Offaly Senior Football Championship 2021

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jimbob17
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Offaly Senior Football Championship 2021

Post by jimbob17 »

Just wondering if anyone has any thoughts on upcoming senior football championship. Should be good interest in games and attendance given the bit of success this year both at senior level in getting promotion and obviously U20 level.

Couple of games down for decision but will almost certainly go to 4 favourites in Rhode Ferbane Tullamore and Edenderry. Not exactly whetting the appetite where 6-10 point wins for all these team would be expected against the 4 lesser teams in the competition.

While Cappincur might not make it easy, Ferbane would be expected to see out the win and anything otherwise would prove a huge shock.
Rhode play Durrow. If there is a shock this week I think Durrow could be it. Lots of talent in Durrow who won Senior B at their ease and Rhode are probably on a downward slope I believe. While Rhode are obvious favourites and most likely to win, Durrow should get a lot closer than bookies predict.

In other group, comfortable wins for Tullamore over Shamrocks and Edenderry over Bracknagh would be expected given that both Tullamore and Edenderry are two of the favourites for the championship this year and both Bracknagh and Shamrocks have struggled in most of their league games this year.

While Tullamore went unbeaten in the league, beating Edenderry in final, I think that Edenderry will have an edge on winning outright this year after almost toppling Rhode last year and with their very strong county U20 players coming back in to bolster them. That said, Rhode Ferbane and Tullamore won't throw in the towel too easy but couldnt see anyone from the other 4 coming near challenging for a Dowling. In fact, Tullamore could bring the Dowling home this year and will be hugely strengthened with the 4 or 5 lads from the U 20s coming back in. In Cormac Egan and John Furlong they have two inter county senior stars of the future and that is without mentioning Oisin Keenan Martin and Ciaran Egan who also payed a strong role with U20s. With another minor win only last night the short term future is very bright for Tullamore senior footballers.

If there was one team from the other 4 teams (Cappincur, Bracknagh, Durrow and Shamrocks) that are capable of breaking into a semi final, it is probably an organised Durrow team. Their stumbling block may be the fact they are playing senior A championship hurling and football week on weak with Durrow and Ballinamere and any injuries or tiredness that may bring could come against them.

Relegation to fall between Cappincur, Bracknagh and Shamrocks with not a whole pile of difference between any of these teams - and all a good bit off the top teams or getting close to a semi final slot.
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SearingDrive
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Re: Offaly Senior Football Championship

Post by SearingDrive »

Hard to disagree with your thinking there Jimbob. The 4 favourites would be on my list too.

Anonymous1
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Re: Offaly Senior Football Championship

Post by Anonymous1 »

Well well well, the opening round of the Championship didn’t disappoint... The champions Rhode have been beaten!

Buttons
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Re: Offaly Senior Football Championship

Post by Buttons »

Great opening post.

A lot of great games ahead especially round 3 were it will be all to play for.

Could be a very open championship but is this the end of the current Rhode team or can they bounce back.

biffinbanner
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Re: Offaly Senior Football Championship

Post by biffinbanner »

people writing off rhode for a good few years. not a wise move. they a very determined and resilient group.

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Re: Offaly Senior Football Championship

Post by Anonymous1 »

biffinbanner wrote: Sat Aug 21, 2021 8:15 pm people writing off rhode for a good few years. not a wise move. they a very determined and resilient group.
They have been written off but when have they ever lost to such an underdog in a championship game and when was the last time there was three realistic contenders for their throne?

biffinbanner
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Re: Offaly Senior Football Championship

Post by biffinbanner »

true enough. but we could be listening to niall mac with the dowling cup in a short few weeks telling us losing to durrow was the catalyst that drove them on?

Anonymous1
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Re: Offaly Senior Football Championship

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biffinbanner wrote: Sat Aug 21, 2021 8:47 pm true enough. but we could be listening to niall mac with the dowling cup in a short few weeks telling us losing to durrow was the catalyst that drove them on?
We definitely could but you’d have to admit, it’s a lot less certain that they’ll win it than it has been in the past. In my opinion, any of Rhode, Ferbane, Tullamore or Edenderry could win it out but there’s question marks surrounding them all, it’s gonna be an intriguing few weeks and if anyone tells you they know what’s gonna happen then they’re lying.

SearingDrive
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Re: Offaly Senior Football Championship

Post by SearingDrive »

An interesting series of results tonight. Bracknagh got a vital draw v Edenderry, Durrow’s win probably the outstanding result. There is a long way to go though, as we saw in 2020, Cappincur beat Tullamore in the first round, the Blues reached Co. Final.
In Senior B, Erins Rovers beat Gracefield tonight.

kingscounty
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Re: Offaly Senior Football Championship

Post by kingscounty »

Were Rhode missing a few key players? Two Niall’s, Sullivan and one or two more I’m lead to believe.

Great win for Durrow regardless and it will give them a boost. Bracknagh were well in front against Edenderry who came back to draw the game. Seems to be open enough start to the campaign, Rhode will still have a sting in the tail and will be keen to punish their next opponents

Anonymous1
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Re: Offaly Senior Football Championship

Post by Anonymous1 »

Rhode: Kenny Garry; Keith Murphy, Mossy Muldoon, Conor McNamee; Brian Darby, Gareth McNamee, Paul McPadden; Alan McNamee, Dylan Kavanagh; Darren Garry, Pauric Sullivan, Ciaran Heavey; Shane Lowry, Ruairi McNamee, Lorcan O’Reilly. Sub: Anton Sullivan for McPadden (15 min)

They were missing Niall Mcnamee, Niall Darby, Eoin Rigney, Aaron Kellaghan, Jake Kavanagh and James Mcpadden.

No idea why they were missing so many and now unless they beat Cappincur and Ferbane, the highest they’ll finish in their group is 2nd meaning they’ll have to play a QF which I’m sure some of their older players won’t want...

jimbob17
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Re: Offaly Senior Football Championship

Post by jimbob17 »

With 3 teams from 4 to go through, you would still fancy Rhode to get through. One win could see them in to 3rd place so all to play for.

Got predictions well wrong last time, though did suggest Durrow had real chance v Rhode and was a potential shock. That said, not many would have backed Durrow who were crazy odds in bookies by all accounts.

Cappincur gave Ferbane plenty of it in first half and led most of first half before Ferbane kicked on with some goals. Not sure what the Cian Johnson situation is but even if he is still out, Ferbane should have enough to get at least 4 points and will be looking to top group at this stage. However, as I said before, Durrow have quality and their game with Ferbane could be quite interesting. Cappincur, for all their effort, need to be admired but they will just struggle due to depth of numbers at a high level in senior A football - though they have pulled shocks before and were close to making a semi final last year.

Re the other games in other group; on reflection, I probably did not factor in the fact that both were local derbies, which would prove a bit of an equaliser as they so often do. Draws between Edenderry and Bracknagh and Tullamore / Shamrocks would appear to leave the group wide open.

However, you would assume that normality will resume next time around when favourites Tullamore account for Bracknagh fairly easily and same in other game with Edenderry taking account for Shamrocks.

Tullamore will have their county U20s back as will Bracknagh, but the overall depth of Tullamore should see them comfortable winners. While Bracknagh, have some good young players coming, that is what they are (good young players), and will struggle to compete with experience of likes of Brazil, Moloney , Aaron Leavy and McConway. With Cormac Egan and other U20s adding to Tullamore, hard to see anything but strong win for blues next time out.

Edenderry have lots of experience and classy footballers that will prove way too strong for a Shamrocks team that were lucky to get a draw with Tullamore, going on match reports. Edenderry are filled with players who have county senior experience in Hanlon, Pender, Brady, Dalton and Doyle through the middle and should be aiming to win the championship outright, while likes of Jordan Hayes Mark Abbott and Cian Farrell are currently central to the current co senior team and strenghthen their hand considerably. This is before young county players players like Rory Egan, Lee Pearson and Eoin Dunne are mentioned and they appear to have a good blend of youth and experience.

Shamrocks on the other hand just wouldnt have comparable class of player across the board and are too heavily reliant on Nigel Dunne and young Jack Bryant for scores. Paddy Dunican is their only county senior player, and he is a goalie, that generally plays outfield at club level. Beyond the likes of Kieran Dolan and the U20 goalie O Toole, I just don't think they have the players to compete at Edenderry's level when it's all weighed up, and will find themselves in a shootout for survival with Bracknagh in last game.

Other than that, it will be interesting to see what venues are used next week after Birr hosted two senior football matches last weekend for first time in years. While there was a All Ireland minor semi in Tullamore, the use of Birr was a wise move as it allowed a higher volume of supporters get in to support their teams.
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mynamesjeff
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Re: Offaly Senior Football Championship

Post by mynamesjeff »

jimbob17 wrote: Mon Aug 23, 2021 12:52 am With 3 teams from 4 to go through, you would still fancy Rhode to get through. One win could see them in to 3rd place so all to play for.

Got predictions well wrong last time, though did suggest Durrow had real chance v Rhode and was a potential shock. That said, not many would have backed Durrow who were crazy odds in bookies by all accounts.

Cappincur gave Ferbane plenty of it in first half and led most of first half before Ferbane kicked on with some goals. Not sure what the Cian Johnson situation is but even if he is still out, Ferbane should have enough to get at least 4 points and will be looking to top group at this stage. However, as I said before, Durrow have quality and their game with Ferbane could be quite interesting. Cappincur, for all their effort, need to be admired but they will just struggle due to depth of numbers at a high level in senior A football - though they have pulled shocks before and were close to making a semi final last year.

Re the other games in other group; on reflection, I probably did not factor in the fact that both were local derbies, which would prove a bit of an equaliser as they so often do. Draws between Edenderry and Bracknagh and Tullamore / Shamrocks would appear to leave the group wide open.

However, you would assume that normality will resume next time around when favourites Tullamore account for Bracknagh fairly easily and same in other game with Edenderry taking account for Shamrocks.

Tullamore will have their county U20s back as will Bracknagh, but the overall depth of Tullamore should see them comfortable winners. While Bracknagh, have some good young players coming, that is what they are (good young players), and will struggle to compete with experience of likes of Brazil, Moloney , Aaron Leavy and McConway. With Cormac Egan and other U20s adding to Tullamore, hard to see anything but strong win for blues next time out.

Edenderry have lots of experience and classy footballers that will prove way too strong for a Shamrocks team that were lucky to get a draw with Tullamore, going on match reports. Edenderry are filled with players who have county senior experience in Hanlon, Pender, Brady, Dalton and Doyle through the middle and should be aiming to win the championship outright, while likes of Jordan Hayes Mark Abbott and Cian Farrell are currently central to the current co senior team and strenghthen their hand considerably. This is before young county players players like Rory Egan, Lee Pearson and Eoin Dunne are mentioned and they appear to have a good blend of youth and experience.

Shamrocks on the other hand just wouldnt have comparable class of player across the board and are too heavily reliant on Nigel Dunne and young Jack Bryant for scores. Paddy Dunican is their only county senior player, and he is a goalie, that generally plays outfield at club level. Beyond the likes of Kieran Dolan and the U20 goalie O Toole, I just don't think they have the players to compete at Edenderry's level when it's all weighed up, and will find themselves in a shootout for survival with Bracknagh in last game.

Other than that, it will be interesting to see what venues are used next week after Birr hosted two senior football matches last weekend for first time in years. While there was a All Ireland minor semi in Tullamore, the use of Birr was a wise move as it allowed a higher volume of supporters get in to support their teams.
Just a couple of bits.
Bracknagh had their 20s playing for them v Edenderry.
Bryant was on the senior panel this year along with Donoghue and Rory Egan, so strictly speaking Dunican wasn’t the only Shamrocks panellist.

Results from the weekend:

Senior A
Cappincur 0-13 Ferbane 3-14
Edenderry 1-11 Bracknagh 2-08
Tullamore 1-11 Shamrocks 1-11
Rhode 2-09 Durrow 3-08

Senior B
Clara 4-11 Ferbane 0-06
Ballycumber 0-11 St Rynagh’s 0-08
Erin Rovers 1-13 Gracefield 0-12
Tubber 3-09 Walsh Island 2-13

Intermediate
Clodiagh Gaels 2-12 Raheen 2-11
St Brigid’s 0-10 Daingean 1-10
Shannonbridge 4-11 Ballycommon 2-16
Clonbullogue 2-17 Kilcormac-Killoughey 0-10

Junior
Doon 1-07 Edenderry 0-05
Clara 2-08 Rhode 1-12
Tullamore 5-07 Ballinagar 1-09
An Tulach Mhór 1-09 Kilclonfert 1-08


A few games there where ‘underdogs’ won.

Buttons
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Re: Offaly Senior Football Championship 2021

Post by Buttons »

Durrow got a well deserved draw against ferbane, they recovered well after conceding a goal after 2-3 minutes and looked in big trouble in defence early. Durrow got a goal with about 10 min to go to go 2 points ahead and were still 2 ahead after 56 minutes, ferbane got the last 2 points to get a draw but durrow will feel like they left it behind.

Playing 2 teams that had ambitions of winning durrow have 3 points, if they beat cappincur the next day then depending on results could go straight into semi final. Ferbane were poor, Leon fox did well when attacking and couldn’t be stopped, others were ok but link up play and movement were poor enough.

What this means is the loser of rhode and cappincur will be in relegation final, results to date look like it will be a very open championship.

SearingDrive
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Re: Offaly Senior Football Championship 2021

Post by SearingDrive »

Good result for Durrow, if they beat Cappincur the next day, they will be in the knockout stages. The Ferbane v Rhode game is a big game for both clubs, can Ferbane beat the village in a crucial match?
Tullamore had an impressive win yesterday, over Bracknagh.

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