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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.

Another horrendous take “behind the goal” , for once you didn’t mention yourself, stick to the TikTok’s kid.

VicarOfDibley wrote: ↑Sun Aug 30, 2026 8:09 pm Another horrendous take “behind the goal” , for once you didn’t mention yourself, stick to the TikTok’s kid.

Just ignore the nonsense posters like that.

Anonymous1 wrote: ↑Sun Aug 30, 2026 7:06 pm 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

faithfulfanatic wrote: ↑Mon Aug 31, 2026 9:41 am

Anonymous1 wrote: ↑Sun Aug 30, 2026 7:06 pm 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.

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

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.

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.