Coolderry's clash with Belmont the stand-out fixture this weekend

Kevin Egan Column

Throughout this year's inter-county season, GAA supporters got a bit spoiled when it came to the final stages of round robin series. In the Allianz Football League, the Leinster SHC, the Munster SHC, and the All-Ireland SFC group stages, things all got very dramatic on the final day of action, with supporters glued to their phones as they looked for updates elsewhere, while also keeping an eye on the action unfolding in front of their own eyes.

It hasn’t quite worked out that way in Offaly, and with all due respect to the hurlers of Birr, Kilcormac-Killoughey, Shinrone, St Rynagh’s and Ballinamere, all of whom are competing for the possibility of straight passage through to the semi-finals, the only game that will really feel like championship hurling this weekend in the Senior 'A' championship will be the meeting of Coolderry and Belmont in Birr on Saturday evening at 6pm.

With one win each from their three games so far, these two clubs are all out of second chances – and while Belmont would have been perceived as the stronger side at the start of the year, they come into this game under a cloud after a very meek showing last time out.

The red card for David Cox didn’t help their case, particularly given that no Ballinamere player accompanied him to the sideline, despite the fact that there seemed to be transgressions on both sides. However in general, there was a lack of zip to the group up front, and even with 14 men, 1-12 is a pretty bleak total.

In contrast, Coolderry put their first two defeats behind them with a surprisingly comfortable win over Seir Kieran, and the nature of players from that club is that they’ll feel that as long as the Seán Robbins Cup is mathematically and theoretically within their reach, they’re capable of doing what’s needed to secure the big prize.

Much will hinge on the fitness or otherwise of David Nally, who didn’t feature for Ferbane last weekend against Bracknagh but will surely look to play some part in what are two do-or-die clashes over the next two weekends. With him on board, Belmont will feel that they should be good enough to come through. Without him, and it should be very tight in the latter stages, bringing Coolderry’s mindset advantages into play.

Sunday lunchtime drama in store

It’s a very different story in the Senior B championship, albeit the obvious place for any neutral to go would be Banagher, as the meeting of Birr and Lusmagh leaps off the page as the most attractive tie.

Clara need to account for Shamrocks in their local derby clash, and with Conor Doyle likely to play a much bigger role after coming on late last time out, while they’re unlikely to have the same disciplinary issues as they did a fortnight ago, one would expect that they will account for a Shamrocks side that lost their first game by three points; then eight, then 15, then 25.

Shamrocks are playing to save their senior B status, but after a season like this, there’s a strong case to be made for intermediate as the right level for the club, at the moment – at least until they get a few key players back on board.

If Clara do as expected, then Birr are only playing for the chance to avoid Kilcormac-Killoughey in the semi-finals, but Lusmagh need a result of some sort to come through. For Lusmagh, a failure to get goals is hurting them so far – they’ve scored 1-72 in the championship across four games, and while they’ve only conceded 67 scores, seven of those are goals, so their scoring difference is negative.

Lusmagh will do well to crack a Birr defence where Conor Callaghan, Ailbe Watkins and Craig Pardy have all put in very solid shifts in this campaign so far.

If Clodiagh Gaels are to improve on last year’s performance and take the title this year, one would imagine that the road to silverware leads through Kilcormac-Killoughey. On that basis, manager Pat Horan may decide that there’s not a lot to be gained by going full speed to try and pull off an upset in Clareen on Sunday. Up against a K-K side where the competitive nature of the panel and the sheer depth available to Mark Leonard will keep lads very honest, this one could be very straightforward – though it will be of little to no value as a guide if the two sides meet again in a county semi-final or final.

First teams favoured at intermediate level

After slipping up in the final round of group games against Coolderry, Drumcullen have a chance for redemption this Sunday in Crinkill, and logically, the Sash men look like marginally the better choice to prevail against a Coolderry side that have exceeded expectations somewhat this year, even allowing for the experience and quality that moved down to this grade from their senior team of recent years.

There’s not a lot to be gained by beating the championship favourites in the group stages, and a comfortable quarter-final win over Edenderry has Drumcullen right back on track now, albeit they still require a lot of improvement.

If there is to be an upset, St Rynagh’s might be more likely to provide it when they take on Carrig & Riverstown in Lusmagh. On paper, a side containing hurlers like Conor Freeman, Cathal King and Joe Hoctor should have enough to edge past a solid but unspectacular Rynagh’s group, but the form of Group Two wasn’t exactly boosted by the quarter-final results, while Carrig & Riverstown’s record in knockout hurling in recent years isn’t exactly inspiring either. Their higher ceiling means they get a hesitant vote, but they’ll have a good day’s work done if they get over the line all the same.