Offaly face refixture as Rynagh's bid for All-Ireland success

Depending on your perspective, Offaly’s visit to Galway tomorrow (Sunday, Pearse Stadium, 2pm) is either a free hit with no pressure on, or a dangerous fixture where there is a high risk of the little bit of confidence that the footballers would have taken from the Meath game, being blown away by the free-scoring attacking play of the Tribesmen.

Last weekend, when football matches were being won with scores like 1-12, 0-15 and 2-10, Galway went to Cork and racked up a rather ludicrous 3-22, taking full advantage of the naivety and disorganisation that is currently a feature of the Cork senior football team. Admittedly Galway also conceded 2-17, but those in attendance reported that this was because the terms of engagement suited Galway, that they knew they could get scores whenever they needed them, so there was no need to shut up shop.

While obviously it would be great to take something out of the game, it’s looking more and more like the question of relegation or not for the Offaly footballers will be decided by the upcoming trip to Newry, and the final round of games when Cork are scheduled to come to Tullamore. With that in mind, losing by four or five points in Galway, ideally coming away with a clean bill of health in the process, wouldn’t be a disaster. Shipping a heavy beating, however, might make it that bit harder to rebound properly for Páirc Esler in just six days.

There is of course the X factor, which is the question of whether or not the Offaly camp will carry some sense of grievance into this game, based on the late decision to call off the original game a fortnight ago.

Galway’s defence for leaving it so late was that the referee passed the pitch fit to play, but when the issue was the stormy conditions, and not snow on the ground, then it seems to stretch credulity beyond breaking point that earlier that morning, a public warning was issued to people asking them not to go near Salthill Prom due to Storm Franklin, and the Galway County Board felt there would be no problem holding a game, outdoors, with thousands of supporters driving there, less than 1000 yards away.

Modern footballers tend not to be as fuelled by feeling slighted or insulted as past generations, but there is a real sense that other counties might have been afforded a lot more respect than the Galway board showed to the Offaly panel and their supporters. If that becomes something of a factor, this game could get interesting yet.

*St Rynagh’s chasing promotion

The Camogie Association’s rule that you have to win the junior or intermediate club championships twice in a row to gain promotion is a daft one, but St Rynagh’s are one hour away from doing exactly that, with Salthill-Knocknacarra the only team standing between the Banagher club and a second consecutive All-Ireland title.

The portents for Sunday’s game in Croke Park (2pm) are really good. Galway clubs haven’t made a huge impression at this grade for some time, St Rynagh’s are clearly in fantastic form and racking up wins week in and week out for what feels like a long time now, and logically speaking, Gailltír should have been the tougher challenge.

Of course performing at Croke Park is a special challenge in itself and nobody knows that better than Rynagh’s after their past heartbreak, but it looks like everything is set up for them now. With their ability and their big day experience, and reasonable performance should be enough to get them through and finally up to senior ranks.

*London ladies coming to Edenderry

This Sunday is also a huge one for the Offaly ladies, who face what is effectively a promotion quarter-final against London in Edenderry (throw-in 12.30). The team’s defeat to Limerick was significant as Leitrim look very good on the opposite side of the league and they will almost certainly be Offaly’s opponents in the playoff round, though logic would dictate that to win this Division, Leitrim would have to be beaten at some stage.

Still, just getting that game will be critically important to this group, since there aren’t many games for this new management team to work with in advance of what will be a very tough Leinster intermediate championship. With a few heavy hitters likely to come back in later in the year, every game to bring on the panel will be immensely valuable, and if promotion can be secured, so best.

- Kevin Egan