Shinrone no 'one-hit wonder' as they aim to defend Offaly senior hurling title

Hurling is coming home in Offaly.

Today will see the county senior final take place at St Brendan's Park in Birr for the first time since 2006. A move that would seem to be welcomed by GAA folk in the Faithful County. It's coming home alright, with Offaly chairperson Michael Duignan to the fore in ensuring that the showpiece event is played out once again in the county's hurling heartland.

A capacity crowd of around 8,000 is expected to watch holders Shinrone take on Kilcormac/Killoughey in what is a repeat of last year's decider.

For Shinrone, their 2022 success brought them a maiden Offaly title in what was only their second appearance in the final. Up to that point, they, along with Rahan, were the only parishes in the county not to have claimed a senior championship.

That unwanted distinction was no more after Shinrone's second-half surge was too much for the favourites to handle last October. Cue the celebrations when county star Jason Sampson became the first player from the area to lift the Sean Robbins Cup.

Jason's brother Killian, Dara Maher and Eamonn Cleary are other Shinrone players who played for the Offaly seniors this year - members of a side that gained promotion to Division 1 in the Allianz League and then lost narrowly to Carlow in the Joe McDonagh final. Kilcormac/Killoughey boast the likes of Adam Screeney, Colin Spain and Charlie Mitchell - a trio that were to the fore as the Faithful's underage emergence continued in 2023 with an All-Ireland under-20 final appearance.

All set then for a cracking finale in the cauldron of St Brendan's Park. Supporters have been advised to get there early in advance of the 3.00pm throw-in, with local artist Mundy providing some of the pre-match entertainment.

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