Double header in Birr the highlight of weekend action

Kevin Egan Column

While there have been some interesting contests and results at Senior B and Intermediate level, there’s no getting away from the prevailing view that, so far, the Offaly Senior Football Championship has been predictable and forgettable.

The same cannot be said for the senior hurling equivalent, which has thrown up some great games and looks set to continue to do so, with four more fascinating ties – in different ways – all on the slate over the weekend.

It could be argued that the meeting of Kilcormac-Killoughey and St. Rynagh’s (Saturday, 4pm) is perhaps the least consequential of the four, since it’s almost certain that both these clubs will play knockout hurling. Nonetheless, this will be seen as a real and meaningful test in both camps, since clashes between the two clubs have been central to the club hurling story in Offaly for the best part of a decade now.

Both clubs are living proof of the fact that “in transition” doesn’t have to equate to a lack of quality or competitiveness in the hunt for meaningful trophies.

In Kilcormac-Killoughey, this campaign has been about bridging the gap between the generation of players that broke new ground for the club over the past decade, and the generation that is on the way, one which has the potential to achieve even more. Veterans like Conor Mahon, Conor Slevin and Damien Kilmartin are all hurling well in key central positions, making life much easier for the much-vaunted younger stars that so far, have carried their county form onto the club stage.

For St. Rynagh’s, the transition isn’t about changing players, so much as it’s about a subtle change in style. There has been a slight reversion towards trusting players to win their own physical battles at both ends of the field, with good use of their athleticism and running ability on the ball, as opposed to methodically playing through the lines. Whether that will be the right move for the club will only be revealed in full later in the year, but a win in Birr on Saturday would certainly suggest that they’re where they need to be.

In terms of championship edge however, the second leg of Saturday's double header - Seir Kieran v Coolderry (5.45) - arguably looks like the pick of the round. Seir Kieran haven’t hurled that badly in the main and certainly could have taken something from their games against Belmont and Shinrone, but the fact that they didn’t means their season now boils down to two chances to save their senior status.

Barry Whelahan has got a tune out of a panel that contains no established stars in the prime of their career, but plenty of younger hurlers with upward mobility.

Coolderry aren’t out of the knockout running, but they would do well to keep their eyes on the ball here, as in terms of form, they don’t look to have anything to spare over their northern neighbours. The club will have been boosted by an excellent result in the minor championship on Monday and they look like they might reach the business end of a minor “A” championship for the first time in a while, but that’s a good sign for 2025, 2026 and beyond. For now, they could be under pressure here.

In theory, the same is at stake on Sunday in the Group 2 fixture in Clareen, but Tullamore’s form this year is deeply underwhelming, and they have a lot to find if they’re going to win a game. Kinnitty’s position is similar to Coolderry’s in that they aren’t out of the knockout race, they need to take care of business here and then upset Rynaghs, and you wouldn’t rule that out entirely based on some of their hurling against Kilcormac-Killoughey.

The action concludes in Glenisk O’Connor Park with what promises to be a fascinating battle between Ballinamere and Belmont. Belmont finished poorly against Shinrone and now are under a little bit of pressure in terms of results, while in Ballinamere, the pressure is different. Their pressure comes from the fact that while they started the year as dark horses, they’re now right there in the mix, and everyone knows it.

That’s as it should be, given the level of quality in the group, and they should embrace favouritism rather than deny it, or fear it. Belmont are likely to need a couple of goals to keep pace here, and it’s not certain that they will be able to find them.

Favourites toppled in two football championship races

After losing a 2022 intermediate final that they were widely expected to win, Raheen would have been the clearest of favourites to go one step better this year. The race for the Senior “B” crown would have been seen as a bit more open, even allowing for the obvious quality in Cappincur’s ranks, but when Tubber won the Division Two league title, they looked every bit as likely to make a meaningful tilt at getting back to Dowling Cup company next year.

Instead both of these teams fell by the wayside over the past seven days, and now both face an anxious few weeks before they play relegation playo-ffs. It would be a big surprise if Raheen don’t overcome Shannonbridge and an even bigger one if Tubber don’t account for a St. Rynagh’s side that is in disarray this year, but their absence from the knockout stages of their respective competitions means that there has been plenty of drama and excitement for supporters of clubs in those grades.

Clonbullogue did what they had to do against Tubber on Tuesday evening and the prospect of back-to-back championships for Joe Kilmurray’s men is very much on the table, but right now, it would be an upset if anyone was to turn over Cappincur, though admittedly whichever group winner is drawn against the winners of Ballycumber and Gracefield will find themselves in a contest that could be described as equally tasty and treacherous, depending on your perspective.

The intermediate race is much, much harder to call now. St. Brigid’s look to be in the best shape in a championship where scoring rates are low, as they’re the only club averaging more than 14 points per game. Nonetheless there’s an explosive, fearless quality to Ballinagar, Tullamore have done an excellent job in not dipping too deep into their second string, and while Daingean have struggled for consistency in knockout games for the past, well, decades to be honest, they have the attacking flair to get on a hot streak and win two games easily.