Club Football 2026

[Snotser123]

Agree, no pace not even a sidestep but let's be honest is defo deserving of a squad place ....constantly showing up kicking his scores for tullamore admittedly mostly from set plays and scored in almost every game last year when he came on for offaly .....but absolutely agree he shouldn't be a starting forward for Offaly

[TownieTim253]

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.

Stupid statement, Cormac was given a man marking job to do and I'm sure he was told to be touch tight at all times due to the danger that McNamee poses. The ref gave Ruairi a free on the stroke of half time for Cormac pulling off the ball and also gave another free in the second half for the same thing along with a yellow for Cormac. So anything illegal was actually spotted by the ref. Cormac isn't known for man marking but did a good job, he was physical at times which he is entitled to be, it's a mans game. I've seen a lot more physical man marking jobs than that, you wouldn't want to be watching any Ulster Counties' club games.

[Behindthegoal]

“you wont win leinster without him as a scoring outlet” was also not a bright statement cormac has never been a prolific scorer his biggest strenghts are his pace and his strenght hes not technically amazing doesnt play kickpasses and wont shoot unless hes 25m out straight in front of goal so why not use him as a man marker when ruairi mcnamee destroyed tullamore in the group game what was the alternative let him do it again?

also interesting that john furlong isnt back defending too much and spent a lot of time as one of tullamores 3 attacking players has he been rushed back and trying to conserve energy or legs?

[Wingbackassassin]

Passage from Offaly Express article with Tullamore Senior B player Kevin O'Brien, who also does S&C with the Senior As:

He pointed out that Tullamore isn't as big a club as some outsiders think and have a “quite small playing community”.

Their junior A and B teams train together as separate squads and the senior and senior B footballers go together but when you take out county players from these, it is a “small enough squad”.

“I know people from the outside might scoff at that but it is the way it is,” he insisted. Tullamore also took players from senior B to senior as required this year with Davin Keegan the last to go before the final group game. “And he fully deserved it. Senior B is a great breeding ground for senior and he has made the step up really well. We have small enough numbers in terms of that senior B squad at the moment but there is a really good standard of player there.”

I don't think Kevin appreciates what a small squad is - that is massive numbers for any club to have
Any rural club would bite your hand off for the playing numbers that would be lost in one Tullamore estate.

I wouldn't do it to him because (1) he's a fierce sound lad who probably thought he was just giving stock answers to a county final preview rather than really delving into a serious issue, and (2) I'd be accused of stirring up shite in Ferbane's cause if I did so, but if I was in that chat, the obvious comeback to someone from Tullamore saying that they have a quite small playing community is that they appear to be advocating for a second club in the town to ensure that the playing numbers are a lot closer to the level that they should be.

As was pointed out by Tar Man above, there are demographic shifts underway and the GAA needs to respond, and while Tullamore isn't an egregious case of a town being too big for one club in the same bracket as Portlaoise and Naas that have in excess of 20,000 people, Athlone and Mullingar are two towns that are both well able to sustain not just two clubs each but two big senior clubs each, Drogheda has five clubs for three times the population, while Arklow and Enniscorthy both have two GAA clubs (and not two clubs in the way that Ballinamere and Durrow are two clubs) operating within the confines of the town area.

And before anyone comes back and tries to argue about Cappincur or Durrow coming right in on top of the town, every urban area has that. Naas has Sallins, Carlow has Graiguecullen, Mullingar has Shandonagh, Kilanerin come in on top of Naomh Éanna in Wexford etc.. We're talking about right within the town here.

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.

Great points. The majority of towns with over 10k population such as Tullamore are one club towns.
Also the argument that a second club in the town would increase playing numbers is extremely unlikely imo. It could well do the opposite. The reason that the playing percentage is higher in rural areas is because the gaa club is the only immediate sporting outlet. This is not the case in the aforementioned towns. Therefore adding another gaa club to an already long list of sports competing against eachother could easily have the opposite effect.

[Silken Thomas 2]

Anyone with a true interest in our native games wanted to attend Gaelic Sunday in O’Connor Park last week. The crowd was a far cry from the original in 1918, the zeitgeist totally incomparable but I’m fairly sure some of the resplendent football was easier on the eye.

It’s the second year with the new rules and the opportunity to obstruct and filibuster has been severely curtailed. A knock on effect is there are now too many teams masquerading as senior standard in Offaly. The rich are getting richer. There’s a class system in Offaly football now. The tenant genuflects to the agent who in turn kneels to his landlord.

Tullamore really do have a vice like grip on the Dowling cup. I expected to see their hegemony tested at least but they show no sign of relenting yet… their goalkeeper intimidated the Rhode midfield and gave an exhibition of competing in the air. Aaron Leavy also lording over Sean Hurley. Cormac Egan is an attacker really, who can also crucially moonlight as a suffocating man marker. Ruairi Mcnamee was denied his elysian canvass. Egan clearly had remembered the final of ‘22.
The blues were first to the ball while the village were late to the tackle. That did not phase the town team. Playing into the wind seems to bring out the best in them.

Rhode seemed to forget their group form and bar the first ten minutes, their rebellious streak. A month is a long time to wait for a faction fight. The Parnell split with the county team has not done them any favours and with the exception of Aaron Kelleghan, that should probably continue. Possession is key and without it, Rhode lost their confidence and then their way. I have never seen them kick as many balls over the side and end line before, never seen them as profligate. I guess Tullamore’s tackling will do that to you.

Shamrocks have gradually found their way from quite a tenebrous level. They needed everything to go their way and they couldn’t have hoped for a better start. They were gradually ground down though. Out gunned at midfield. With injuries and Shane O’Toole Green pushed up on David Nally, they lacked answers to the Ferbane press. When they did seem to break through, a wily Fox was waiting. Even the acumen of their player manager wasn’t enough.

Ferbane look to have signed a solemn covenant of sorts this year. They won’t be denied. They are always hungry for the turnover and gave some of the Shamrocks lesser lights a torrid time. Their ability to fashion a scoring attempt commands respect but can they maximise it for the final? Fisting the ball over the bar is a cop out. Jake Maher has scythed through defences this year and is just one of their unheralded attacking weapons. Lots of options waiting in the long grass.

The long fight for self government mirrors Ferbane’s struggle. I would never underestimate the want to right a wrong. I feel they will get there soon but with no confidence it will be on October 11th…

[Silken Thomas 2]

Anyone with a true interest in our native games wanted to attend Gaelic Sunday in O’Connor Park last week. The crowd was a far cry from the original in 1918, the zeitgeist totally incomparable but I’m fairly sure some of the resplendent football was easier on the eye.

It’s the second year with the new rules and the opportunity to obstruct and filibuster has been severely curtailed. A knock on effect is there are now too many teams masquerading as senior standard in Offaly. The rich are getting richer. There’s a class system in Offaly football now. The tenant genuflects to the agent who in turn kneels to his landlord.

Tullamore really do have a vice like grip on the Dowling cup. I expected to see their hegemony tested at least but they show no sign of relenting yet… their goalkeeper intimidated the Rhode midfield and gave an exhibition of competing in the air. Aaron Leavy also lording over Sean Hurley. Cormac Egan is an attacker really, who can also crucially moonlight as a suffocating man marker. Ruairi Mcnamee was denied his elysian canvass. Egan clearly had remembered the final of ‘22.
The blues were first to the ball while the village were late to the tackle. That did not phase the town team. Playing into the wind seems to bring out the best in them.

Rhode seemed to forget their group form and bar the first ten minutes, their rebellious streak. A month is a long time to wait for a faction fight. The Parnell split with the county team has not done them any favours and with the exception of Aaron Kelleghan, that should probably continue. Possession is key and without it, Rhode lost their confidence and then their way. I have never seen them kick as many balls over the side and end line before, never seen them as profligate. I guess Tullamore’s tackling will do that to you.

Shamrocks have gradually found their way from quite a tenebrous level. They needed everything to go their way and they couldn’t have hoped for a better start. They were gradually ground down though. Out gunned at midfield. With injuries and Shane O’Toole Green pushed up on David Nally, they lacked answers to the Ferbane press. When they did seem to break through, a wily Fox was waiting. Even the acumen of their player manager wasn’t enough.

Ferbane look to have signed a solemn covenant of sorts this year. They won’t be denied. They are always hungry for the turnover and gave some of the Shamrocks lesser lights a torrid time. Their ability to fashion a scoring attempt commands respect but can they maximise it for the final? Fisting the ball over the bar is a cop out. Jake Maher has scythed through defences this year and is just one of their unheralded attacking weapons. Lots of options waiting in the long grass.

The ardous fight for self government mirrors Ferbane’s struggle. I would never underestimate the want to right a wrong. I feel they will get there soon but with no confidence it will be on October 11th…

[Silken Thomas 2]

Anyone with a true interest in our native games wanted to attend Gaelic Sunday in O’Connor Park last week. The crowd was a far cry from the original in 1918, the zeitgeist totally incomparable but I’m fairly sure some of the resplendent football was easier on the eye.

It’s the second year with the new rules and the opportunity to obstruct and filibuster has been severely curtailed. A knock on effect is there are now too many teams masquerading as senior standard in Offaly. The rich are getting richer. There’s a class system in Offaly football now. The tenant genuflects to the agent who in turn kneels to his landlord.

Tullamore really do have a vice like grip on the Dowling cup. I expected to see their hegemony tested at least but they show no sign of relenting yet… their goalkeeper intimidated the Rhode midfield and gave an exhibition of competing in the air. Aaron Leavy also lording over Sean Hurley. Cormac Egan is an attacker really, who can also crucially moonlight as a suffocating man marker. Ruairi Mcnamee was denied his elysian canvass. Egan clearly had remembered the final of ‘22.
The blues were first to the ball while the village were late to the tackle. That did not phase the town team. Playing into the wind seems to bring out the best in them.

Rhode seemed to forget their group form and bar the first ten minutes, their rebellious streak. A month is a long time to wait for a faction fight. The Parnell split with the county team has not done them any favours and with the exception of Aaron Kelleghan, that should probably continue. Possession is key and without it, Rhode lost their confidence and then their way. I have never seen them kick as many balls over the side and end line before, never seen them as profligate. I guess Tullamore’s tackling will do that to you.

Shamrocks have gradually found their way from quite a tenebrous level. They needed everything to go their way and they couldn’t have hoped for a better start. They were gradually ground down though. Out gunned at midfield. With injuries and Shane O’Toole Green pushed up on David Nally, they lacked answers to the Ferbane press. When they did seem to break through, a wily Fox was waiting. Even the acumen of their player manager wasn’t enough.

Ferbane look to have signed a solemn covenant of sorts this year. They won’t be denied. They are always hungry for the turnover and gave some of the Shamrocks lesser lights a torrid time. Their ability to fashion a scoring attempt commands respect but can they maximise it for the final? Fisting the ball over the bar is a cop out. Jake Maher has scythed through defences this year and is just one of their unheralded attacking weapons. Lots of options waiting in the long grass.

The arduous fight for self government mirrors Ferbane’s struggle. I would never underestimate the want to right a wrong. I feel they will get there soon but with no confidence it will be on October 11th…

[Hasselhoff]

Anyone with a true interest in our native games wanted to attend Gaelic Sunday in O’Connor Park last week. The crowd was a far cry from the original in 1918, the zeitgeist totally incomparable but I’m fairly sure some of the resplendent football was easier on the eye.

It’s the second year with the new rules and the opportunity to obstruct and filibuster has been severely curtailed. A knock on effect is there are now too many teams masquerading as senior standard in Offaly. The rich are getting richer. There’s a class system in Offaly football now. The tenant genuflects to the agent who in turn kneels to his landlord.

Tullamore really do have a vice like grip on the Dowling cup. I expected to see their hegemony tested at least but they show no sign of relenting yet… their goalkeeper intimidated the Rhode midfield and gave an exhibition of competing in the air. Aaron Leavy also lording over Sean Hurley. Cormac Egan is an attacker really, who can also crucially moonlight as a suffocating man marker. Ruairi Mcnamee was denied his elysian canvass. Egan clearly had remembered the final of ‘22.
The blues were first to the ball while the village were late to the tackle. That did not phase the town team. Playing into the wind seems to bring out the best in them.

Rhode seemed to forget their group form and bar the first ten minutes, their rebellious streak. A month is a long time to wait for a faction fight. The Parnell split with the county team has not done them any favours and with the exception of Aaron Kelleghan, that should probably continue. Possession is key and without it, Rhode lost their confidence and then their way. I have never seen them kick as many balls over the side and end line before, never seen them as profligate. I guess Tullamore’s tackling will do that to you.

Shamrocks have gradually found their way from quite a tenebrous level. They needed everything to go their way and they couldn’t have hoped for a better start. They were gradually ground down though. Out gunned at midfield. With injuries and Shane O’Toole Green pushed up on David Nally, they lacked answers to the Ferbane press. When they did seem to break through, a wily Fox was waiting. Even the acumen of their player manager wasn’t enough.

Ferbane look to have signed a solemn covenant of sorts this year. They won’t be denied. They are always hungry for the turnover and gave some of the Shamrocks lesser lights a torrid time. Their ability to fashion a scoring attempt commands respect but can they maximise it for the final? Fisting the ball over the bar is a cop out. Jake Maher has scythed through defences this year and is just one of their unheralded attacking weapons. Lots of options waiting in the long grass.

The long fight for self government mirrors Ferbane’s struggle. I would never underestimate the want to right a wrong. I feel they will get there soon but with no confidence it will be on October 11th…

Reads like something Joe Brolly would write in the Sunday independent.
Is that you Joe?

[DurrowBoy17]

Would I be correct and saying if Tullamore win this final they brake the County Title Records and move 1 ahead of Rhode to 32 titles??

Also, would be a big feat for them to win 4 in a row. Again if memory serves me right. The last time over 3 in a row was completed was by Ferbane in the 80s when they completed 5 in a row.
Would have always seen Rhodes team of the earlier 2000s and 2010s as a lot more dominant, but yet they never surpassed 3 in a row.

[Plain of the Herbs]

Yes, Tullamore and Rhode currently tied on 31 titles each. Rhode's 2016 win drew them level with Tullamore for the first time on 27 each. Rhode went ahead for the first time in 2017 before opening a 31 28 lead with their most recent win in 2022. Tullamore restored parity with last year's win.

Tullamore did four in a row when winning the first four championships (1896 to 1899 inclusive). Last year was their first time to win three in a row since 1924 to '26 inclusive.

Rhode's team perhaps seen as more dominant because they were around for longer - consistently reaching finals for 20 years between 2003 and 2022.

Would I be correct and saying if Tullamore win this final they brake the County Title Records and move 1 ahead of Rhode to 32 titles??

Also, would be a big feat for them to win 4 in a row. Again if memory serves me right. The last time over 3 in a row was completed was by Ferbane in the 80s when they completed 5 in a row.
Would have always seen Rhodes team of the earlier 2000s and 2010s as a lot more dominant, but yet they never surpassed 3 in a row.

[Plain of the Herbs]

Not a hope in Hell Brolly - or anyone else in the Sindo - could write like that. Not in a month of Sundays. Or a month of Sunday Independents.

Great to see ST back. It's been too long.

Reads like something Joe Brolly would write in the Sunday independent.
Is that you Joe?

[SearingDrive]

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?

Interesting and valid point on the 8 Ferbane players involved with Belmont v Ballinamere at the weekend. Tullamore can concentrate just on Football.
The Blues are the favourites, should be a good final. Will Ferbane’s determination to avoid a fourth County Final loss get them over the line Sunday week?

[Offaly Hero]

Anyone with a true interest in our native games wanted to attend Gaelic Sunday in O’Connor Park last week. The crowd was a far cry from the original in 1918, the zeitgeist totally incomparable but I’m fairly sure some of the resplendent football was easier on the eye.

It’s the second year with the new rules and the opportunity to obstruct and filibuster has been severely curtailed. A knock on effect is there are now too many teams masquerading as senior standard in Offaly. The rich are getting richer. There’s a class system in Offaly football now. The tenant genuflects to the agent who in turn kneels to his landlord.

Tullamore really do have a vice like grip on the Dowling cup. I expected to see their hegemony tested at least but they show no sign of relenting yet… their goalkeeper intimidated the Rhode midfield and gave an exhibition of competing in the air. Aaron Leavy also lording over Sean Hurley. Cormac Egan is an attacker really, who can also crucially moonlight as a suffocating man marker. Ruairi Mcnamee was denied his elysian canvass. Egan clearly had remembered the final of ‘22.
The blues were first to the ball while the village were late to the tackle. That did not phase the town team. Playing into the wind seems to bring out the best in them.

Rhode seemed to forget their group form and bar the first ten minutes, their rebellious streak. A month is a long time to wait for a faction fight. The Parnell split with the county team has not done them any favours and with the exception of Aaron Kelleghan, that should probably continue. Possession is key and without it, Rhode lost their confidence and then their way. I have never seen them kick as many balls over the side and end line before, never seen them as profligate. I guess Tullamore’s tackling will do that to you.

Shamrocks have gradually found their way from quite a tenebrous level. They needed everything to go their way and they couldn’t have hoped for a better start. They were gradually ground down though. Out gunned at midfield. With injuries and Shane O’Toole Green pushed up on David Nally, they lacked answers to the Ferbane press. When they did seem to break through, a wily Fox was waiting. Even the acumen of their player manager wasn’t enough.

Ferbane look to have signed a solemn covenant of sorts this year. They won’t be denied. They are always hungry for the turnover and gave some of the Shamrocks lesser lights a torrid time. Their ability to fashion a scoring attempt commands respect but can they maximise it for the final? Fisting the ball over the bar is a cop out. Jake Maher has scythed through defences this year and is just one of their unheralded attacking weapons. Lots of options waiting in the long grass.

The long fight for self government mirrors Ferbane’s struggle. I would never underestimate the want to right a wrong. I feel they will get there soon but with no confidence it will be on October 11th…

Brilliant stuff, thanks!

[biffinbanner]

were lucky to have silken thomas amongst us!! brilliant post.and so true. oct 11 is groundhog day for a lot of long suffering ferbane supporters. same walk, same chat,same hope, same opposition. lets hope for a different result. and a fair ref.

[Offalysupporter26]

Ferbane and tullamore has the real making of a good final if both teams decide to go at it. Both will be confident they can win with current form, Ferbane been consistent all year and tullamore coming back to full strength at the right time.
It’s a pity most of the Ferbane contingent will opt for the county hurling panel as they would add plenty to the senior footballers as we lack forwards in the county. Going off the scoring charts plunkett lacks pace so struggles at county level especially when the ground gets hard. Cunningham retired two years now little chance of a return. O Neill will be there and then Cian Johnson has been tried and tested and just isn’t up to that level of football.
Best of luck to both teams and hopefully the weather plays its part and makes a good final for all to watch.