Preview - Big tests for Shamrocks, Ferbane and Edenderry in Offaly Senior Football Championship

THERE are huge tests for Shamrocks, Ferbane and Edenderry in the Senior Football Championship next weekend.

Ferbane meet Edenderry and Shamrocks take on Tullamore in a very attractive double bill in O'Connor Park, Tullamore on Saturday afternoon.

While it is also a test for Tullamore, the fixtures provide a particularly probing examination of the credentials of Shamrocks, Ferbane and Edenderry – and for different reasons in all three cases.

It is the fourth round in the five team group 1 which has Ferbane, Edenderry and Rhode joint top on four points but with Ferbane and Rhode having played three games, Edenderry two.

Durrow and Ballycommon are pointless with two games played and they meet on Friday evening – with no relegation this year, this game is not as crucial as it would have been in other years, though both sides will want to win.

Tullamore, Shamrocks and Bracknagh all have two points in group 2 but Tullamore and Shamrocks have just one game played. Bracknagh defeated parish rivals Clonbullogue by 3-7 to 0-12 in a tempestuous local derby on Sunday and this means that they have one foot in the quarter-finals – it was their second game.

The top team in each group goes into the semi-finals with second and third criss-crossing in two quarter-finals. There is an air of inevitability about the way it is progressing with Ferbane, Edenderry and Rhode all on course for progression out of group 1 and Tullamore, Shamrocks and now Bracknagh odds on to qualify in group 2.

Fixtures are:

Group 1

Ballycommon v Durrow: Friday, August 29 in Ballycommon 6.45pm

In other years, this would have been a high intensity, high stakes game with the losers hading into the relegation play off. That is not the case this year as senior football goes to ten teams next year and it means that there could be the smallest attendance of the campaign at this game.

The winner will have a slim chance of getting into a quarter-final but Ballycommon would have to beat Edenderry or Durrow beat Edenderry in the final round for that to happen. The form book does not suggest either of these will happen – and if it did, they would also require other results to fall their way.

It all suggests that the year is grinding towards a quiet end for both clubs but at least they are assured of top flight football next season. This is more or less a 50-50 game. If both play to potential, Durrow would be slight favourites but we can't presume that they will do that. Their hurlers have lined out for them this year and should continue to do so but their focus will be very much drifting towards their crucial game with Birr in two weeks time.

Even with this, they are still capable of winning and Ballycommon just haven't got going yet – even though they did battle back well against Rhode in their last game after the concession of three quick fire goals. Ballycommon can edge this one.

Verdict – Ballycommon.

Edenderry v Ferbane: Saturday, August 30 in O'Connor Park 3pm

It will be very interesting to see what way this clash between Edenderry and Ferbane develops. Ferbane have operated at a higher level in recent years but Edenderry have been the more impressive so far in this year's campaign.

This will tell us a bit more and we will learn if the evidence from the opening two rounds is true or deceiving. That evidence suggests that Edenderry are on an upward trajectory, Ferbane on a downward spiral but we definitely have to wait and see in both cases before we make any judgements.

Ferbane haven't been at their best yet, beating Ballycommon in the first round, losing to Rhode and beating Durrow. Beaten in the last two finals, there has been enough in those games to raise legitimate questions about them.

Edenderry on the other hand look to have improved significantly from the past couple of years. They have been good in their wins over Rhode and Durrow and seem to be turning a corner.

Time will adjudicate in both cases and the answers will only be truly provided in knockout football – and while the loser could get into bother, both look destined for the quarter-finals at least. The form book suggests Edenderry and a win would almost certainly put them into the semi-finals. That is a huge carrot for them but Ferbane also have plenty of motivation – this is their last group game, a win will put them in semi-final contention and they also need to produce a performance,to lay down a marker.

No result will surprise here.

Verdict – Edenderry.

Group 2

Shamrocks v Tullamore: Saturday, August 30 in O'Connor Park 4.30pm

Even though both look set to qualify irrespective of the result here, there will be a lot of interest in the derby between Tullamore and Shamrocks while there is plenty at stake with the winner likely to top the group and go direct into the semi-finals.

While a semi-final place is attractive to both sides, going the quarter-final route is by no means a disaster and the loser of this will almost certainly still get there. It means that the stakes aren't very high and we won't get a game of knockout intensity but it should still be very competitive and decent.

It is more important for Shamrocks than Tullamore. The champions won't want to lose to their noisy neighbours but a defeat will not impact one bit on their confidence and title winning capacity. Shamrocks will also have the scope to recover from a loss but they do need a performance here, they need to be very competitive at the minimum and a bad defeat would do a lot of damage to their morale.

Shamrocks look to be emerging out of their shell after a long term in the doldrums. They improved last year and seem to be taking it on again this year. The claims of some that they can win a championship this year are open to debate but Shamrocks have some sort of a chance and it is great to see another club join Tullamore, Ferbane, Edenderry and Rhode as the ones who can win a title.

While Nigel Dunne is at a stage where his attacking influence will diminish with each year and that represents one of their big challenges, Shamrocks are building a strong foundation and they could be very strong contenders in the next couple of years. This year is important for them and this game is important.

It is entirely possible that Shamrocks will win this one. Tullamore are a real force of nature, they play to their strengths and they know how to win games. They are favourites here but a defeat won't knock them even a fraction. If Shamrocks are to lose, they need to do so with their heads held high. In some ways, Shamrocks would be better off going into the quarter-finals whereas it doesn't make an iota of difference to Tullamore either way. Shamrocks will be under no illusions about the potential for this game to get away from them but they should be competitive and at least run Tullamore to the wire – a defeat won't be disastrous for them and the real time to beat Tullamore is in a knockout game, not the group.

Verdict – Tullamore.

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Senior “B” Football Championship

One outstanding game from round 4 of the Senior “B” Football Championship will be played this weekend with Gracefield hosting title favourites Clara on Friday evening.

Two games involving clubs with no hurling commitments were played last weekend with Ballinagar finally getting a win, annihilating Ballycumber by 6-19 to 1-11 while Cappincur and Daingean drew in a tight local derby, 0-13 each.

It leaves Cappincur top on the table with six points from four games, Ballinagar have 4 from three, Clara have 4 from 2, Tubber and Daingean have 3 from 3, Gracefield have 2 from 3 and Ballycumber are out of contention with no points from four.

It leaves it all neatly poised in the battle for the four semi-final spots. Cappincur are almost there at this stage and Clara are hot favourites to advance. It leaves the other two spots up for grabs between Ballinagar, Tubber, Daingean and Gracefield – and Gracefield will be on the back foot if they lose to Clara on Friday evening.

Clara have been the form team so far, very much the one to beat and they are playing some very good football. They will be tested yet but they should move closer to the semi-finals with a win in Gracefield in this one.