www.uibhfhaili.com

Ya, those predictions are something along the lines of what I’d go for.

While Birr v K/K might be the glamour game, don’t forget that Seir Kieran vs Coolderry and Kinnitty vs Tullamore are de facto relegation semi-finals. They could be worth attending as there’s real jeopardy involved in those 2 games.

Ballinamere marginal favs versus Belmont (10/11 vs evens)

KK 4/7 Ryanghs 13/8

Coolderry 4/9 Seir Kieran 15/8

Kinnitty 8/15 Tullamore 13/8

Hard to see how Tullamore are shorter odds against Kinnitty than Clareen against Coolderry.
Although the bookies have never got it too far wrong before.

I think this is Rynaghs first big test this season. I'm going to say Kilcormac by 8/10 points.

Tullamore may not be as far away as you might think.

Belmont to beat Ballinamere by 1/2 points.

Coolderry by 3/4 points

I think Tullamore vs Kinnitty could be very tight.

And I’m not ruling out Seir Kieran by any stretch of the imagination.

Ballinamere’s first real test since last year’s capitulation vs Birr. And a test I think they will pass. The wide open expanses of OCP will suit them.

KK 2-17 St Rynaghs 1-16
Coolderry 2-16 Seir Kieran 3-12
Tullamore 1-13 Kinnitty 1-18
Ballinamere 1-16 Belmont 3-17

Not sure Belmont will hit 3-17 especially with all the injuries think Ballinamere will win that one.

I’m a football man but isn’t the hurling championship a lot more competitive and open? There’s 6 teams who will believe they can win it , where as the football is Rhode and Tullamore only to be challenged by Ferbane outside of that not much is happening which makes the whole championship not that interesting only 2/3 games in the whole year which are worth looking at the county final and the Ferbane semi-final v Rhode / Tullamore, in the hurling there’s very competitive 50-50 games every week and interesting Q/F’s

It seems that way alright.

Also it’s not beyond the realms of possibility that we end up with Kilcormac/Killoughey, Shinrone, Belmont and Ballinamere in this year’s semi-finals. These 4 clubs have a combined total of 5 county championships between them. Makes for a sense of freshness to the whole thing.

And certainly a far cry from the 59 title duopoly Tullamore and Rhode have with the Offaly SFC.

chimbonda wrote: ↑Wed Aug 16, 2023 10:02 pm KK 2-17 St Rynaghs 1-16
Coolderry 2-16 Seir Kieran 3-12
Tullamore 1-13 Kinnitty 1-18
Ballinamere 1-16 Belmont 3-17

I don’t think Clareen have enough in the forward line to score 3 goals against what is a reasonable Coolderry back line.

And I couldn’t see Kinnitty hitting 18 points. Just looking at points they’ve averaged 11.5 per game over their first two games. A tight pitch like Clareen can be a defender’s dream with the limit on available space therefore limiting decent expansive attacking play.

Kilcormac-KIlloughey v St Rynagh’s
In 2021, St Rynagh’s won the group game 2-24 to 0-21
Later, St Rynagh’s won 2021’s semi-final 1-18 to 0-20
And last year, Kilcormac-Killoughey won the group game 1-19 to 1-15

Coolderry v Seir Kieran
In 2020, Coolderry beat Seir Kieran 1-16 to 0-17
In 2021, Coolderry won 0-20 to 1-15
And last year, Coolderry were 4-11 to 1-14 winners.
(Seir Kieran’s last win over Coolderry was a 1-23 to 3-15 win in 2017’s quarter-final.)

Kinnitty v Tullamore
In 2001, Tullamore beat Kinnitty 2-16 to 1-6
In 2014, Kinnitty won 1-13 to 1-11
The last meeting was Kinnitty’s 3-17 to 0-14 win in 2016

Ballinamere v Belmont
In 2020, Belmont won 1-18 to 1-11
In 2021 they drew, Ballinamere 2-15 Belmont 1-18
And last year, Belmont won 1-21 to 2-15
(And it looks like Ballinamere's last win over Belmont was in 1999's Intermediate quarter-final.)

Kk 2-19 Rynaghs 1-20
Coolderry 3-16 Seir Kieran 2-21
Kinnitty 3-15 Tullamore 0-21
Ballinamere 2-23 Belmont 1-18

A lot of rain over last 24 hours and a lot of games left to be played over the next 8 weeks. Would it be prudent to move one of the games in SBP today to a different venue and change it’s time by say 30 minutes to allow people to still attend both?

SBP is the best pitch in offaly from June to September.

Match was held there last night too.
But PJ hows your club going hosting games.

Seen one local reporter mention the first fixture was good hurling not sure what game he was at.

Poor hurling which on paper I thought may be two good games but both were so dead with no atmosphere.

Pitch was in great nick considering the rain that fell.

Birr pitch was in great nick to be fair. Heavy shower just before throw in. KK won in second gear. Had the measure of Rynaghs. But long way to go