High stakes for tension filled closing round in Offaly SFC “B”

THERE will be plenty of nail biting and frayed nerves when the final round of group games in the Tullamore Court Hotel Senior “B” Football Championship takes place next Sunday.

The stakes are incredibly high and only Clara, Gracefield and Ballycumber can relax – Ballycumber have completed their programme of games and are in a relegation play off against Gracefield while Clara are assured of top spot.

Behind Clara, there is a furious battle for the last three semi-final berths between Daingean, Ballinagar, Cappincur and Tubber. Daingean are currently second on 7 points with Ballinagar and Cappincur on 6 and Tubber on 5.

However, Tubber's prospects of making it are as good Daingean's and Ballinagar's and it will make for compelling viewing – Clara meet Ballinagar, Cappincur play Gracefield and Daingean have Tubber in the final round.

There are a lot of possible twists and turns. Cappincur will qualify if they beat Gracefield, Ballinagar will be through with a win over Clara and if these results happen, the winner of the Daingean v Tubber game will join them,

However, if Clara beat Ballinagar, a highly rated Ballinagar team will then be depending on Daingean to beat Tubber and will be out if Tubber win that.

The joy of the closing round is that every team has their fate in their own hands and there will be a lot of keeping in touch with games at other venues – the three games all take place at 12 noon on Sunday, October 12.

Ballinagar v Clara – in Durrow

There is a theory out there that Ballinagar could well be the biggest obstacle to Clara's ambitions of returning to senior football and that will be put to the test here.

Ballinagar will be disgusted at themselves if they don't make the semi-finals. They have an excellent, emerging team and are very good but have found it hard to adjust to the higher grade this year.

Their defensive set-up hasn't been right and they coughed up ten point leads on two occasions, drawing with Tubber and losing to Daingean - – and the reference to the defence refers to the way they have managed games and leads, defended in all sectors of the field, not just by the back six. It means that they are on a knife edge instead of being out through the gap, able to smile through this one. Ballinagar defended more solidly in their win over Gracefield in the last game but Gracefield were in disarray, struggling to field a team.

Clara will really test them and have been the best team in the championship so far. Ballinagar have the forwards and midfield to hurt them and it will be interesting to see how Clara perform here.

There is loads of examples of the team having to win beating the team that doesn't in both codes and all grades and Ballinagar certainly have more incentive here. They are well capable of winning this and would fancy taking on Clara in a big knockout game in O'Connor Park. The problem Ballinagar have is this is a free shot for Clara, they have no dual complications, can play without pressure and will be very conscious of the opportunity to put one of their main threats out.

Ballinagar have every chance of winning this and they will produce a big display. They won't want to be waiting for the result of Daingean and Tubber and a Ballinagar win would be a very small surprise. It depends on Clara's appetite – it can't be as high for a knockout game but it will be there and they can edge it.

Verdict – Clara,

Daingean v Tubber – in Rhode

The Rhode venue is a strange one for Daingean and Tubber as there is a myriad of clubs located between them – though it is a handy enough journey for most Tubber people as they can pop onto the motorway beside them and come off at Rochfortbridge, into Rhode that way.

This is a massive game for both sides. Tubber will definitely be gone if they lose, Daingean will go if they lose and Cappincur and Ballinagar win. They won't be relying on any safety net and this is a true knockout game for both.

It's a hard game to call. Daingean are higher up the points table but have not been very convincing this year. They were dreadful against Clara the first day, they survived on their wits against Ballinagar and they struggled to beat struggling Ballycumber in their last game.

In some ways, Tubber have been a little bit more solid, though they have not set the world on fire. They lost to Clara and Cappincur, albeit performing reasonably well against both, they drew with Ballinagar and beat Ballycumber and Gracefield – the reality that their only wins came against the two sides in the relegation play off has to be acknowledged.

Both sides have an outside chance of winning this championship but their form so far is not that of champions and they have dramatic improving to do.

Tubber may have county hurler Donal Shirley back for this. He has missed a few weeks with a broken wrist and he will be a huge help to them. They also have a very good forward in former county player Bernard Allen and have a dependable, steady side.

Daingean have a county player in Shane Tierney – he has also missed action with injury and his form here will have a big bearing on what way it goes.

Suffice to say that both sides have plenty of questions surrounding them and are hanging on by a thread. It will be a real tight championship battle and it could swing anyway. Daingean have been sufficiently up and down to suggest that Tubber can edge this.

Verdict – Tubber.

Cappincur v Gracefield – in Geashill

There is a presumption out there among most observers that Cappincur will beat Gracefield and make the semi-finals but that is not written in stone.

Daingean came perilously close to a disastrous defeat to Ballycumber and Cappincur will be very focused on ensuring they don't make a slip up against Gracefield.

They will also be conscious of a Gracefield side fighting for their pride, its members not impressed at some of the observations being made about their current plight at adult and underage level – expressed publicly by this writer but a classic case where the messenger shouldn't be shot as a lot more people are talking about it.

There will be, or should be a siege mentality there and it could manifest in a big, hard fighting display here. The comments about Gracefield's current plight are not meant as any sort of reflection of the people at the coalface now, fighting hard to keep the ship afloat, the players doing their very best and just wanting to play football – they are coming from a place of complete respect of Gracefield's heritage and powerful contribution to Offaly football and a desire to see that return.

Whether that can lead to a win here is doubtful but Cappincur will have to be careful. Beaten finalists last year, Cappincur have been very solid this year, performing more or less at the peak of their powers. They have seen little of their star man Bill Carroll but have been playing very well. A couple of their older players are in their end game but Cappincur are very hard to beat and the presence of former county player Eoin Carroll around midfield is a huge asset.

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Any more injuries could prove fatal to Cappincur and there are doubts about all the ducks lining up for them to return to senior but they look destined for a semi-final and no team will fancy taking them on. Gracefield to give it a real rattle but Cappincur to get on top in the second half and win.

Verdict – Cappincur.