by Plain of the Herbs » Thu Jan 18, 2018 10:12 pm
It's hard to see anyone other than Ballinamere winning this. While they were Intermediate last year, they really shouldn't have been relegated from Senior the year before. And they were Senior quarter-finalists much more recently than any other 2018 Senior B club. Ballinamere have a good foundation anyway, with physical strength in abundance, and the 2017 Minors will be in a position to have an influence as the year goes on. I really like their half-back line (Spollen, McDermott), David Magner still has a contribution to make at this level, and then there's Paddy Murphy.
Other Senior B clubs will relish the opportunity to hurl at this level, with a chance of winning a competition. I'm thinking Tullamore, and Shamrocks too. And Tullamore, being the town team, could well find a psychological edge on Ballinamere, were the pair to meet in a semi-final or the final. Tullamore will have a consistent and confident freetaker, always a bonus in the last minute of a tight game. Drumcullen, too, cannot be discounted.
Pat Donegan. Signed out of respect for players and all involved with Offaly.