Club football 2025

[biffinbanner]

ferbane looked impressive and might be coming with a head of steam at the right time. but without leon and joe and a few more hard see ultimate honours.

[Anonymous1]

ferbane looked impressive and might be coming with a head of steam at the right time. but without leon and joe and a few more hard see ultimate honours.

They met very little resistance from Durrow though who were disappointing today.

We’ll learn more in two weeks when Ferbane play Edenderry.

AFAIK Edenderry will top the group unless Ferbane beat them by 6 points.

But if Ferbane beat Edenderry by a margin of less than 6 they finish above Rhode.

Anything less than a Ferbane win against Edenderry and they’ll be relegated to third place.

[llkj]

Worrying scorelines over the weekend in terms of the gaps between the teams. So far, we have had 7 games played in the Senior championship and an average winning margin of 11.2 points per game. Only 1 game has finished with a winning margin of less than 9 points, and you would imagine that Rhode would be around 50/50 to cover that spread tomorrow.
Considering the fact that it is an 8-team championship that is worrying.

Now I know some of the matchups haven't pitted the top teams against each other too much yet, however, you would like to think that any team in the top 8 could keep it very competitive with most of the other clubs. Instead, what we seem to have is a top 5 (with Shamrocks in 5th for now, but time will tell where the really sit) and then a steep drop off to the other 3.

While I feel confident that we will get a good latter stages of the championship, we really need the depth to grow in terms of teams 5-8, so that it is not a foregone conclusion who is making the knockouts.

[Offaly Hero]

Worrying scorelines over the weekend in terms of the gaps between the teams. So far, we have had 7 games played in the Senior championship and an average winning margin of 11.2 points per game. Only 1 game has finished with a winning margin of less than 9 points, and you would imagine that Rhode would be around 50/50 to cover that spread tomorrow.
Considering the fact that it is an 8-team championship that is worrying.

Now I know some of the matchups haven't pitted the top teams against each other too much yet, however, you would like to think that any team in the top 8 could keep it very competitive with most of the other clubs. Instead, what we seem to have is a top 5 (with Shamrocks in 5th for now, but time will tell where the really sit) and then a steep drop off to the other 3.

While I feel confident that we will get a good latter stages of the championship, we really need the depth to grow in terms of teams 5-8, so that it is not a foregone conclusion who is making the knockouts.

It’s a nine team championship.
Due to go to ten teams next year.

[llkj]

Worrying scorelines over the weekend in terms of the gaps between the teams. So far, we have had 7 games played in the Senior championship and an average winning margin of 11.2 points per game. Only 1 game has finished with a winning margin of less than 9 points, and you would imagine that Rhode would be around 50/50 to cover that spread tomorrow.
Considering the fact that it is an 8-team championship that is worrying.

Now I know some of the matchups haven't pitted the top teams against each other too much yet, however, you would like to think that any team in the top 8 could keep it very competitive with most of the other clubs. Instead, what we seem to have is a top 5 (with Shamrocks in 5th for now, but time will tell where the really sit) and then a steep drop off to the other 3.

While I feel confident that we will get a good latter stages of the championship, we really need the depth to grow in terms of teams 5-8, so that it is not a foregone conclusion who is making the knockouts.

It’s a nine team championship.
Due to go to ten teams next year.

This is true. I knew this and had even kept it in mind when writing, but still posted 8 and 5-8, rather than 9 and 5-9.

[SearingDrive]

Worrying scorelines over the weekend in terms of the gaps between the teams. So far, we have had 7 games played in the Senior championship and an average winning margin of 11.2 points per game. Only 1 game has finished with a winning margin of less than 9 points, and you would imagine that Rhode would be around 50/50 to cover that spread tomorrow.
Considering the fact that it is an 8-team championship that is worrying.

Now I know some of the matchups haven't pitted the top teams against each other too much yet, however, you would like to think that any team in the top 8 could keep it very competitive with most of the other clubs. Instead, what we seem to have is a top 5 (with Shamrocks in 5th for now, but time will tell where the really sit) and then a steep drop off to the other 3.

While I feel confident that we will get a good latter stages of the championship, we really need the depth to grow in terms of teams 5-8, so that it is not a foregone conclusion who is making the knockouts.

It’s a nine team championship.
Due to go to ten teams next year.

This is true. I knew this and had even kept it in mind when writing, but still posted 8 and 5-8, rather than 9 and 5-9.

Rhode 6—7. Ballycommon 1–12. 10 point win for Rhode. Ferbane v Edenderry should be a good match.

[TownieInOz]

Saturday week has the makings of a great double header in Ferbane vs Edenderry and Tullamore vs Shamrocks. You'd probably fancy Tullamore and Edenderry but it should tell us a lot more about shamrocks in particular.

[jimbob17]

Think likes of Clonbullogue and Bracknagh at full strength and well organised would be way more competitive. They dont have the playing resources to be short lads, same with Ballycommon. I think thats what we have seen in the results. Young people dont have the same emotional investment in their clubs as lads used to I think - or at least, if they do, they are certainly a lot quicker to prioritise life / holidays / weekends away / travel over football. Those clubs need to have it all going right to compete or beat a Rhode Ferbane or Edenderry let alone Tullamore.

Ballycommon I think are better than both Clonbullogue and Bracknagh but are missing their goalie and probably have an injury or two holding them back. Dont forget they were within a point of Tullamore last year in championship.

Durrow should probably be better than they have shown and should be challenging all bar maybe Tullamore but hurling is likely taking priority there given Ballinamere making final last year. They are likely in relegation battle now and in a one off game, you never know what could happen.

Lot of talk about Shamrocks contending to win championship this year - probably hot air but if you look at their team, they probably have more county players than any other team between senior and U20. Chip O Toole, K Dolan, Shane O Toole Greene, Alan Heffernan, Andrew Delaney, Bryant Dunican and Nigel Dunne were all involved with Offaly senior footballers in some capacity this year while they also have Jonny O Toole back home. To me, they are by far the most underperforming club in the county by a distance. They wrap half way around Tullamore with large population base and size wise are more than twice the size of Ballinamere Durrow who have passed them out in hurling and football in last 10 years. They have been nowhere close to U20 or minor A hurling or football contenders in years which is just bizarre. Not saying they should be winning these but they certainly should be contending in semi finals and finals every now and again. A prominent Shamrocks man told me only last year that the only thing they are good at is fighting with each other, which I thought was both interesting and amusing. They are noted for infighting politics and pulling strokes on each other and without knowing the Rahan Mucklagh geography or divide, they have fallen short in co finals before, largely due to fall outs and internal politics influencing decisions. If they could eradicate this from their club (if it is still an issue) and get the most of the talent available and leave the politics aside, they could challenge. They have a good young crop and Dara Bates definitely is one to watch out for who stood out for county 20s this year in the half forward line. Very surprised he didnt play but may be injured. With likes of K Dolan returning and young O'Rourke coming through among others, and with all those county seniors, they should be in a very strong position. The new rules will suit them also with Bryant, Nigel Dunne and Paddy Dunican all scoring forwards in FF line. Shamrocks have spiked results in last 3 or 4 years if I recall with results against Ferbane Edenderry and Tullamore without being anywhere near as strong as they are this year - on paper at least. However, politics in clubs like that are very hard to shake off as it is in built within the culture of how they do things - and if team selections are influenced by politics in any way, it will result in them under performing eventually.

I'd have Rhode Edenderry and Ferbane on same level behind Tullamore, and only way they wont make a semi is if they draw each other, Tullamore or Shamrocks in a quarter final

Tullamore are still team to beat, though looking at their team, they have been playing some lesser experienced lads who were playing intermediate last year - possibly due to injury or travel (not sure). They are all good players with underage county experience and in early 20s - some with 3 or 4 U20 championship medals. With Rochford involved now and with likes of D Hogan, D Egan, D McDaid and N Bracken all not on team and maybe some to come back, they are only getting stronger I think.

[SearingDrive]

Think likes of Clonbullogue and Bracknagh at full strength and well organised would be way more competitive. They dont have the playing resources to be short lads, same with Ballycommon. I think thats what we have seen in the results. Young people dont have the same emotional investment in their clubs as lads used to I think - or at least, if they do, they are certainly a lot quicker to prioritise life / holidays / weekends away / travel over football. Those clubs need to have it all going right to compete or beat a Rhode Ferbane or Edenderry let alone Tullamore.

Ballycommon I think are better than both Clonbullogue and Bracknagh but are missing their goalie and probably have an injury or two holding them back. Dont forget they were within a point of Tullamore last year in championship.

Durrow should probably be better than they have shown and should be challenging all bar maybe Tullamore but hurling is likely taking priority there given Ballinamere making final last year. They are likely in relegation battle now and in a one off game, you never know what could happen.

Lot of talk about Shamrocks contending to win championship this year - probably hot air but if you look at their team, they probably have more county players than any other team between senior and U20. Chip O Toole, K Dolan, Shane O Toole Greene, Alan Heffernan, Andrew Delaney, Bryant Dunican and Nigel Dunne were all involved with Offaly senior footballers in some capacity this year while they also have Jonny O Toole back home. To me, they are by far the most underperforming club in the county by a distance. They wrap half way around Tullamore with large population base and size wise are more than twice the size of Ballinamere Durrow who have passed them out in hurling and football in last 10 years. They have been nowhere close to U20 or minor A hurling or football contenders in years which is just bizarre. Not saying they should be winning these but they certainly should be contending in semi finals and finals every now and again. A prominent Shamrocks man told me only last year that the only thing they are good at is fighting with each other, which I thought was both interesting and amusing. They are noted for infighting politics and pulling strokes on each other and without knowing the Rahan Mucklagh geography or divide, they have fallen short in co finals before, largely due to fall outs and internal politics influencing decisions. If they could eradicate this from their club (if it is still an issue) and get the most of the talent available and leave the politics aside, they could challenge. They have a good young crop and Dara Bates definitely is one to watch out for who stood out for county 20s this year in the half forward line. Very surprised he didnt play but may be injured. With likes of K Dolan returning and young O'Rourke coming through among others, and with all those county seniors, they should be in a very strong position. The new rules will suit them also with Bryant, Nigel Dunne and Paddy Dunican all scoring forwards in FF line. Shamrocks have spiked results in last 3 or 4 years if I recall with results against Ferbane Edenderry and Tullamore without being anywhere near as strong as they are this year - on paper at least. However, politics in clubs like that are very hard to shake off as it is in built within the culture of how they do things - and if team selections are influenced by politics in any way, it will result in them under performing eventually.

I'd have Rhode Edenderry and Ferbane on same level behind Tullamore, and only way they wont make a semi is if they draw each other, Tullamore or Shamrocks in a quarter final

Tullamore are still team to beat, though looking at their team, they have been playing some lesser experienced lads who were playing intermediate last year - possibly due to injury or travel (not sure). They are all good players with underage county experience and in early 20s - some with 3 or 4 U20 championship medals. With Rochford involved now and with likes of D Hogan, D Egan, D McDaid and N Bracken all not on team and maybe some to come back, they are only getting stronger I think.

That is interesting on Shamrocks, and their problems achieving success in the championship. There were 2 clubs at one stage in the 1970’s. St. Carthage’s and Mucklagh, based in the Cloonagh- Mucklagh area.
St. Carthages who played in red, were drawn from the other parish areas.

In any Senior football finals played v Tullamore from my recollection, the Rahan parish team, always came off the wrong end for various reasons, even when they had victory in their grasp. In the 2000, SF final, played in December of that year, Shamrocks were leading at the break, but lost the game.

Seamus Kelly,ex UCD keeper, and Bohs no1, came on as a sub for Shamrocks in the second half. I think Seamus had not been at regular training, like other players, maybe this disillusioned some of the Shamrocks team, and Tullamore won, aided by hurling star Kevin Martin, another second half substitute.

The other side in the parish, The Island I don’t ever recall. seeing on a GAA pitch.

Internal politics/ rivalry are not unique to Rahan. Daingean, Clonbullogue and Killeigh parishes have different clubs in the parishes. Personally a single team would be the ideal, but it may never happen..

Maybe somebody has an alternative view, feel free to challenge my thoughts.

[Payperview1]

Is there a relegation final this year. Thought the plan was to go to 10 teams in senior and 6 in senior B like the hurling.

[Faithfully]

Is there a relegation final this year. Thought the plan was to go to 10 teams in senior and 6 in senior B like the hurling.

That's correct. There will be no relegation this year.

[The Magpie]

POTH will probably have the history, but something tells me that the Shamrocks club amalgamation (at least at Senior level) happened in the early 1990s (I'm guessing 1993). I can certainly remember St. Carthages and Garret O'Brien playing in the red close to that time.

[Plain of the Herbs]

They played as St Carthage’s-Mucklagh in adult grades in 1994, ‘95 and ‘96, before adapting the Shamrocks name in 1997 – that name was being used by their underage section since 1992.

POTH will probably have the history, but something tells me that the Shamrocks club amalgamation (at least at Senior level) happened in the early 1990s (I'm guessing 1993). I can certainly remember St. Carthages and Garret O'Brien playing in the red close to that time.

[Anon44]

The idea of joining clubs in the same parish/area is interesting. In Killeigh parish, you would be joining 3 clubs into 1 and in Daingean it would be 4 into 1, I might be mistaken on both. You might make a team capable of contesting a senior championship, but you will reduce playing numbers in those areas.

I’ve thought about it a good bit and at the minute there is no possible way to entertain the idea due to the current calendar, especially given our dual tradition.

Thinking off the top of my head, would there be a way to streamline Senior B down to Junior and run them off quicker, but delay the Senior A until they are done. Then, after the conclusions of those, run a Senior A championship with amalgamations. We will never be able to do the Kerry model, the hurling rightfully wouldn’t allow it.

I think it would lead to a brilliant Senior A, plus some of the best players in the county would get to play at a higher standard than with their individual clubs. Given the dominance of Tullamore at underage, which almost certainly won’t stop, it could be ominous enough for the senior championships future.

To be honest, it’ll never happen. There’s probably too many negatives which outweigh the positives, but it’s an interesting conversation all the same.

[SearingDrive]

POTH will probably have the history, but something tells me that the Shamrocks club amalgamation (at least at Senior level) happened in the early 1990s (I'm guessing 1993). I can certainly remember St. Carthages and Garret O'Brien playing in the red close to that time.

The Shamrocks jersey, red, blue, green, does it represent the uniting of 3 separate areas/teams under one club.
Regarding the amalgamation of different teams in one parish, there will be difficulties. Killeigh parish in the 1940’s established, St. Mary’s as a bid to unite the different parish clubs. They won 2 Senior titles, 1947 and 1950, drawing players from Killeigh, Geashill,, and other areas under a single club.
There are still 3 football teams in the parishes. At one stage junior club players, were allowed play Senior football with the parish Senior team.
That option no longer applies.