Clara and Clonbullogue start as favourites in Offaly Senior “B” Football Championship

CLARA and Clonbullogue are the initial starter's favourites in the Senior “B” Football Championship.

Like senior, the group stages of this championship are a write off with all eight clubs qualifying for the quarter-finals – though finishing positions in the group are important as 1^st plays 4^th and 2^nd plays 3^rd in the first four knockout games.

The Senior “B” Football Championship has been one of the best competitions in Offaly for several years: A genuinely competitive championship with a lot of teams having title aspirations.

That is the case once again. Clara are the favourites with Clonbullogue second favourites – Clara were relegated from senior last year while Clonbullogue lost to Ballycommon in the final.

Cappincur, Gracefield and Tubber comprise a second tier of teams who could generate the momentum to win a title – though Tubber went bad last year and had to survive a relegation play off.

We don't know what way Daingean will go. They were very good when winning the intermediate last year but their star player, Shane Tierney is in Australia and he is a massive loss to them. Senior “B” is a definite step up from intermediate and we will have to see how Daingean adapt, though they should hold their own.

Ballycumber had a lengthy stay in senior football before dropping back. They have won this grade against the head in the past and are hard to beat but they are in a transitional period.

Walsh Island are the rank outsiders. They have done terrifically well to hold their status at this grade in recent years but are still quite dependant on some old stagers and it would be a big surprise if they went back to the top flight.

This championship will not be easy won and like senior, the cream is likely to rise to the top in the wind up.

It is possible that the Senior Football Championship will go to ten teams next year and if that happens, the two finalists will be promoted – the losing finalist could have the option of staying back if they wished but the wise decision would be to avail of the opportunity for promotion.

Clara were relegated for the second time in a few years last year. They bounced back straight away by winning senior “B” the first time and they are the team to beat. They have some very good players in their early 20s and the likes of Cormac Delaney, Ed Cullen and Marcas Dalton could lead them to glory.

Clonbullogue are a genuinely exciting team to watch. The pace and vitality of their star player, Keith O'Neill is a factor in this but they also generally go out and play football. They are far from the finished article but on their day, they can beat anyone and they could destroy some of the teams in this grade – Consistency can be an issue for them.

Cappincur and Gracefield are very solid teams. They have a strong backbone and generally perform while the jury is out on Tubber but they have the players to launch a charge.

While the group games don't really matter, it will take a mammoth effort to win the championship. The champions will have to win three knockout games of the highest intensity and there will be no easy route into a semi-final for topping the group.

One win can change anything for a team and while Clara are the favourites, this championship is fairly wide open.

Verdict – Clara.

First round games

Group 1

Ballycumber v Tubber, Ballycumber on Friday, July 26 7.30pm; Verdict – Tubber.

Cappincur v Clonbullogue, Cappincur on Saturday, July 27 5pm; Verdict – Clonbullogue.

Group 2

Clara v Gracefield, Clara on Friday, July 27 7.30pm; Verdict – Clara.

Daingean v Walsh Island, Daingean on Saturday, July 27 7.30pm; Verdict – Daingean.