Fixtures released for big Offaly football championship semi-finals

THE semi-final line-ups have been decided in the big Offaly football championships. There was no shortage of drama and talking points when the quarter-finals of the Senior, Senior “B” and Intermediate Football Championships took place last weekend.

Most attention focused on senior and there was no big surprise. Ferbane's 0-12 to 0-10 win over Rhode was the only one that raised eyebrows but that was a very mild surprise for most observers, if even that. With Niall McNamee injured for Rhode, they were always going to be vulnerable and Ferbane had just enough in the tank to get the win late on.

Title holders and favourites Tullamore were in complete control as they beat surprisingly poor parish rivals, Durrow on Saturday while Edenderry had to dig deep before eventually seeing off Bracknagh – two wonderful goals from Mikey Cunningham gave Bracknagh a chance in the second half but Edenderry rallied very well to win, with sharp shooter, Cian Farrell in great form.

Ballycommon were the unlucky team at the weekend, losing out to Shamrocks in a penalty shootout after extra time couldn't separate them on Sunday. Ballycommon played well enough to win on the day and were ahead when the announced injury time was up at the end of extra time – an extra minute was played and Alan Heffernan got the equaliser for Shamrocks in this, though that should have been a winning goal. Shamrocks had been in great form early on, surprising Ferbane and Edenderry, but as anticipated, this proved a real banana skin for them and they did very well to survive and book a semi-final renewal with Ferbane.

The four losing teams, Bracknagh, Durrow, Ballycommon and Rhode go into the relegation play offs, meeting in two semi-finals with the two losers clashing in a final showdown. However, those play offs could yet prove to be a waste of time as there are moves to bring the championship to ten teams next season and if this happens, there will be no relegation while the two senior “B” finalists will be promoted.

There were no surprises in the Senior “B” Football Championship with the four favourites, Cappincur, Clara, Clonbullogue and Daingean all advancing to the semi-finals.

The big talking point in the Intermediate Football Championship was that four teams from the one group have all made the semi-finals: St Brigid's, Ballinagar, Tullamore and Raheen, who had lost their three group games but ran riot against Erin Rovers on Sunday.

All games will take place from September 26 to 29 with a senior “B” football semi-final double bill in O'Connor Park on the Saturday and the two senior football semi-finals on the Sunday.

The fixtures were released on Monday afternoon and are:

Senior Football Championship

Semi-finals

Edenderry v Tullamore: Sunday, September 29, O'Connor Park at 3.45pm

Ferbane v Shamrocks: Sunday, September 29, O'Connor Park at 2.15pm

Relegation semi-finals

Bracknagh v Durrow: Sunday, September 29, Clonbullogue at 12 noon

Ballycommon v Rhode: Sunday, September 29, Croghan at 12 noon

Senior “B” Football Championship

Semi-finals

Cappincur v Clara: Saturday, September 28, O'Connor Park at 3.15pm

Clonbullogue v Daingean: Saturday, September 28, O'Connor Park at 4.45pm

Relegation semi-finals

Walsh Island v Tubber: Thursday, September 26, Geashill at 7.30pm

Ballycumber v Gracefield: Saturday, September 28, Geashill at 6.30pm

Intermediate Football Championship

Semi-finals

Raheen v Tullamore: Saturday, September 28, Clara at 1.30pm

St Brigid's v Ballinagar: Saturday, September 28, Rhode at 6.30pm

Relegation semi-finals

Erin Rovers v Ferbane: Thursday, September 26, Doon at 7.30pm

St Rynagh's v Kilcormac-Killoughey : Friday, September 27, Doon at 7.30pm