No surprises in first round of Offaly Senior “B” Football Championship

THE opening round of the Tullamore Court Hotel Senior “B” Football Championship went almost exactly as expected this weekend.

Clara and Tubber got away for comprehensive wins over Ballycumber and Gracefield while in its own way, the derby draw between neighbours Ballinagar and Cappincur on Friday evening was as predictable as any of them.

Championship favourites Clara justified their billing with a comfortable 2-15 to 0-9 win over Ballycumber on Saturday afternoon. Winners of the Division 2 Football League recently, Clara led by 2-6 to 0-7 at half time and extended their advantage in the second half.

Tubber turned on the style in the second half to beat Gracefield by 2-17 to 0-10. With former county player Ruari Allen home from Australia for the first two rounds, Gracefield gave a good account of themselves in the first half, leading by 1-7 to 0-8 at half time. However, the bulk of their scores came from Jack Walsh and when Tubber got going in the second half, Gracefield had no answer.

One of the games of the weekend came on Friday evening in Ballinagar where the host club came back to draw, 1-19 to 2-16, with Cappincur. It was a thrilling shootout with Cappincur leading by 1-8 to 1-5 at half time and extending their advantage to five points early in the second half. Ballinagar came back to go three points ahead but Cappincur rallied again to regain the lead inside the closing few minutes.

A point from sub Ryan Strong gave Ballinagar a share of the spoils with Ger Treacy almost snatching it with a last gasp free for Cappincur and both sides were glad to claim a point. Cappincur were without two key players in Bill Carroll and John Colgan and there was an opportunity for Ballinagar to beat them but Cappincur have played at a much higher level over the past few years and that experience mattered on the day.

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Morgan Tynan missed a first half penalty for Ballinagar and they had eight wides compared to just one for Cappincur and the result gives both sides something to build on.

Ballinagar have a bye in round 2 in two weeks time while Cappincur host Tubber, Clara are at home to Daingean and Gracefield have home venue against Ballycumber.