Make or break time for teams in Offaly Senior Football Championship

THE point of no return has been reached in the Tullamore Court Hotel Senior Football Championship. The final round of group games will take place next Saturday – all on at the same time at different venues – and these will dictate the make up of the knockout stages.

The top team in each group qualifies for the semi-finals and Tullamore and Rhode are very much in the driving seat for this. They are top of their groups with full points from four games and favourites to win their closing round against Durrow and Bracknagh.

In group 1, Ferbane and Durrow have two points and Clara are in serious trouble with no point. Clara are on their way out and need something close to a miracle to survive. Firstly they have to shock Ferbane themselves and then they need Durrow to beat or draw with Tullamore.

If they did beat Ferbane and Durrow lost to Tullamore, it almost certainly won't do them any good. That scenario would leave them, Ferbane and Durrow on two points and scoring difference deciding which two goes into the quarter-finals. It is impossible to see Clara getting through on that – they are -27 points, while Ferbane's scoring difference is exactly level and Durrow's is +3 points. Clara's only way to salvation is for them to win, Durrowget a result against Tullamore and then they would pip Ferbane on the head to head – but Clara will be under no illusions that this is grasping at straws.

In group 2, Rhode are safely through with four points while Bracknagh are on solid ground with two, even though they won't be putting any money on getting a result against Rhode on Saturday. Edenderry and Shamrocks have one point and this is a winner takes all tussle with the winnergoing into the quarter-final and the loser into the relegation play off.

A draw would probably leave three tied on two points and scoring difference deciding the two qualifiers. Bracknagh's scoring difference is level while Edenderry are -4 and Shamrocks -17. Bracknagh will be aware of the possibility of a big beating by Rhode but even if Edenderry and Shamrocks draw, they should be on solid ground – they would have to lose by seventeen points or more to bow out.

The final round of fixtures are:

Group 1

Clara v Ferbane: Saturday in Doon at 6pm

Clara have always relished taking on Ferbane in the past but it is hard to make a viable case for a shock win here. We still don't know how good Ferbane are but they have the makings of a very decent team and they need to win this one, for their own confidence. Clara's display when losing to Tullamore was as poorly as they have played in a long time and their pride has been stung badly. Expect them to be much more motivated and competitive but it probably won't be enough.

Verdict – Ferbane.

Tullamore v Durrow: Saturday in Kilcormac at 6pm

Durrow are not bad at all and it will be interesting to see how they perform against their pairish neighbours. They will fight hard but Tullamore have been impressive. Tullamore could take their eye off the ball but won't want to lose to fellow parishioners.

Verdict – Tullamore.

Group 2:

Bracknagh v Rhode: Saturday in Gracefield at 6pm

Bracknagh's draw with Edenderry in their last game was a season changing one. It put them in pole position for a quarter-final and took a lot of the heat out of their final round against Rhode. They are unlikely to win here but their performance is important as is their margin of defeat if they do lose. Expect them to fight hard.

Verdict – Rhode.

Edenderry v Shamrocks: Saturday in Geashill at 6pm

Edenderry did not expect to find themselves on such tricky ground going into the final round and the gun is to their head. They are favourites against a Shamrocks team who are missing too many key players to do much. This, however, is a knockout game and Shamrocks should compete much better here than they did against Rhode last time out. Edenderry haven't found their form yet but will have to perform here to stay in the championship.

Verdict – Edenderry.