Now that the dust has settled, mouth watering Offaly SFC “B” semi-final pairings emerge

NOW that the dust has settled and the way has been paved for the Tullamore Court Hotel Senior “B” Football Championship semi-finals to finally take place, the questions on many supporters lips are: What was it all about and where was the gain for anyone?

At this stage in a somewhat farcical championship, those answers are not really required and you can be absolutely sure no player will be pondering those deeper questions in the O'Connor Park dresssing rooms on Saturday where Gracefield take on Clonbullogue and parish rivals, Cappincur and Ballycommon meet in two mouth watering semi-finals.

The earlier events have created an unsatisfactory championship and only need to be briefly recounted here. A successful Gracefield objection to the Disputes Resolution Authority over the way scoring differences rules were applied led to a new quarter-final being ordered between Clonbullogue and Ballycumber and a new semi-final draw having to take place.

Gracefield had beaten Ballycumber in the initial quarter-final but, surprisingly, still pursued their objection to the DRA even though they had a semi-final place secure. They won their objection but all it did was force Clonbullogue to play a quarter-final they hadn't planned for, gave Ballycumber a second chance that they probably didn't truly want and were unable to get themselves back on track for and delayed the conclusion of the championship by a couple of weeks.

With an almost inescapable air of inevitability, Sunday evening's semi-final draw returned the original pairings and instead of the final taking place this Saturday, it is the semi-finals. It also means that the time has come to forget about what happened, stop wondering about the rights and wrongs and enjoy what should be a fantastic conclusion to one of the best championships in Offaly.

Gracefield v Clonbullogue: Saturday in O'Connor Park at 3pm

Gracefield and Clonbullogue could provide one of the games of the year and there will be huge interest in it. It won't affect either set of players but there will be an undercurrent to this whole a game as Clonbullogue were unwitting victims in the Gracefield appeal.

Yet the extra game may serve them well and they certainly looked good in their destruction of Ballycumber last Sunday.

Gracefield have performed very well this year. There had been speculation that former Offaly star Ruari Allen would be back from Australia for the concluding stages but this may not be the case. If he isn't available, Gracefield's chances are damaged but they still have a lot of very good players. Jamie Evans and Jack Walsh have great pedigree in their attack and they are playing very good football.

There is a case to be made for making Clonbullogue championship favourites. Keith O'Neill is flying for them and Jamie Guing is in great form in their attack. On their day, they are a pleasure to watch but they can have off days too. They had one against Bracknagh in last year's final and this is a huge test for them.

Gracefield have endured some very bad days in recent years but there has been something very impressive about the way they have played this year. The appeal means that there is huge pressure on them to perform, a lot of scrutiny on them that wouldn't be there in normal circumstances. This could impact positively on them and it looks to be a real 50-50 game, albeit with Clonbullogue marginal favourites.

If Clobnbullogue perform, they will be very hard to beat but there is an element of doubt about them producing. There is a little bit less about Gracefield playing to potential and they get the nod for this reason.

Verdict – Gracefield.

Ballycommon v Cappincur: Saturday in O'Connor Park at 5pm

A parish derby to set the pulse racing and one that is certain to attract a big crowd. The meeting of Ballycommon and Cappincur is a hugely attractive game and there are a lot of sideshows to it.

They are parish comrades and their players are very familiar with each other. They have played minor and U-20 football together with St Vincent's the whole way up and some of the older ones won medals in the old U-21 Football Championship a few years ago.

They are friends and they like and respect each other but they also have the same rivalry that goes with any parish clubs; the same desire to put one over their opponents.

Cappincur have long experience of playing at a higher level than Ballycommon and were only relegated from senior last year. They do appear to be on the way down, heading for another of the valley periods they encounter every so often while Ballycommon look to be an emerging team, on the way up.

Yet there is a case for going with Cappincur in this one. Eoin Carroll is back from Australia and he is a huge asset to them. His younger brother Bill was in the USA on a playing sanction in the group stages and he is also back and other players are also in contention. Cappincur cruised out of the admittedly weaker group but are considerably stronger now. They don't have what it takes to survive for long in top flight football but they certainly have the potential and desire to get back up there.

Ballycommon have a lot going for them. Intermediate champions last year, they have adapted very well, as expected, to the higher grade and they have some very exciting, consistent performers. They have an Offaly senior football stalwart in David Dempsey, exciting forwards in Conor Dunne, Chris and Ryan Kenny and Stephen Conneely. They are capable of playing very good football and are hard to beat on their day.

They can also have off days, ones where they don't perform and things go wrong. Influential midfielder Tom Mealliff is also out after suffering a cruel cruciate injury in the comfortable quarter-final win over Walsh Island. That was one of those desperately unlucky injuries that can destroy a club's season. They had the game won when Mealiff suffered his injury quite innocously late on and the importance of him to Ballycommon can not be downplayed.

Even in his absence, however, you could make Ballycommon favourites but Cappincur's experience, their ability to perform most days, even if the result doesn't follow for them, gives them a great chance. One of those games where no result would be a surprise.

Verdict – Cappincur.