Club Football 2026

[Anonymous1]

The first thing to say is the overall quality for two games between the top four teams was very very poor. Solan wouldn't have picked out too many new players and the ones he might have are on the hurling panel.

On the games themselves, Ferbane looked the best of the four. They blew Shamrocks away in the first half, a dropoff in the second half was to be expected given the lead they had. Their panel is deeper this year as shown by their intermediates having a 100% record. The fact they've managed to motor ahead without last year's player of the year would suggest the overall quality of the championship has declined. It would be in Ferbane's best interest for Belmont to be beaten against Ballinamere and then be knocked in the QF, as a SF would be played the week before the football final.

Shamrocks were incredibly poor in the first half. They made a few switches at half time and upped their intensity in the second half but it was as much Ferbane taking the foot off the gas as anything that allowed them back into the game. They'll argue an extra game plus getting a few back from injury will set them up nicely for an attempted scalp in the semis but I'm not convinced. They'll do well to get through the QF and that'll be as far as they'll go. They've replaced Edenderry as the 4th best team in Offaly but that's as far as they're likely to go. I don't know how the player-manager arrangement is supposed to work. You start a player and then at halftime, you tell him he's not been good enough so he's coming off and being replaced by you? It wouldn't be long before you foster contempt among a cohort of players.

Rhode are the only unbeaten team this year. I don't think anybody would've predicted that at the start of the year. When Rhode lost the final back in 2019, many people predicted their demise at that point. To their credit, the older generation have stuck at it and waited long enough until some of the younger players have been blooded and they now have a decent mix capable of challenging again. I still wonder if they'll have the legs coming down the stretch in an intense knockout game? That has been their downfall in the last 3 years, but they have as much of a chance as any of the rest at this point.

Tullamore have been off the pace all year. There are probably multiple factors at play such as injuries, increased dual commitments, lack of hunger following 3 in a row, the new rules and the loss of Stack. Like Shamrocks, they'll think if they can get a few back from injury as well as potentially a return from Australia and build some momentum with an extra game that they'll still be there or thereabouts but that's easier said than done. Some of those returning have played little to no football this year and it's not as simple as throwing them straight into knockout action and being able to pick up where they left off. Neither Ferbane nor Rhode will want to face them in the semi although they may well be more vulnerable in a semi and it may be better try to knock them out before they can get a few players back and momentum behind them.

On the whole, I would lean towards Ferbane as favourites as there's less doubts around them followed by Tullamore provided they get some players back and then Rhode because of age/legs concerns. I don't give Shamrocks any chance of winning it out.

I do think whoever comes through the tougher semi will win it out. You don't want to be heading into a county final having been sat on your hands for 4 weeks and then playing a soft semi.

[faithfulfanatic]

I don't know how the player-manager arrangement is supposed to work. You start a player and then at halftime, you tell him he's not been good enough so he's coming off and being replaced by you? It wouldn't be long before you foster contempt among a cohort of players.

Is that not how all substitutions work?
You take a player off for another who has something to give - just happens in this case that the person coming on is the one to make the decision.
If there's a team in the county who wouldn't be boosted by bringing Nigel Dunne on, I'm yet to see them

[Anonymous1]

I don't know how the player-manager arrangement is supposed to work. You start a player and then at halftime, you tell him he's not been good enough so he's coming off and being replaced by you? It wouldn't be long before you foster contempt among a cohort of players.

Is that not how all substitutions work?
You take a player off for another who has something to give - just happens in this case that the person coming on is the one to make the decision.
If there's a team in the county who wouldn't be boosted by bringing Nigel Dunne on, I'm yet to see them

Well, no, that's not how all substitutions work because the manager usually doesn't sub himself on. When a manager decides to sub one player for another, he's making an objective decision. When a manager decides to sub one player for himself, he's making a subjective decision. The manager is telling the player "Actually I think I'm better than you"... So, you're admitting you were wrong not to start yourself?

You're arguing the manager is better than the player he was replacing in this instance. What if some of the players don't think the manager is better? Who's going to tell the manager not to sub himself on? One of his selectors?

It's a farcical idea. No club or county worth their salt would put this arrangement in place.

[Old-school]

100% Agree.
There was two other lads on that bench that would have done the same if not more than Nigel Dunne. Alan Heffernan or Jack Bryant who was deemed fit to play and done full warmup. Dunne give nothing and being honest looked way of the pace and doesn't look fit or sharp, Heffernan is needed on that team strong and very direct player.
Still Shamrocks should over come clara.
Tullamore have a lot to say in this championship yet, they won't be far of it and if CB comes back of Australia that will be a massive boost to the players .
Ferbane Just look so good, them younger lads have developed massively over the last 3 years now they are in their early 20s and iv never see that team so conditioned there S&C work is showing but id do fear for them with the hurling commitments will that have an effect on them.
Rhode , haven't they just gone about there business getting it done all year. Ones to watch. What I like about them is they fear no one and believe they can win a title. You have to admire that club arguably the best football club in offaly and shows by how they can get the most out of there players. They dont win any underage titles to often but can still produce it at senior.
Worth putting a few quid on to win

[Anon444]

I get what people are saying about Dunne, it is a strange set up. But there’s zero point in proposing that the Shamrock’s players are unhappy with the set up, wouldn’t know too much of the ins and outs but I do know the players were in favour for him playing and managing at least before championship started, maybe it’s changed now. But again, it’s strange and you don’t see it too often. Maybe it’s a result they needed after being competitive in the other games and hammering Edenderry.

Tullamore dropping back is good for the championship and good for Offaly. You’d obviously assume that Tullamore will get over Ballycommon with change to spare but I don’t think they’d fear them. Clara and Shamrocks should be a great game.

[DurrowBoy17]

I enjoyed both senior A games on Saturday afternoon.

I think both Shamrocks & Tullamore will improve (with players to come back/start). That said, Rhode are looking impressive and it's Ferbane's to lose at the moment in my opinion.

Big one for Tullamore is Bourke going to be back for them? There are rumours, but can anyone actually confirm that would be true?
John Furlong should be a big boost back, Nigel Bracken and Oisin Keenan Martin need to get back on the field too. They looked as light as ever when I saw them on Saturday last.

[Lone Shark]

I'm sure if some of the senior players in the Shamrocks dressing room picked up on any unease about it, they'd have had a quiet chat with Nigel and told him that it would generally go down better with some of the younger lads if he just played junior ball for the year. Instead he's there with the seniors because he can be a difference maker with the seniors, and the players know that far better than anyone on here.

[Shamrocksgael]

I feel compelled to reply to these hilarious posts, I am involved in the club in a small capacity mostly underage but I do know for a fact the players had to plead with Nigel to tog out and play this year . The response around our club to him as manager has been nothing short of sensational with the adult fooltball teams, 3 teams with up to 8 subs on the 3rd team and Nigel has driven all of that. How we are competitive with out him ( potentially our best player of the last 30 years) not playing and 4 new 18 year olds playing senior for the first time this year is absolutely overachieving. Our biggest worry is that he would not do it again next yeat with his county commitments, players have already asked that he stay on no matter what ( this has been since Saturday defeat to ferbane). The Supporters and players biggest problem is that he wont start himself , a few players mentioned having done warm-up were not medicaly cleared to play with one of them out for another 3 months. Mis-information is very dangerous .

[Anonymous1]

I'm sure if some of the senior players in the Shamrocks dressing room picked up on any unease about it, they'd have had a quiet chat with Nigel and told him that it would generally go down better with some of the younger lads if he just played junior ball for the year. Instead he's there with the seniors because he can be a difference maker with the seniors, and the players know that far better than anyone on here.

I guess that's the point. If he believed he was good enough to continue contributing as a player, why agree to take over as manager too?

Paul McConway could've played for another year or two but once he decided to take over as manager, he subsequently retired.

I'm sure Niall Mac could've managed Rhode at any stage over the last number of years, but again he's probably well aware it would seem odd for him to be on the sideline and on the pitch at the same time.

A player-manager arrangement is a relic of the past. The workload on managers has increased exponentially and they really have to be on the sideline at all times. Has any club or county had senior success with this type of arrangement in recent years?

And, how does it work in the case of a red card? If the manager is sent off on the sideline, can he still sub himself on? And if he's sent off on the pitch, can he jog off and continue managing?

[ruletheroost]

After the final group games:

1 Harry Plunkett 2-28 34

2 Keith O’Neill 3-21 30

3 Peter Cunningham 2-22 28

4 Ruairí McNamee 0-25 25

5 Cormac Delaney 0-22 22

From play:

1 Brian Duignan 3-10 19

2 Chris Kenny 1-15 18

3 Graham Guilfoyle 0-15 15

3 Ross Kellaghan 3-6 15

3 Ruairí McNamee 0-15 15

[jimbob17]

Think C Kenny was up around top of charts last year also from play. Offaly should be asking him in. He is better than plenty of lads last management had in there.

Also, if you were from Rhode, you'd be absolutely delighted at how they have gone so far, particularly given level of disrespect shown to their players by last senior football management. They've certainly made the case very clear that their players should never have been treated the way they were. If they are on a mission to make more statements through this championship, best of luck to them. The performances of Rhode and Ferbane has reinvigorated the championship.

Lots of big talk re Shamrocks too I think, but I'd fancy Clara to have right chance of taking their scalp in the quarter final. Lots of crap talk re Nigel here too I think. He is still their best forward imo and is well worth starting place let alone sub role. They were minding couple of injuries last day I believe so expect Bryant, Heffernan and David O Toole Greene to start v Clara. Nigel is manager but they still need him on the field and he is handul for any team on his day. Yea its a hard balance to strike but its an amateur game, so I wouldn't knock a lad from trying to do it and the players would mostly like him to still be playing so no issue there. To be fair to him, He has probably forgotten more about football than the lads knocking him ever knew.....

[pigeon house biffo]

Be right in saying only one out of both those lists is a starter for the county team?

[Anonymous1]

Think C Kenny was up around top of charts last year also from play. Offaly should be asking him in. He is better than plenty of lads last management had in there.

Also, if you were from Rhode, you'd be absolutely delighted at how they have gone so far, particularly given level of disrespect shown to their players by last senior football management. They've certainly made the case very clear that their players should never have been treated the way they were. If they are on a mission to make more statements through this championship, best of luck to them. The performances of Rhode and Ferbane has reinvigorated the championship.

Lots of big talk re Shamrocks too I think, but I'd fancy Clara to have right chance of taking their scalp in the quarter final. Lots of crap talk re Nigel here too I think. He is still their best forward imo and is well worth starting place let alone sub role. They were minding couple of injuries last day I believe so expect Bryant, Heffernan and David O Toole Greene to start v Clara. Nigel is manager but they still need him on the field and he is handul for any team on his day. Yea its a hard balance to strike but its an amateur game, so I wouldn't knock a lad from trying to do it and the players would mostly like him to still be playing so no issue there. To be fair to him, He has probably forgotten more about football than the lads knocking him ever knew.....

"He has probably forgotten more about football than the lads knocking him ever knew"

"I'd fancy Clara to have right chance of taking their scalp in the quarter final."

That's the definition of bi-polar right there. Is he the messiah who knows more than anybody else or is he overseeing a team that has 1 win in 4 (against an Edenderry in disarray) and who may be dumped out by a team from the weak group?

And, clearly the manager doesn't agree with you that he's well worth his starting place.

[jimbob17]

Think C Kenny was up around top of charts last year also from play. Offaly should be asking him in. He is better than plenty of lads last management had in there.

Also, if you were from Rhode, you'd be absolutely delighted at how they have gone so far, particularly given level of disrespect shown to their players by last senior football management. They've certainly made the case very clear that their players should never have been treated the way they were. If they are on a mission to make more statements through this championship, best of luck to them. The performances of Rhode and Ferbane has reinvigorated the championship.

Lots of big talk re Shamrocks too I think, but I'd fancy Clara to have right chance of taking their scalp in the quarter final. Lots of crap talk re Nigel here too I think. He is still their best forward imo and is well worth starting place let alone sub role. They were minding couple of injuries last day I believe so expect Bryant, Heffernan and David O Toole Greene to start v Clara. Nigel is manager but they still need him on the field and he is handul for any team on his day. Yea its a hard balance to strike but its an amateur game, so I wouldn't knock a lad from trying to do it and the players would mostly like him to still be playing so no issue there. To be fair to him, He has probably forgotten more about football than the lads knocking him ever knew.....

"He has probably forgotten more about football than the lads knocking him ever knew"

"I'd fancy Clara to have right chance of taking their scalp in the quarter final."

That's the definition of bi-polar right there. Is he the messiah who knows more than anybody else or is he overseeing a team that has 1 win in 4 (against an Edenderry in disarray) and who may be dumped out by a team from the weak group?

And, clearly the manager doesn't agree with you that he's well worth his starting place.

Where is the bi-polar A!? It is a perfectly legitimate statement. You can know a lot about football and still lose a match as a manager. Just because you know a lot about football doesn't mean your team will win. By your definition, a Mick O'Dwyer trained Wicklow should have won the Leinster or All-Ireland. Football and management doesn't work like that. Shamrocks are a decent senior team who have not achieved much in recent years. They've shown some form against Edenderry and Rhode - less so in their other games this year. They have a new manager who has been a brilliant player for them over the years. He did well coaching minors and now finds himself in as a selector with senior team. His Shamrocks team are playing a well organised Clara team that won Senior B and are coming with some momentum. What is wrong with saying that I'd fancy Clara to take a scalp v Shamrocks while also acknowledging Nigel would have a good football brain. Clara have a right good chance of making a semi-final. Plenty of people who know their football would agree with that. That is not any reflection on Nigel as a manager or his knowledge of football...... Lads are very quick to come on and run lads down for whatever reason.

[Anonymous1]

Think C Kenny was up around top of charts last year also from play. Offaly should be asking him in. He is better than plenty of lads last management had in there.

Also, if you were from Rhode, you'd be absolutely delighted at how they have gone so far, particularly given level of disrespect shown to their players by last senior football management. They've certainly made the case very clear that their players should never have been treated the way they were. If they are on a mission to make more statements through this championship, best of luck to them. The performances of Rhode and Ferbane has reinvigorated the championship.

Lots of big talk re Shamrocks too I think, but I'd fancy Clara to have right chance of taking their scalp in the quarter final. Lots of crap talk re Nigel here too I think. He is still their best forward imo and is well worth starting place let alone sub role. They were minding couple of injuries last day I believe so expect Bryant, Heffernan and David O Toole Greene to start v Clara. Nigel is manager but they still need him on the field and he is handul for any team on his day. Yea its a hard balance to strike but its an amateur game, so I wouldn't knock a lad from trying to do it and the players would mostly like him to still be playing so no issue there. To be fair to him, He has probably forgotten more about football than the lads knocking him ever knew.....

"He has probably forgotten more about football than the lads knocking him ever knew"

"I'd fancy Clara to have right chance of taking their scalp in the quarter final."

That's the definition of bi-polar right there. Is he the messiah who knows more than anybody else or is he overseeing a team that has 1 win in 4 (against an Edenderry in disarray) and who may be dumped out by a team from the weak group?

And, clearly the manager doesn't agree with you that he's well worth his starting place.

Where is the bi-polar A!? It is a perfectly legitimate statement. You can know a lot about football and still lose a match as a manager. Just because you know a lot about football doesn't mean your team will win. By your definition, a Mick O'Dwyer trained Wicklow should have won the Leinster or All-Ireland. Football and management doesn't work like that. Shamrocks are a decent senior team who have not achieved much in recent years. They've shown some form against Edenderry and Rhode - less so in their other games this year. They have a new manager who has been a brilliant player for them over the years. He did well coaching minors and now finds himself in as a selector with senior team. His Shamrocks team are playing a well organised Clara team that won Senior B and are coming with some momentum. What is wrong with saying that I'd fancy Clara to take a scalp v Shamrocks while also acknowledging Nigel would have a good football brain. Clara have a right good chance of making a semi-final. Plenty of people who know their football would agree with that. That is not any reflection on Nigel as a manager or his knowledge of football...... Lads are very quick to come on and run lads down for whatever reason.

Knowing a lot about football doesn't guarantee you'll win any individual game. The least that can be expected however is that you improve the fortunes of any team you manage like MOD did.

Nobody here has suggested Shamrocks should be winning the county title, even if some in Shamrocks expect that of themselves.

Shamrocks had Ferbane beaten last year and at the very least deserved extra time due to the phantom 2-pointer awarded.

A 13 point deficit at halftime is embarrassingly poor for any senior team, especially against a team you were on equal terms with the previous year.

Any objective analysis would suggest Shamrocks have disimproved this year and the blame always lies at the feet of the manager, rightly or wrongly.

With all due respect, showing form against Edenderry this year is like shooting fish in a barrell.

In their other three games, they've drawn one and lost two by 7 and 5 points respectively. A -12 points scoring difference in games against the big three.

I also give Clara a good chance. Not because Clara are outstanding, but because of how poor Shamrocks have been. You nor I would give Clara any chance of beating Tullamore, Rhode nor Ferbane. I think that says it all.

It's a results business. You were regularly in here slating the senior football management because they weren't producing results. Apply the same standards to people you personally like.