Club Football 2026

[DurrowBoy17]

Didn't see him.
Assumed he wasn't let play by Essendon who's season is over a few weeks now.

[ruletheroost]

Top scorers after semi finals

Overall
1 Harry Plunkett Tullamore 3-34 (43)
2 Peter Cunningham Bracknagh 3-27 (36)
3 Brian Duignan Durrow 4-18 (30)
3 Keith O’Neill Clonbullogue 3-21 (30)
5 Mark Troy Durrow 1-25 (28)

From play
1 Brian Duignan Durrow 4-18 (30)
2 Jack Bryant Shamrocks 2-13 (19)
3 Chris Kenny Ballycommon 1-15 (18)
4 Cian Johnson Ferbane 3-8 (17)
4 Peter Cunningham Bracknagh 2-11 (17)
4 Ross Kellaghan Rhode 3-8 (17)

[Behindthegoal]

Offaly football championship one of the most boring in the country after waterford hurling? All these games just for the same two teams to end up in the final again. burke has decided not to play himself incase he gets injured for new afl sesson

[Lone Shark]

Not quite as straight forward as that.
Tullamore are hardly in lonely company. Other examples of Irish towns with populations over 10,000 that are still essentially served by one main GAA club include Naas, Portlaoise, Castlebar, Cavan, Longford, Celbridge, Maynooth, Kildare Town, Ratoath, Ashbourne, Balbriggan, Skerries, Rush, Malahide, Portmarnock, Bray, Greystones, Wicklow Town, Gorey, Ballincollig, Carrigaline, Midleton, Mallow, Shannon, Ballina and Laytown-Bettystown-Mornington.

So that's 27–28 of the 49 towns (or around 55–57%) that have a population of over 10,000 in the Republic of Ireland that can reasonably be described as predominantly one GAA club towns.

I wouldn't count areas like Ratoath, Ballincollig, Rush, Greystones etc. as towns in the same vein as Portlaoise, Tullamore, Cavan, Ballina etc.

All these areas have had a huge amount of development but the latter four are long established big towns that have a culture and history outside of sport, and a strong GAA tradition going back generations. The others are towns that were no bigger than a Ferbane or Daingean, but that suddenly got swallowed up housing estates as far as the eye can see. I'm not saying they're not a challenge for the GAA, but they are a different type of challenge, not one that is applicable to Tullamore's situation.

[biffinbanner]

tullamore 1/3 ferbane 2/1 to lift cup. seems a bit closer in my thinking but the highly paid odds compilers of boylesports might know more than me.

[faithfulfanatic]

tullamore 1/3 ferbane 2/1 to lift cup. seems a bit closer in my thinking but the highly paid odds compilers of boylesports might know more than me.

I've always been interested as to what goes into these odds.
I think loneshark said he previously worked for a bookmakers and might be able to shed some light?

How many people would be compiling these odds?
What is it based on: form/history/where the money comes? It's not like a Premier league match as a local wedding or holiday or row could decide who's available on a given day.
Are the odds compilers scouring forums such as this for local news or is it all in the numbers and statistics?
I assume it wouldn't take too much money to change a price?

[Snotser123]

As championship comes to a finish who are we thinking is putting the hand up for county squad......a real lack of county level forward the worry again in your top senior teams ....Nally will surely choose hurling again ? Cian farrell and Aaron keelaghan to make themselves available? For all the talk about rhode men being left out last year Jesus Christ I can't think think of anyone putting their hand up from that group?.....Kieran dolan and David Rourke hopefully looked at from shamrocks......tullamore great team performance again yesterday but outside of plunkett still no offering to an Offaly panel out of their forwards.....does Hogan come back in at full back , not sure if retired himself or just left in a huff over not being captain? No spring chicken but twice the player of who we were looking at last year in that position .....

[Wingbackassassin]

As championship comes to a finish who are we thinking is putting the hand up for county squad......a real lack of county level forward the worry again in your top senior teams ....Nally will surely choose hurling again ? Cian farrell and Aaron keelaghan to make themselves available? For all the talk about rhode men being left out last year Jesus Christ I can't think think of anyone putting their hand up from that group?.....Kieran dolan and David Rourke hopefully looked at from shamrocks......tullamore great team performance again yesterday but outside of plunkett still no offering to an Offaly panel out of their forwards.....does Hogan come back in at full back , not sure if retired himself or just left in a huff over not being captain? No spring chicken but twice the player of who we were looking at last year in that position .....

Kieran Dolan and David O'Rourke based off the Shamrocks game?
Thought Dara Bates was the only Shamrocks player who actually showed intent and ran at his opposite number.
Keleghan and Farrell hopefully.
All other Rhode players either too young/lacking ability or too old. Aaron McBride was probably the pick of Rhodes new contingent but he's a back.
Hogan definitely more than good enough.
Mike Fox would be good enough too only for his size he won't get a chance.

[MarkCassidy5]

Going off the results yesterday I would say Ferbane are happy out and have found some depth in their squad and took the concession of goals in their stride and kept going with a nice level of composure.
Doing all this without Cathal Flynn as well is impressive.

I think shamrocks did quite well and made a game of it so I wouldn’t be completely despondent if I was them.

Rhode were poor and maybe if they played again next weekend they would give tullamore a game of it but their handling skills were the poorest of the four teams and discipline could have been better. Whatever kickout plan was in place didnt come to pass. That happened last year as well

Tullamore beat what was in front of them without leaving 3rd gear. They have that tried and tested champion feel even if they aren’t as feared as they were before.

With the Offaly hat on it is stark how the games were so open and while it’s nice to watch attacking football I’d love to see the turnover figures of our championship semis and finals versus other counties because it felt like teams struggled to force turnovers.

In terms of a county watch level There were a couple of players and battles that did stand out across the day like Patrick Dunican,11 shamrocks, he has a bit of fire. Leon Fox did well for Ferbane, Shane O’Toole Greene versus David Nally was entertaining and the shamrocks man edged it for me and that’s coming from a place of me rating David Nally as someone I’d have all day long near the county team.

Diarmuid Egan for Tullamore was impressive and ran things early for them, Harry Plunkett just finishes with decent score tallies at club level and you can’t but admire the lad. The tullamore goalie was brilliant on the rhode kick out so fair play and without Bourke with him Aaron Leavy was able to quietly put his mark on the middle third and ensure things went Tullamore’s way.

The battle between Cormac Egan and Ruairi McNamee was compelling for the wrong reasons and it leaves a bad taste. Cormac is easily the player where in a transfer market GAA we would be fielding calls and bids for him from elite counties but yesterday he went to physically impose himself and get hands on with Ruairi. Repeatedly Ruairi went and highlighted this to Marius Stones by drawing it in front of his nose and Marius did nothing to favour the guy trying to play football and that is completely wrong. At the stage where it should have become apparent to Ruairi what was going on and that he was going to get absolutely no protection I think he should have acted physically towards Cormac Egan. We hope to see Ruairi back in the county panel and he will have learned a lot from the battle yesterday but I think he may need to explore the dark arts further so he is able to play his football when he wants as well. If Cormac Egan does the same to David Nally in the final I hope we have a referee who will step in and act decisively and properly. Ive no doubts Nally coming from hurling will be more versed in dealing with that kind of attention.
Finally playing Cormac as a man marker for tullamore is worrying and a waste of talent when the fella he is on makes sure that he is one of the three stuck behind the breach line when Tullamore get the ball back. You don’t win a Leinster without him as a scoring outlet.

[DurrowBoy17]

It was pointed out to me by a Ferbane man yesterday that Cathal Flynn, although still a loss for Ferbane, he's a much bigger loss to Offaly than he is for Ferbane.
This wasn't to imply Ferbane is better than Offaly, he was just making the point Ferbane have David Nally & Jake Maher at wing backs and have been their best players this year and create everything for them from defence to attack.
With Offaly, they don't seem to have anyone like that currently. I thought it was a good and interesting point and couldn't argue with it.

[Snotser123]

Ya Flynn is some loss to offaly mens team, a real link player ....no one to replace him simple as.....no didn't mean Rourke and dolan off yesterday's game just meant in general them seem like lads with the right fitness and drive should be in or around our county panel .....as for cormacs physicality they reality is we don't have enough of that in senior club football in offaky and it's why our lads are lost when they get hit by your meaths and westmeaths etc etc.....ruari is long enough in the tooth now to be able to deal with what comes his way or figure a way around it....the nearest tidiest forwards in all club champis around the country have to deal with it ....it's big boys stuff

[Anonymous1]

It was pointed out to me by a Ferbane man yesterday that Cathal Flynn, although still a loss for Ferbane, he's a much bigger loss to Offaly than he is for Ferbane.
This wasn't to imply Ferbane is better than Offaly, he was just making the point Ferbane have David Nally & Jake Maher at wing backs and have been their best players this year and create everything for them from defence to attack.
With Offaly, they don't seem to have anyone like that currently. I thought it was a good and interesting point and couldn't argue with it.

This is a nonsense argument.

He's "not as big of a loss to Ferbane" because they're one of only two decent teams in the county. They could lose a number of players and still make the final due to how poor the rest of the competition is.

Rhode have been past their sell-by date for a number of years and Shamrocks, despite all the big talk, flatter to deceive year after year.

Tullamore are favourites until proven otherwise. 8 of the Ferbane starting 15 will line out on Sunday against Ballinamere, it surely has to catch up on them at some stage.

When was the last time a club made the final in both codes? Tullamore in 1946?

[Lone Shark]

I've always been interested as to what goes into these odds.
I think loneshark said he previously worked for a bookmakers and might be able to shed some light?

How many people would be compiling these odds?
What is it based on: form/history/where the money comes? It's not like a Premier league match as a local wedding or holiday or row could decide who's available on a given day.
Are the odds compilers scouring forums such as this for local news or is it all in the numbers and statistics?
I assume it wouldn't take too much money to change a price?

Yeah, one of my many former lives....

It's not all that scientific to be honest - all the derivative markets about winning margins, total goals, they are all quite mathematical, but the fundamental bit on how superior team A is to team B is very much a gut feeling thing, based on the info around you.

Yes, they would have local spies in some places who would have varying levels of insight, but it is as simple as this is what you do all day, you get to a point where you are just pretty au fait with every county player in Ireland, and indeed the club players of all the main clubs as well.

They would keep data on each player in terms of their scoring numbers, they would absolutely track local media and forums like this one, and the amount of money it would take to change a price would vary completely based on the standard of the game.

You're not wrong that when it's a round robin game, there could be a few players gone on holiday or a wedding as you say, and in that instance, someone looking for €500 on a 2/1 outsider, if they're not someone who places bets like that very regularly, would lead to a price cut.

However for a county final, it's different - no senior player from Ferbane or Tullamore is going to miss the final because he's on holiday, and the form is well-established, so they'll be a lot happier to stand a decent bet here.

In terms of why Tullamore are that price, I'd say that normally, that would equate to a handicap of about three or 3.5 points. In this instance it will be shorter for the simple reason that the form over the last three years is very consistent. The sides are very evenly matched in terms of their footballing ability and quality, but Tullamore have always found a way to win, and both winning and losing becomes a habit. I cannot praise these Ferbane lads highly enough in that they have a great attitude, are utterly committed and will do everything they can for the club and the parish, but if it's level with ten minutes to go, it's Tullamore who will feel that they've been here before and they know that they have it in them, Ferbane will have to try and battle a few quite stubborn mental demons. So I expect a two point handicap, but a match price of 2/5 Tullamore, 5/2 Ferbane and 7/1 the draw.

The only things that are different this year are Flynn's injury (very significant), Bourke's absence (quite significant), Leon Fox's return (significant) and Tullamore winning the Senior B, to prove that there is great depth in the club and plenty more decent players to call on if needed (relevant, but the least important aspect of the four). There are new players all right, but Ferbane have Jake Maher playing brilliantly and James Wren is a find, Tullamore have Patrick Kenna and Jack Maher going very well, I'd say there's no advantage to either side there. All in all, Tullamore have been a score or two better for each of the last three finals, and until Ferbane prove otherwise, that's how the bookies will pitch a game like this.

[Anonymous1]

I've always been interested as to what goes into these odds.
I think loneshark said he previously worked for a bookmakers and might be able to shed some light?

How many people would be compiling these odds?
What is it based on: form/history/where the money comes? It's not like a Premier league match as a local wedding or holiday or row could decide who's available on a given day.
Are the odds compilers scouring forums such as this for local news or is it all in the numbers and statistics?
I assume it wouldn't take too much money to change a price?

Yeah, one of my many former lives....

It's not all that scientific to be honest - all the derivative markets about winning margins, total goals, they are all quite mathematical, but the fundamental bit on how superior team A is to team B is very much a gut feeling thing, based on the info around you.

Yes, they would have local spies in some places who would have varying levels of insight, but it is as simple as this is what you do all day, you get to a point where you are just pretty au fait with every county player in Ireland, and indeed the club players of all the main clubs as well.

They would keep data on each player in terms of their scoring numbers, they would absolutely track local media and forums like this one, and the amount of money it would take to change a price would vary completely based on the standard of the game.

You're not wrong that when it's a round robin game, there could be a few players gone on holiday or a wedding as you say, and in that instance, someone looking for €500 on a 2/1 outsider, if they're not someone who places bets like that very regularly, would lead to a price cut.

However for a county final, it's different - no senior player from Ferbane or Tullamore is going to miss the final because he's on holiday, and the form is well-established, so they'll be a lot happier to stand a decent bet here.

In terms of why Tullamore are that price, I'd say that normally, that would equate to a handicap of about three or 3.5 points. In this instance it will be shorter for the simple reason that the form over the last three years is very consistent. The sides are very evenly matched in terms of their footballing ability and quality, but Tullamore have always found a way to win, and both winning and losing becomes a habit. I cannot praise these Ferbane lads highly enough in that they have a great attitude, are utterly committed and will do everything they can for the club and the parish, but if it's level with ten minutes to go, it's Tullamore who will feel that they've been here before and they know that they have it in them, Ferbane will have to try and battle a few quite stubborn mental demons. So I expect a two point handicap, but a match price of 2/5 Tullamore, 5/2 Ferbane and 7/1 the draw.

The only things that are different this year are Flynn's injury (very significant), Bourke's absence (quite significant), Leon Fox's return (significant) and Tullamore winning the Senior B, to prove that there is great depth in the club and plenty more decent players to call on if needed (relevant, but the least important aspect of the four). There are new players all right, but Ferbane have Jake Maher playing brilliantly and James Wren is a find, Tullamore have Patrick Kenna and Jack Maher going very well, I'd say there's no advantage to either side there. All in all, Tullamore have been a score or two better for each of the last three finals, and until Ferbane prove otherwise, that's how the bookies will pitch a game like this.

This was an insightful post.

The only thing I'd disagree with is I feel Ferbane have added greater depth since last year's final. Four of last year's starting team in the final (K Nugent, A Egan, C Grennan and J Clancy) are now on the bench. Replaced by Fox, Maher x2 and Higgins.

[jonsey]

tullamore great team performance again yesterday but outside of plunkett still no offering to an Offaly panel out of their forwards.....

not a county forward, has no pace