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History Making Coolderry Brighten Up Offaly Hurling Year

Thursday, 12 January 2012

It was a busy and eventful year in the world of Offaly hurling with plenty of disappointment along the way. There was little success in the lines of our County teams with a Walsh Cup Shield and the Leinster Minor League the only trophies captured. Both these minority competitions were secured by Faithful teams but on a whole it was a disappointing year for the trophy cabinet.
However, at club level Coolderry broke their Leinster title duck by overcoming Oulart The Ballagh in the final of the Leinster club final. As we kick back and look forward to 2012, lets remind ourselves of the year that was 2011 in Offaly hurling circles.
National League
The Allianz National Hurling League kicked off on St Valentine's weekend down on the banks of the Lee and despite coming up short, there was real hope coming home from Cork after the Offaly men were unlucky not to have come away with something.
Injuries started to run rife through the panel during and after the Cork game and heavy home defeats to Dublin and Galway ensued and by the middle of March, Offaly were already right in the relegation mix.
A short trip to Nenagh yielded a negative return with the then reigning All-Ireland champions been made to fight all the way by a spirited Offaly side. At the start of the year, the home tie against Wexford back in April was marked as a must win game for the Faithful and they delivered thanks in no small part to two monster and heroic frees from Shane Dooley with one of them from all of 100 metres.
With the confidence levels soaring, they let the points slip through their fingers in Tullamore against Waterford when the Deise got out of jail as a lacklustre Offaly failed to punish a below par Waterford.
With a trip to Nowlan Park to finish off the campaign and Wexford travelling to Thurles while rooted to the bottom and clear relegation favourites, Offaly looked to be steering clear of the relegation based on their better head to head record with Wexford.
All that came undone however as a second string Tipperary side as a late Wexford goal proved vital in their draw with the Premier County and thus ensuring their safety and sending Offaly to Division Two.
Leinster and All-Ireland Championship
Offaly took on Dublin in the Leinster championship in Croke Park at the end of May and like the previous year against Galway, they almost sent shock waves through the Championship. Shane Dooley was once again on song and considering Rory Hanniffy, Paul Cleary, David Franks, Joe Brady, James Rigney and Brendan Murphy were all absent, Offaly fans were left wondering what might have been.
Dublin were relieved to get the win on a scoreline of 2-21 to 1-20 with Shane Dooley top scoring with 1-13.
The subsequent qualifier draw through up a menacing away trip to Cork to take on their old foe. Again, Offaly were given very little chance but really put it up to a Cork team that knew there goose was almost cooked too having snook through by 2-17 to 2-16.
That game spelt the end of Joe Dooley's tenure in charge and although the results will show just one win between the league and the championship, had the rub of the green been with them in Croke Park or indeed in Cork, they could have easily upset the odds.
But its a results business and 2012 will now be a huge year for a side that sees a lot of lads a lot of hurling under their belt. 2011 will not be a year to be remembered as poor performances in the league, injuries and the absence of that precious bit of luck all contributed to their unsuccessful year.
Leinster Minor Hurling Championship
After winning the Leinster league with a victory over neighbours Laois, Joe Cleary's charges travelled to Wexford for their opening game in the Minor championship. After a keenly contested game, Wexford came out victors on a scoreline of 3-13 to 3-10 with some soft first half goals the killer blows.
The back door system saw them draw Westmeath at home in O'Connor Park in their do or die match. Westmeath ran Kilkenny right to the wire in their opening game and been honest about it, they had little trouble in overcoming Offaly on a scoreline of 1-14 to 0-9 on a wet and windy evening in May.
That result also saw the end of Joe Cleary's time in charge and he was replaced for the season ahead by Kilcormac/Killoughey clubman John Leahy.
Leinster U21 Hurling Championship
In the most unpredictable grade of all, Offaly fell at the first hurdle. Played in the same week as Offaly's senior qualifier with Cork, Paddy Kirwan's charges travelled to and left Parnell Park empty handed with Dublin running out convincing 13 winners despite an opening 15 minutes that saw the Offaly men lead 0-6 to 0-2. In the end it finished 0-21 to 0-8 and Offaly exited the championship under the June sun.
Offaly Camogie
After winning the Junior and Intermediate All-Ireland's in recent years, Offaly made the step up to the Senior Camogie league for the first time in their history. It was a learning curve for the Faithful girls but it was a curve they adapted to well for the majority and retained their senior status thanks to their 2-15 to 0-14 win over Dublin in Portmarnock on a warm June day and by finishing off their history making campaign with a home win over Clare on a scoreline of 3-12 to 1-14 a month later. They suffered defeats to Kilkenny, Cork, Galway and Tipperary along the road but with four points they were safe. The Tipperary game in Thurles was a game where they could have got something but on a whole retaining their senior status was a huge achievement. Elaine Dermody and Michaela Morkan were nominated for All-Stars while on the club scene Elaine Dermody and Fiona Stephens inspired Drumcullen to a Senior County title over Shinrone in an enthralling final in September with the 'Sash' ladies recording a 0-16 to 3-5 win.
Offaly Club Championships
The big story of 2011 was the rise to prominence of Coolderry. By putting County titles back to back and claiming their first ever Leinster title, there was never going to be a bigger talking point.
The Offaly championship saw St Rynagh's back in a semi final and under the stewardship of Dinny Cahill - they made great strides in 2011. Birr defeated them on the day but with nine U21's finishing their quarter final win over Shinrone, the future is bright for them.
Shinrone also made strides under Joachim Kelly and ran St Rynagh's to the pin of their collar. They came out of a tough group that included Birr and Coolderry and finishing above Kinnitty, Drumcullen and Shamrocks.
K/K had been impressive in the run up to the semi finals but they were unlucky to meet a fired up and clinical Coolderry side who really meant business in 2011. They were comprehensively beaten after a group stage run that saw them only beaten once before the semi final.
Birr were aiming for their first title since 2008 but in the end came up short in a final that was certainly a game of two halves. Birr wasted several chances at the death before Coolderry substitute Kevin Connolly sealed their faith with a late goal to give Coolderry the Offaly Senior title by 2-14 to 0-16.
Birr had knocked out Tullamore in the quarter final to get a monkey off their back but a super start to the final by Coolderry set them on their way to glory.
A trip to Parnell Park awaited Coolderry and against all the odds and most pundits, they deservedly came away with the win with Cathal Parlon, Damien Murray and Trevor Corcoran leading from the front. A Leinster final in Kilkenny against Wexford opposition was the task presented to them in the final and they didn't wilt. With Murray, Parlon, Corcoran and Joe Brady to the fore they shocked Oulart The Ballagh on a famous day for Offaly and Coolderry. They capped off the year by winning the club of the year and now have an All Ireland semi final to look forward to in February.
Brosna Gaels claimed Intermediate glory with a hard fought final win over St Rynagh's and in doing so gained immediate access back to the Senior championship having been relegated by Belmont in 2010. Chris McDonald was a mainstay of the side that also defeated Birr in the semi final on route to glory.
St Rynagh's made up for that Intermediate defeat by claiming the Junior 'A' honours by overcoming a gallant Kinnitty side in the final. The free taking of Eunan Martin stood out as they took care of Ballinamere in the semi final before lifting the cup in O'Connor Park at the expense of the Kinnitty men.
Coolderry and Shamrocks played out a marathon Junior 'B' Final series as it took three outings to separate them. All three games were played in Birr with Coolderry eventually coming out on top in the second replay to break Shamrocks hearts.
The Junior 'C' champions were Killeigh after they overcame Carrig and Riverstown in a low scoring final in Clareen on a day when the strong gale force wind had a huge bearing. It was the second string of both sides with a second half Killeigh goal proving the all important score.
In the U21 Championship in the earlier part of the year, the combination of Ballinamere, Durrow, Brosna Gaels and Clara came together to form Ballinamere Gaels and they marched all the way to glory beating St Rynagh's, Seir Kieran Og and Coolderry Og in the final.
The Minor Championship final was played as a curtain raiser to the senior final and a hugely impressive Kilcormac/Killoughey comfortably disposed of St Rynagh's to claim the title. Peter Geraghty was the star of the show as they defeated the reigning champions.
Ferbane/Belmont completed a double by adding the Minor 'B' hurling to their Minor 'A' football triumph with a final victory over Shinrone.
Schools Hurling
Banagher College and Colaiste Naomh Cormac flew the Offaly flag in All Ireland competitions in 2011 with the Banagher School claiming the Leinster Vocational Schools 'A' title at the expense of Johnstown. Played in Portlaoise, the Banagher side were superior throughout and secured back to back Leinster titles.
Unfortunately their All Ireland dream was cut short by Loughrea in the All Ireland semi final as on a cold day in Ballinasloe, they were defeated in extra time by a somewhat fortunate Galway school. Colaiste Phobal, Roscrea went on to beat Loughrea in the final with plenty of Offaly representation on board.
Colaiste Naomh Cormac, Kilcormac also exited the All-Ireland Vocational Schools 'B' championship at the semi final stage when they were pipped at the post by Kinsale on a March day down in Bansha, Tipperary. This was another one that could have went either way but the Cork men won out by two points.
St Brendan's Birr won the Under 17.5 Brother Dennis competition by beating Waterford side Blackwater in the final in Nowlan Park but failed to make the final stages of the Leinster Senior Colleges.
All of the Offaly schools have already started their 2012 campaigns already with St Brendan's reaching the final of the Leinster league only to be defeated by St Kieran's.
2011 Hurling Roll Of Honour
Senior - Coolderry;
Intermediate - Brosna Gaels;
Junior 'A' - St Rynagh's;
Junior 'B' - Coolderry
Junior 'C' - Killeigh;
U21 - Ballinamere Gaels;
Minor 'A' - Kilcormac/Killoughey;
Minor 'B' - Ferbane/Belmont;
Under 16 'A'- Kilcormac/Killoughey;
Under 16 'B' - Shamrocks;
Under 14 'A' - Coolderry
Under 14 'B' - Tullamore
Under 12 - Go Games
Under 10 - Go Games
Feile - Birr
2011 Camogie Roll Of Honour
Senior - Drumcullen;
Senior 'B' - Tullamore
Junior - St Rynagh's
Minor 'A' - Birr
Minor 'B' - Shinrone
U16 'A' - St Rynagh's
U16 'B' - Tullamore
U14 'A' - St Cillians
U14 'B' - St Rynagh's
U14 (12 a side) - Kinnitty
U12 'A' - St Cillians
U12 'B' - Birr
U10 'A' - Kilcormac/Killoughey
U10 'B' - Naomh Brid
Feile - St Cillian's

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