Redemption for Raheen looks likely against local rivals Ballinagar

For most of this year’s intermediate championship, it looked like it was St Brigid’s crown to lose.

The Croghan club looked to be a cut above the rest of the chasing pack, and their one-point defeat to Ballinagar last time out was undoubtedly one of the biggest shocks of any knockout game in the county this year.

That result means it is Ballinagar who Raheen will face in the Offaly IFC final at Glenisk O'Connor Park tomorrow (Sunday, throw-in 2.15pm).

This stage of an intermediate championship might feel like uncharted waters for Ballinagar, but any team with so many players that have played underage football for Offaly in recent years has a quite high ceiling, and could well hit new heights just as easily as they could misfire on the big day.

Raheen have put a lot of misfiring behind them this summer, but since Richie Dalton has taken the wheel they’ve been a transformed side, with Brian Crombie stepping up to balance the attack alongside Dylan Hyland.

Ballinagar’s win between the two sides in round one was a special day for an up and coming club, but Raheen are just too far ahead in their development to be anything other than favourites for this one.