๐๐ค๐ Twenty-two years later, weโre back.
The Offaly team has been named for Sundayโs All-Ireland Senior Hurling Quarter-Final against Cork in a packed Semple Stadium.
Itโs Offalyโs first All-Ireland Quarter-Final appearance since 2003 and the Faithful Army are ready.
Best of luck to the Senior Offaly Camogie Team in the All Ireland Senior Championship this Saturday, 30th May at 3:30pm.
Letโs get behind our ladies and show our support. Best of luck to all involved!
@OffalyCamogie#FeelYourDay#OffalyCamogie#Offaly
๐๐ฒ๐ถ๐ป๐๐๐ฒ๐ฟ ๐๐๐ ๐๐ผ๐ผ๐๐ฏ๐ฎ๐น๐น ๐๐ฎ๐น๐น ๐ผ๐ณ ๐๐ฎ๐บ๐ฒ ๐๐ป๐ฑ๐๐ฐ๐๐ฒ๐ฒ
Comhghairdeachas to Rhode and Offaly Legend Eugene Mulligan who has been honoured today in Croke Park
Today's inductee into the Leinster GAA Hall of Fame is one of the most famous names in Offaly football and a man that has made a vast contribution to the GAA at a variety of levels for Club and County.
An outstanding footballer and wing back, he was one of the heroes on the 0ffaly team that won the All-Ireland Minor Football Championship for the first and only time in 1964. Amazingly, he was still U-16 in 1964, and played minor for a further two vears, winning a second Leinster medal in 1965.
He quickly progressed to the U-21 county team and was a prominent fiqure on the Offalv team that won the Leinster championship and reached the All-Ireland final in 1968. Unfortunatelv, he was to play an unwanted decisive role in that fnal against Derry and his controversial first half dismissal was a major turning point and one of the bia factors in Offaly's 3-9 to 1-9 defeat. Even to this day, his fellow playing colleagues and spectators are adamant that he was wrongly sent off, Even at an early stage a senior inter county career was inevitable. and so it came to pass.
He soon established himself on the Offaly senior football, making his debut against Wicklow as a 19 year old in October 1967. He won his first Leinster senior medal in 1969, before losing to Kerry in the All-Ireland final on a 0-10 to 0-7 scoreline. He was subsequently crowned as Texaco footballer of the year and received the distinction of belng the only nominee for an All-Star award in his half back position. Offaly achieved the mantle of greatness retaining the Sam Maguire Cup in 1972, and he was again a cricial figure. Ironically, Offaly hammered Kerry All-reland final replay despite two key figures going off injured on the day, today's honouree and Johnny Cooney.
He won a fourth Leinster senior football medal in 1973 but Offaly's ambitions of three in a row were disappointingly ended by Galway in the All-Ireland semi-final. Offaly went into decline as that great team broke up but our Hall of Fame recipient Eugene McGee and won a fifth Leinster senior medal in 1980. His last Championship continued to perform at a high and he was there for the second coming under game was against Kerry in the 1980 All-Ireland semi-final of 1980.
He was also a tremendously dedicated servant to his club Rhode and with the exception of minor, he won club medals at all levels.
He won 4 Senior Football Championship medals captaining the side in 1969 and was a leader on and off the field.His retirement from playing was by no means the end of his love affair with the GAA. Indeed it was just a new beginning.
Initially, he became involved in administration and he was PRO when Offaly won the All-Ireland title in 1982. It was inevitable that he would gravitate towards the training fields and he proved to be a very successful trainer, He was involved with a number of club teams but his greatest achievement was when he managed Rhode to the county title in 1998 - their first title since 1975 and cemented his place in Village folklore.
He was part of a three man Offaly senior football management team in 1995 and 1996. An indication of his commitment to the future development of football in the Parish was, in 2005 he was part of the two man management team that led Rhode to the U-14 football title.
In more recent times Eugene has continued his dedicated commitment to all aspects of activity in his club, including filling the role of Chairperson in 2023 and 2024 and is one of the driving forces behind the current development in the club, being was hugely involved in the recent fundraising event which raised over โฌ300,000 for the development fund.
In a glittering playing career with Offaly, Eugene made 13 appearances at Minor level, 10 at U21 and 76 League and 41 Championship at Senior level.
Comhghairdeachas to Ben Conneely, Killian Sampson and Eoghan Cahill who have all been voted onto this week's hurling team of the week
It's the second week in a row that both Ben and Eoghan have been included on the team and Killian gets the nod this week after a great performance.
Well done lads from all at Offaly GAA
'It's been a really hard and emotional rollercoaster of a week' - Johnny Kelly dedicates Offaly win to stricken captain Charlie Mitchell
https://t.co/BZ90QzITSf
Best of luck to Offaly as the season gets underway tomorrow against Antrim in the Walsh Cup.
Best wishes to Eoghan Cahill, who is named to start, with Ben Miller, Ailbe Watkins and Luke Nolan included among the subs.
Best wishes to all involved ๐ข๐ด