New manager

[Blue and White]

Best player I saw this weekend was Rory Guinan of Ballycumber. Big, strong, athletic, a good passer and can kick with both feet. Kicked 6 great scores from tight angles including the equaliser with the game in the balance.
I'd have questioned his mental game before but surely he was worth a run ahead of some lads this year. He tends to drop the head when things are not going well but surely a good manager could get the best out of him. We complain at times about not having talent but here is a lad with it in spades and management is about more than picking a team.

Ballycumber really put it up to Rhode but the problem now as I see it is that this can only focus the Rhode lads. They missed a penalty and none of their county men performed and could still have won the game. If they had won complacency may have set in leaving the door open for a surprise against one of their rivals. They have had their scare now and will tune in to the task at hand. They drew against Tullamore in the group last year and only got going AFTER that game. They have different objective than the rest.
Strange sidenote on the game was the removal of an understandably annoyed player who had only just been brought on and his replacement fumbling the ball during a crucial Ballycumber attack late in the game.

Edenderry will be hoping they can regroup from what was the worst senior performance I've seen in many a year. Obviously problems in the camp and they lined out without Murphy, Cullen, McNamara (the brother), Mahon, Hurst, Keogh, Guing, Malone, Glennon etc.
Any team would struggle without these and I certainly fancy one of either Doon or Shannonbridge/ Rynagh's to beat them.
The funny thing is they beat Ballycumber in the first game and looked reasonably good, at least the equal of Brigids or Erin Rovers but have reacted very badly to their perceived mistreatment by the county board.

Having seen most of the weekend games I would rank the remaining contenders as follows.

Rhode
Ballycumber
Shamrocks
Clara
Brigids
Erin Rovers

Edenderry and Doon to go down.

Sorry just realised I'd strayed a little from the Managerial topic at hand so just to add that I think managment should be present at far more of the county games. While the games weren't of great quality the players who played well in them weren't all on the county panel.
A lot of the players that played well for Ballycumber, Ferbane, Shamrocks I don't know their names. Is this the problem, we go to games knowing who we know and keeping closer eye on them. The Ballycumber no. 12 played well in midfield on Sullivan and McNamee but damned if I remember his name. Likewise I could tell you that no. 15 played well for Shamrocks or 11 for Ferbane (sorry had no program) but they are not the names you have heard already so they are largely dismissed. The previous week I wouldn't have picked the two Raffertys or Mahon over any of the Brigids players whose only county man Sean Casey had one of his poorer days.
Not saying that any of these are any good but unless you go to matches how do you know. Kilmurry don't rely on what others tell you go and watch the games yourself (apologies if he does, just picking up on previous posts).

[the bare biffo]

Kilmurry don't rely on what others tell you go and watch the games yourself (apologies if he does, just picking up on previous posts).

Is it not primarily the job for selectors to scour the club games looking for players. I'm surprised KK is able to stand upright at all with everything thats being loaded on his shoulders.

[True Red]

I think the 11 for Ferbane is a chap called Aidan Keeneghan?Think he could be a brother of Mel's?

Played very well against Edenderry.

[Lone Shark]

Is it not primarily the job for selectors to scour the club games looking for players. I'm surprised KK is able to stand upright at all with everything thats being loaded on his shoulders.

As long as one of KK/Cooney/Stewart is there, you'd say fair enough. The question is being asked as to whether or not that's happening though.

[Mighty Pair O' Hands]

The Ballycumber no. 12 played well in midfield on Sullivan and McNamee but damned if I remember his name. Likewise I could tell you that no. 15 played well for Shamrocks or 11 for Ferbane

12 Bally is Sean Hackett
15 Shamrocks was Nigel Dunne
11 Ferbane was Aidan Keenaghan

[the Untouchable]

Ah come on now Black & Red....Ye didn't even try to play football on Sunday against Doon, in the second half everytime doon went in to yer half we blatantly fouled them...the ref was a complete fool, christ at least 2 of yer lads should have walked by the end for persistant fouling, add to that the fact that anytime a gracefield player got hit be it fairly or unfairly he rolled around on the ground like he had just been half killed while 2 or 3 gracefield players jumped in to hit the Doon player a few sly digs!!!
Like I don't take anything away from the fact that ye won & ye should if anything have won by alot more, but it wasn't a pretty match to watch!!!

Also to Sydthebeat...what have Gracefield done in the last 3 years that would make you so sad to see them fighting relegation? Like ok they were in the county final in 04, but they didn't exactly set the championship on fire that year? Like without wanting to seem to be completely against Gracefield here but I wouldn't have ever thought they were a wonderful team...they rarely if ever turn in a brilliant display of football, they usually grind out victories much like St. Brigids & other average senior teams.

[Sydthebeat]

1. what have Gracefield done in the last 3 years that would make you so sad to see them fighting relegation?

2. they rarely if ever turn in a brilliant display of football, they usually grind out victories much like St. Brigids & other average senior teams.

1. well as you said... finalists in 04'... 05' last year they were a kick of a ball away from a semi-final, getting cruely beat in a replay with Tullamore... and, i could be mistaken here, but in 03' we were not semi finalists?.... thats not a bad return for any team...

2. Gracefield has such a small poll of players to pick from its amazing that theyre able to produce the results they do.... with the poll of players theyre never goining to have 15 county-class players on the pitch but they consistently punch above theyre weight....

[Lone Shark]

2. Gracefield has such a small pool of players to pick from its amazing that they're able to produce the results they do.... with the pool of players they're never goining to have 15 county-class players on the pitch but they consistently punch above their weight....

I'm not sure about this claim. Relative to Tullamore or Edenderry yes, they do. But there are 13 senior clubs in Offaly right now - offhand I'd say at least half would have a smaller pick than Gracefield, including Rovers, Brigid's and Ballycumber, all of whom are still in the championship.

Not really sure what was cruel about last year's loss to Tullamore either. The first day was a fair draw, the second day was definitely a deserved win for the town. From this neutral's perspective anyway.