win stopped all that chat.

[oneshot]

Why is that?

have you not seen the beatings we have took from laois westmeath and antrim the last two year's .