Offaly’s Rigney Calls Time On Hurling Career

Rigney in action against Kilkenny last summer

By Justin Kelly

Offaly stalwart James Rigney has announced his retirement from intercounty hurling this week. The 29-year-old Kinnitty man has said his decision is due to work commitments, commenting on the hectic training schedule that a role in the county fold entails.

Rigney was one of the most valuable cogs in the Offaly wheel over the last eight years, having made his debut for the side in a league tie against Cork in 2007. His first championship appearance came a year later in a Leinster championship game against Dublin.

Rigney was one of the most versatile players in the set-up throughout his 47 appearances for the Faithful. He operated mostly has an all-action, thoroughly committed defender, but he also ventured forward and put in a number of swashbuckling performances in midfield.

He made his final appearance in last year’s hefty defeat at the hands of eventual All-Ireland winners Kilkenny. That game was the first GAA fixture aired on Sky Sports as part of the controversial television rights deal agreed between the GAA and the British broadcaster last year.

Rigney is the third player from last year’s Offaly senior hurling panel to retire, following Rory Hannify and Kevin Rigney down the tunnel for the final time.

Offaly Hurlers Blown Away By Rampant Galway

By Justin Kelly


Galway 2-22 
Offaly 1-13

Brian Whelahan’s Offaly hurlers were brushed aside by Anthony Cunningham’s Galway outfit in a one-sided Walsh Cup clash on Sunday. Offaly were coming off the back of a five-point victory against Westmeath, while Galway overcame the same opposition by eight points a week later in the same competition.


Offaly opened the scoring through Sean Ryan, but the bright start faded quickly as Galway raced into a 1-6 to 0-2 lead after just 13 minutes. Galway were commanding the game, and four successive points from David Collins saw the Tribesmen extend their advantage by the 21st minute.

Any hint of a comeback from the Offaly men was snuffed out when star forward Shane Dooley saw his penalty saved by Galway keeper Colm Callanan. Jason Flynn and Dean Higgins had the pick of the scores in the first half, and when the interval arrived, Offaly trailed 1-17 to 0-5.

Offaly stemmed the tide somewhat in the second half, but when Shane Dooley finally netted with twenty minutes remaining, Galway were out of sight on a scoreline of 2-19 to 1-7. Offaly did hit six more points in the time remaining but Galway always kept them at bay with ease, bagging three scores of their own before the final whistle in Tullamore.

The contest finished 2-22 to 1-13, and Galway will now play Carlow in the second of the Walsh Cup semi-finals, while an improving Laois side will take on Dublin in the other tie.

Offaly boss Brian Whelahan was visibly disappointed after the drubbing as the result comes just a matter of weeks after he hailed his team “a very professional outfit.” Whelahan spoke to the media after the game: “I’m very disappointed. Today was a day where you would want to be showing the work that you have been putting in.”

The Offaly boss spoke recently about his players “enjoying the discipline” of a new tougher training regime, and was less than impressed with the end product on Sunday: “We have worked very hard over the past two and a half months addressing those things, but it didn’t happen today,” he said. “It was a disappointing 70 minutes,” the Birr man added.

Offaly will now begin preparations for an opening day battle with Laois in the first round of Division 1B of the Allianz Hurling League on February 14.

Dan Currams To Captain “Very Professional” Offaly Hurlers In 2015

By Justin Kelly

Offaly hurling boss Brian Whelahan has hailed his team as “a very professional set-up” as he installed Kilcormac/Killoughey club man Dan Currams as his captain for the coming season. Speaking to the media, Whelahan said: “In fairness to Kilcormac/Killoughey and their achievements in the last few years, it merits recognition.” “Dan was a major part of that team, and a key figure for Offaly too,” he added.

Currams will take the armband from Joe Bergin who is currently recovering from injury. He missed the side’s victory over Westmeath two weeks ago, and will remain on the sidelines for the clash with Galway in the Walsh Cup this weekend. “We have to take it steady with Joe,” Whelahan said, “but he is back with us after injury and will be a big option for us in a couple of weeks.”

Dan Currams has been rewarded for leading his club to three consecutive Offaly county titles, and Whelahan described him as “a very committed fella that will let his hurling do the talking.” The manager has also added strength to his backroom team in the shape of Edenderry man, and former Meath hurling boss Cillian Farrell, along with the former Laois boss Damien Fox. “Damian and Cillian have made huge contributions coming in this year. It is a fresh approach and the lads have really bought into the training set-up,” Whelahan remarked. 

Whelahan talked about a new level of training that had to be introduced to tighten the gap between Offaly and the top tier of hurling in the country. “Offaly had to get really serious about it or the gap was just going to get wider and wider,” he said. “You have a lot of lads in college these days and they are talking to players from other county set-ups. When given the opportunity to have the set-up that is the norm in top counties, players respond very well and are enjoying the discipline.”

Looking ahead to Sunday’s game against Division 1 side Galway, Whelahan acknowledged the “step up” from the Westmeath game, but said that as “we get closer to the league campaign, teams will be looking to play more settled teams, and we look forward to the challenge.”

Offaly’s meeting with Galway in the Walsh Cup is scheduled for O’Connor Park, Tullamore, on Sunday at 2pm.