Senior Football Q-Finals and Relegation

[Lone Shark]

It's sad for Gracefield people, but from a county point of view, it's better to get back to a situation where relegation is a real threat, keeping clubs on their toes. For the last five years in Offaly clubs like Ferbane, Edenderry and Shannonbridge have been underachieving, and still they never had the threat of the trapdoor there to shock them into action. There always was a club or two there who really didn't belong in senior, and was always going to be first one down, if indeed anyone went down at all.

Two or three years time when there are only ten senior clubs will mean a very different environment altogether.

[Sydthebeat]

Two or three years time when there are only ten senior clubs will mean a very different environment altogether.

for better or worse???

[Lone Shark]

That's a matter of opinion, but to my mind it'll be better. I'm long on the record as saying that I'd like to see divisional sides playing senior football too, but it certainly doesn't do our county any good that several clubs can play away and slowly rot knowing that relegation is never really an issue.

I don't like the idea of no-hopers playing senior football. It would also improve the standard of the intermediate championship - let's face it, I don't know of any other county where second string teams win the intermediate football and hurling championships with such regularity. Dublin maybe, due to the huge depth of the Brigid's and Na Fianna's of this world. Maybe.

9 clubs plus three divisional sides in each code would be my chosen set up in the county. 2 groups of six, modelled on the Westmeath set up from there on.

1st = Semi finalist
2nd = Quarter final vs a third place, right to nominate venue/home advantage.
3rd = Away quarter finalist
4th = Season over
5th = Relegation semi Finalist, right to nominate venue/home advantage.
6th = Relegation semi Finalist.

That way each position has some advantage over the one immediately below it, keeping all games competitive to the end.

[Hyper]

Who would be your divisional sides?

[Lone Shark]

In the football, one for "hurling" Offaly, taking in everything south of Rynagh's and Mucklagh. Obviously if Birr or K/K went senior those players would no longer be eligible to take part. One mid Offaly, taking in Ballinamere, Killeigh, Tubber, Durrow and the like, and one East Offaly, for the Daingean and Clonbullogue parishes - they'd actually be fairly strong.

I know West Offaly gets left out here, but as of now there wouldn't be any clubs to be in it. Any clubs that get relegated could probably play with the hurling division.

Hurling wise divisional sides should probably be East Offaly again, but including the whole way over to Tullamore, West Offaly and maybe a South Offaly team, taking in Crinkle, Carrig & R, plus whoever gets relegated in the next few years - probably Skenach this year and you would assume Killavilla will follow.

[True Red]

I take it Shannonbridge were beat last night?

[Lone Shark]

Rynagh's 1-7, Shannonbridge 0-8 according to Aertel. It was always a danger with the bridge, that since they'd see the games with Brigid's and Clara as the important ones, the games to get them into the knockouts, while Rynagh's would have just been preparing for this. I firmly believe tat if it was a draw the Bridge would win the replay easily, but they'll have their work cut out for them now. Hard to know who I'd pick to survive out of that three. Shannonbridge maybe.

[True Red]

why doesnt that surprise me

[Bord na Mona man]

The Bridge collapsing under the weight of their own self importance!

[Lone Shark]

Which, that I pick Shannonbridge?

Jaysus lad, not trying to dance on ye're grave or anything, but who would you pick - the club that got caught on the hop losing by two points in their last game, or the club that got mauled by a middling team?

Add in the fact that Shannonbridge have had the Indian sign over Doon in matches between the clubs for as long as I can remember (mainly league games, but they still always seem to win) and I think they are marginal favourites, something like 11/10 S'Bridge, 11/8 Edenderry and 9/2 Doon to escape.

Put it another way - would you make Edenderry favourites?

[Hocker]

Add in the fact that Shannonbridge have had the Indian sign over Doon in matches between the clubs for as long as I can remember (mainly league games, but they still always seem to win) and I think they are marginal favourites, something like 11/10 S'Bridge, 11/8 Edenderry and 9/2 Doon to escape.

Put it another way - would you make Edenderry favourites?

Was at the match last night, neither team are at the races at all. It was hardly a good advertisement for senior football in Offaly anyway! I made a comment last nite on the sideline that neither team, if relegated would be competitive in intermediate next year and stick by that comment.

Yes, Rynaghs might have been a tad lucky to shade it but in reality, Shannonbridge have been clinging on in senior for too long, unfortunately it'll probably be the end of the road for them.
If we look at the squad which is threadbare anyway, the following wont be there next year:
Anthony kelly-Retired
John Ryan-Retired
Donie Claffey-Retired
Mark Carty-Retired
Richie Brown-Transferred back to Maryland/Tang
Colm Kenny-Retired
Jim Killeen-Retired
Harry Kearns-Retired.

If you ask me, Edenderry will win both matches in the relegation playoff, on the basis that they're too good to go down and that as bad as they seem to be, 'Bridge & Doon are worse!I'd make it Edenderry 13/10, Bridge 9/4 & Doon 5/1 to escape!

Sorry, but I have to be honest, logic must rule over Loyalty!

[True Red]

In the forthcoming type of situation that the 3 clubs are playing there are no real favourites.

It will be based on the attitude of the teams on the day and the players available to the sides.It will be like a once off cup match.At the moment i wouldnt make Edenderry favourites in that situation at all.

[Lone Shark]

I'd make it Edenderry 13/10, Bridge 9/4 & Doon 5/1 to escape!

Excellent stuff. I'll have €430 on Edenderry, €310 on Shannonbridge and €168 on Doon. I think I'd be in with a good shout of making a few bob .....



Seriously though, there's no question that Edenderry have the best players overall of the three involved. Whether or not they have the unity of purpose is another matter. I'd have faith in Shannonbridge and Doon to knuckle down and try and deal with this with the limited resources they have. I really don't know if the Reds will. You'd hope they would, but that Ferbane result suggests that they've a long way to go.

[Muck Savage]

That's a lot of lads to retire in Shannonbridge, I'd say most of them will stay playing. Donnie Claf and Harry are not 30 yet for christ sake. Richie Browne never really played up to what I thought he would, he has an All Ireand U21. Crows Kenny will stay going for ever

Sounds like both the bridge and E'derry are in all sorts of trouble with both not having much interest. Doon could have a chance. Interesting LS that you have the Bridge over Doon with a Indian sign, Doon did beat them a few years ago after all those replays in the C'ship - the bridge did win the league final that year against them (mad row that game).

Also interesting that Vinny Claffey has now gone two years training two different teams without a C'ship win. A good footballer does not mean a good manager (please note KK). Both Clara and Doon would have been considered good teams over the past 10 years or so.

[Lone Shark]

Donie just got married, whether that'll have anything to do with it or not, and Harry will be as much because of injury as anything. I wouldn't know about the others though. I will say this though - a couple of the lads that Hocker mentioned in that list are extremely talented but seriously unfit. Tolerating that kind of lax attitude to me is a big part of why Shannonbridge now find themselves in the trouble they're in.

As for the Indian sign thing, it was one of the Doon lads that was telling me that the Bridge have won the four league games against them he played in, and I'm not sure if that final was one of those. I know there were no championship games in that time, but Doon are well aware of how Shannonbridge tend to have their number in recent years. Whether psychologically that'll work in their favour or against them remains to be seen.

As for Vinny in Doon, I don't want to write off the man as a potential manager when he's only learning his way, but the signs really aren't good. He's certainly showed an inflexibility in Doon that I think has cost them hugely this year. Between that and some odd team selection, he's made a bit of a rod for his own back it seems. Certainly if he wants to keep going in management he'll have to turn things around here though. If he walks away from Doon now, there's no way any club in Offaly will give him another chance.

Speaking of club managers, I wonder could Brendan Lowry being due an Indian summer on the county scene yet? History proved that he didn't do all that badly in Westmeath, and what he's done with Erin Rovers in the last couple of years has been quite impressive. I'm sure somebody has noticed....