Club Football 2026

[DurrowBoy17]

FYI (INCASE YE DIDNT KNOW)


All Offaly semi finals are an Open Draw.
That Offaly page online from Liam White is very mis-leading the way he has done out each draw. Not the first time I've heard someone assume they have such and such in a semi final in both football and hurlng.
But it is an open draw with the exception of the 2 top teams being kept apart.

[Faithfully]

FYI (INCASE YE DIDNT KNOW)


All Offaly semi finals are an Open Draw.
That Offaly page online from Liam White is very mis-leading the way he has done out each draw. Not the first time I've heard someone assume they have such and such in a semi final in both football and hurlng.
But it is an open draw with the exception of the 2 top teams being kept apart.

I looked at it and it clearly says on the graphic that semi final pairings are TBC.

In fact, the quarter final pairing boxes don't link to the semi finals on the graphic at all.

[Old-school]

Its knock out football now so all management teams be putting out there best starting 15. I still think Tullamore is the team to beat regardless of there group stages. Shamrocks are a very dark horse i think.
So this weekend games.
Shamrocks win very convincing over Clara by 8 plus points.
Tullamore big win over Ballycommon game over at half time.
If Tullamore draw Ferbane, Tullamore to win.
Shamrocks v Rhode, Shamrocks win.
Tullamore v Shamrocks final.

I do think Shamrocks will make the Final regardless if its Rhode or Ferbane semi they are peaking at the right time and full clean bill of health.
Ferbane no rest with hurling/Football and I think they will just run out of road due to player tiredness.
And Tullamore now out of the hurling and few key players back so all in now for football.

[jimbob17]

Some bizarre odds in Paddy Power I think re football and hurling championships. Shamrocks set at 12/1 while Clara are rank outsiders at 100/1. I'd fancy Clara to have right shot at Shamrocks at weekend and fancy them to just about edge it.

I'd fancy Ballycommon to get within 6 or 7 of Tullamore too at weekend. Leavy is suspended, Burke still absent and Tullamore have not been going so well and Ballycommon are very much an underrated team, with decent forwards.

Meanwhile in hurling, Belmont are at 20/1 while team they should have beaten to top group at weekend (Ballinamere) are 9/4. Ballinamere may be shorter odds, no more than Shamrocks over Clara, but the size of gaps between both sets of teams make little sense to me - maybe its due to money laid on.

[DurrowBoy17]

RELEGATION FINALS, who will win & and who it could hurt the most:

- SENIOR A: Maybe some bias here, but I'm going with Durrow. Fact we beat Belmont last week and gave the boys 4 weeks till a semi should have us fully loaded and think they will relish a chance to keep fitness levels up.
Again maybe bias, but think it would hurt us more in the long term if we go down, because the interest levels with that current group of players may go down further with football and players coming up will only want to hurl (similar to KK).

- Senior B: Cappincur for both. They seem to be struggling for numbers in Cappincur more so than Ballycumber. Ballycumber have arguably hung on my thread the last few years, lost every game this year and probably deserve to go down. Could be a solid intermediate team, were probably punching for years.
Will be a dog-fight, but Cappincur should be too strong I think.

-Intermediate: Rhode to win (if not given the game). KK certainly deserve to go down and should be sent down after their efforts to field games this year.

-Junior A: As a Durrow man, I would not begrudge Kilclonfert staying up here. A club on it's knees and definitely need to stay up more. Again, with our hurlers winning at the weekend, I can actually seeing a few lads playing that could get us over the line and am going for a Durrow win again.

[Anon444]

RELEGATION FINALS, who will win & and who it could hurt the most:

- SENIOR A: Maybe some bias here, but I'm going with Durrow. Fact we beat Belmont last week and gave the boys 4 weeks till a semi should have us fully loaded and think they will relish a chance to keep fitness levels up.
Again maybe bias, but think it would hurt us more in the long term if we go down, because the interest levels with that current group of players may go down further with football and players coming up will only want to hurl (similar to KK).

- Senior B: Cappincur for both. They seem to be struggling for numbers in Cappincur more so than Ballycumber. Ballycumber have arguably hung on my thread the last few years, lost every game this year and probably deserve to go down. Could be a solid intermediate team, were probably punching for years.
Will be a dog-fight, but Cappincur should be too strong I think.

-Intermediate: Rhode to win (if not given the game). KK certainly deserve to go down and should be sent down after their efforts to field games this year.

-Junior A: As a Durrow man, I would not begrudge Kilclonfert staying up here. A club on it's knees and definitely need to stay up more. Again, with our hurlers winning at the weekend, I can actually seeing a few lads playing that could get us over the line and am going for a Durrow win again.

I personally would like to see Bracknagh stay up. I think Durrow have lost the war to the hurlers already and potentially are delaying the inevitable. Maybe going down might rejuvenate them as they would be strong contenders to win a championship. By right, Durrow should have been relegated last year and were saved by the championship restructure. KK are similar, it would be better for football if they went back down, as Rhode’s second team would put in more of an effort than they would.

In terms of how the games will go, I think they’ll all be 50/50, bar maybe the intermediate where Rhode should win. Durrow arguably should have beaten Bracknagh in Durrow, albeit at the start of the year, Cappincur and Ballycumber are fairly similar at the minute.

[Anon444]

Great game between Durrow and Bracknagh. Real game of 2 halves. Bracknagh were completely on top at half time and up by 12, but Durrow had a remarkable second half and out fought their opposition. Turns out their hurlers make quite good footballers.

Should say in relation to above post, there is no relegation in intermediate this year.

[bracknaghboy]

2pt win for Durrow.
Brian Duignan is one serious baller, would be an automatic starter for Offaly footballers if he wanted.
Ciaran Burke was outstanding also.
No questioning the Durrow mens commitment tonight, fully deserved win.
Cake was animated to the max tonight on the sideline. Great hours entertainment.

[Old-school]

Questions
Is Offaly better of getting rid of Senior B with only 6 teams in it and going with two groups in intermediate same as the senior A system.

[SearingDrive]

Questions
Is Offaly better of getting rid of Senior B with only 6 teams in it and going with two groups in intermediate same as the senior A system.

Would 2 groups of 8 teams in A and B be a workable solution?

[Fear Uibh]

Senior A
After a bit of a scare in the opening 5 mins going 6 points down, Shamrocks too strong for Clara in the end, Paddy Dunican's place kicking is very good.
It seems like Tullamore's Football is just going with the flow at the moment they did drive on a bit in the second half, fair play to Ballycommon for really doing what they can and in fairness they have had a really good year.
Semi Finals are hard call, i would give Ferbane a slight advantage over Shamrocks, as for Tullamore v Rhode , Tullamore will improve again i think and might just shade it over the Rhode lads, but wouldn't be surprised if Rhode came away with the win either should be a great battle.
Senior B
Daingean must be kicking themselves, young Fox 2 pointer for Tullamore was very good, Tullamore have a lot of very good young footballers, there heading for territory like K/K were there for a couple of years in the hurling with lots of good young lads but wont get much of a chance with the A team, but you can only admire Tullamore for the work they have been putting in for the last 10 years or so.
Ballinagar really are good football team, they really have a golden period in their club at the moment, having won Junior, intermediate, a leinster and a few league titles, if they lose to Tullamore will they want to go up? could that be a repreive for Bracknagh? tough final to call slight lean towards Ballinagar.

Intermediate
i've seen that Ferbane inter side a few times this year and they are impressive, their conditioning is a senior teams physique and i think they will take a lot of stopping, but if any of the remaining teams can i think the Croghan lads will give them socks of it and should be a good semi. ferbane by 1-2 points
Edenderry, i havent seen but only going on reports, there was rumours Cian Farrell was available, and if so thats a serious weapon to have in a semi final, can be as good as Dylan Hyland is for Raheen, again hard to call, Edenderry with Farrell win, without i think its very tight.
Junior
Clodiagh geals will red hot favourites v Doon, they beat doon in semi last year very convincingly, however i dont think Geals are playing as well as they were last year and Doon have improved, there a very young team with 5 lads up from minor last year and all getting game time and influencing games, looking forward to it but i think Geals will want to make sure they dont lose 2 in row.

[ruletheroost]

After the 1/4 finals

Overall Scoring
1 Harry Plunkett Tullamore 3-31 (40)
2 Peter Cunningham Bracknagh 3-27 (36)
3 Keith O'Neill Clonbullogue 3-21 (30)
3 Brian Duignan Durrow 4-18 (30)
5 Mark Troy Durrow 1-25 (28)

From Play:
1 Brian Duignan Durrow 4-18 (30)
2 Chris Kenny Ballycommon 1-15 (18)
3 Peter Cunningham Bracknagh 2-11 (17)
4 Graham Guilfoyle Clara 0-15 (15)
4 Ross Kellaghan Rhode 3-6 (15)
4 Ruairí McNamee Rhode 0-15 (15

[DurrowBoy17]

The emergence of Brian Duignan as a footballer has been incredible this year.
Was always a big athletic lad that could kick ball to a decent enough club level.

But he now looks County level standard. Im sure Solan might be trying to lure him over to the big ball. But I'd say it would be a minor miracle for him to convince Brian to switch codes.

[DurrowBoy17]

Senior A
After a bit of a scare in the opening 5 mins going 6 points down, Shamrocks too strong for Clara in the end, Paddy Dunican's place kicking is very good.
It seems like Tullamore's Football is just going with the flow at the moment they did drive on a bit in the second half, fair play to Ballycommon for really doing what they can and in fairness they have had a really good year.
Semi Finals are hard call, i would give Ferbane a slight advantage over Shamrocks, as for Tullamore v Rhode , Tullamore will improve again i think and might just shade it over the Rhode lads, but wouldn't be surprised if Rhode came away with the win either should be a great battle.
Senior B
Daingean must be kicking themselves, young Fox 2 pointer for Tullamore was very good, Tullamore have a lot of very good young footballers, there heading for territory like K/K were there for a couple of years in the hurling with lots of good young lads but wont get much of a chance with the A team, but you can only admire Tullamore for the work they have been putting in for the last 10 years or so.
Ballinagar really are good football team, they really have a golden period in their club at the moment, having won Junior, intermediate, a leinster and a few league titles, if they lose to Tullamore will they want to go up? could that be a repreive for Bracknagh? tough final to call slight lean towards Ballinagar.

Intermediate
i've seen that Ferbane inter side a few times this year and they are impressive, their conditioning is a senior teams physique and i think they will take a lot of stopping, but if any of the remaining teams can i think the Croghan lads will give them socks of it and should be a good semi. ferbane by 1-2 points
Edenderry, i havent seen but only going on reports, there was rumours Cian Farrell was available, and if so thats a serious weapon to have in a semi final, can be as good as Dylan Hyland is for Raheen, again hard to call, Edenderry with Farrell win, without i think its very tight.
Junior
Clodiagh geals will red hot favourites v Doon, they beat doon in semi last year very convincingly, however i dont think Geals are playing as well as they were last year and Doon have improved, there a very young team with 5 lads up from minor last year and all getting game time and influencing games, looking forward to it but i think Geals will want to make sure they dont lose 2 in row.

Some cracking semi-finals / Finals to look forward to.

Really interested to see the repeat affairs of Shamrocks Ferbane and Rhode Tullamore. I feel both Shamrocks and Tullamore will be much improved.

[The Magpie]

Both of the Quarter finals went according to form at the weekend.

Although Clara had a decent start, they ultimately didn't win the battle of the kick-outs. At a guess, Shamrocks must have had 65% of the ball - making it all but impossible for Clara to win. Clara's discipline probably could've been better at times. I think Paddy Dunican scored 1-9 from frees/a penalty - some of those frees were avoidable.

All in all, a decent year for Clara. Although some were tipping an upset at the weekend, it's easy to forget that Clara spent two years in the Senior B grade, while Shamrocks have improved year-on-year since the two teams played in the Senior relegation play-off in 2023.

Shamrocks will have to improve to beat Ferbane, but they already know that.

The Tullamore-Ballycommon game showed that Tullamore are really quite vulnerable in the middle of the field and despite overpowering Ballycommon, this is a factor that will give the remaining teams firm hope of upsetting them.

Well done to Tullamore and Shamrocks and a special mention for Durrow, who somehow managed to rescue their year in 30 minutes of football.