Interim Offaly hurling manager Joachim Kelly has claimed the players threw in the towel in recent weeks, leading to their present difficulties.

Podge Collins didn’t take too kindly to our claim last week that the modern sliotar is too light.

Interim Offaly manager Joachim Kelly met with the county’s embattled hurlers for the first time yesterday evening.

A disastrous start to their Joe McDonagh Cup campaign has left Offaly in a battle to avoid relegation to hurling's third tier.

Kevin Martin has been relieved of his duties as Offaly hurling manager.

Former Offaly star Johnny Dooley has described their Division 1B relegation play-off with Carlow on Sunday as one of the most important games “in the history of Offaly hurling”.

Offaly’s two top forwards Joe Bergin and Shane Dooley hit a combined 4-4 as the Faithful County claimed their first Allianz Hurling League 1B points of the campaign with a deserved victory over Carlow in a game which started in a downpour and ended in a snowstorm at Netwatch Cullen Park.

OFFALY'S two top forwards Joe Bergin and Shane Dooley hit a combined 4-4 as the Faithful County claimed their first NHL Division 1B points of the campaign with a deserved seven-point victory over Carlow in a game which started in a downpour and ended in a snowstorm at Netwatch Cullen Park.

A cold and calculated performance from Waterford on a perishing afternoon in Thurles.

Galway 5-18 Offaly 2-15

Westmeath hurling manager Michael Ryan says the Leinster championship should not be expanded to six teams, insisting Offaly will benefit from time spent in the second-tier.

DUBLIN 2-24 OFFALY 0-13: On the darkest of days for Offaly hurling, not even Our Lady of Consolation church next to Parnell Park could offer any sort of silver lining.

Wexford 0-22 Dublin 2-14: For the second week in a row Dublin were caught in additional time as Wexford produced a blazing finish for a two-point victory in a game that kept the attendance in Innovate Wexford Park rapt right to the final whistle.

Kilkenny 2-19 Offaly 1-13: It told a tale of the first hour of this game that the loudest cheer in Nowlan Park came from the little pocket of Murray State University visitors.

There is nothing like the unknown, hurling wise, for sauce.

Offaly captain David King has praised manager Kevin Martin for asking more of the players in training.

We’re nearly there now, mercifully, writes Kieran Shannon.

If you were going to market the forthcoming All-Ireland senior hurling championship, you might herald it as ‘The 100-day War’. 

Offaly 1-19 Kilkenny 0-24

A late flurry of scores from Laois masked the dominant nature of Offaly’s performance at

Offaly’s devastating performance against Dublin at Croke Park in the first round of the Allianz Hurling League was a distant memory yesterday as they were swatted aside by Limerick at Bórd na Móna O’Connor Park.

Dublin 1-15 Offaly 2-25: Kevin Martin reckons resurgent Offaly can be ‘quietly confident’ of keeping their winning run going at the expense of old rivals Limerick.

Offaly 2-25 Dublin 1-15: Talisman forward Shane Dooley crowned his 100th Offaly appearance with 1-5 as the Faithful County pulled off a surprise Allianz hurling league win.

Offaly 3-11

New Offaly hurling manager Kevin Martin has admitted his players’ confidence needs to be rebuilt after a disastrous few years and several ‘thrashings’.

New Offaly hurling manager Kevin Martin has admitted that the 2018 Championship will be particularly punishing on players.

Everyone might be resigned to the inevitable but no-one will volunteer or be asked to resign, writes Kieran Shannon.

Don’t get too ansty if the bartenders at the Tír na nÓg pub in Aarhus, Denmark, appear to take their time answering the phone.

Here’s a briefing on some of the stories and issues highlighted on irishexaminer.com today

A new book documents the history of the Irish pub, how times have changed it, and emerging challenges. Author Kevin Martin talks to Noel Baker

Brian Carroll announced his retirement from Offaly hurling this week. Son of two-time All-Ireland medal-winner Pat, he was a member of the last Offaly team to capture the Leinster minor crown (2000) and played in the provincial senior hurling final back in 2004.

LAURA MCINERNEY from Co Limerick, who suffered a brain haemorrhage just weeks after starting college, was one of 10 stroke survivors whose courage was celebrated yesterday.

FINES totalling €6,250 were imposed on a Meath footballer and his wife for failing to return statements of their financial affairs to the Revenue Commissioners.

YOU could call Westmeath manager Brian Hanley a high flyer these days. A few weeks ago, having overseen the exploits of Liam Mellows in the Galway SHC in the morning, he was flown by helicopter to Dr Cullen Park in Carlow where Westmeath were taking on the home side in the Leinster championship.

LATE last year, another Christy Ring Cup in the bag (third in the six years of the competition), their county champions Raharney running Oulart-The-Ballagh to three points in the Leinster club semi-final, Westmeath hurling was on the crest of a wave.

TOMORROW (all games throw in at 2.30pm unless stated)

The Westmeath senior hurlers are still without a manager as they prepare to face Down in Allianz Hurling League Division 2 this Sunday.

Kevin Martin has been axed as manager of the Westmeath senior hurlers.

IT’S a subject that was first raised by our own hurling expert, Tony Considine, last year, when he questioned the practicality of hurling under lights.

Laois 1-19 Westmeath 0-09, Mullingar