Tullamore the last team Offaly standing in Leinster Club Championships

IT has been a fairly short season for Offaly representatives in the Leinster club championships this season.

Most clubs have received a sharp, quick knock and the only team left standing is Tullamore – and they face a big game this Saturday when they travel to Navan to take on Trim in the Leinster Club Intermediate Hurling Championship semi-final.

It has been a very poor campaign for Offaly clubs so far. Most clubs have bitten the dust at the first time of asking. Shinrone in senior hurling, Rhode in senior football, Bracknagh in intermediate football and Shamrocks in junior hurling all went out in their first game.

Ballycommon got two games in the Leinster Club Junior Football Championship and competed well in their defeat by Multyfarnham of Westmeath – the absence through injury of key players David Dempsey and Tom Mealiffe cost them dearly.

Tullamore are now flying the flag for the county. They have done well this year. They weren't brilliant in the Offaly Senior “B” Hurling Championship but they produced the goods when it really counted and had a very good win over Fr Dalton's of Westmeath in their first game.

They are moving well and very eager to prolong their season into December, at least. A place in the final against Bray Emmets of Wicklow or Dublin's Naomh Barrog is on offer but a trip to Navan represents a big challenge for Tullamore.

Trim are the Meath senior hurling champions but compete in the intermediate grade at provincial level. This makes them favourites while home venue is another advantage. It will take a huge performance by Tullamore to survive but they have prepared well and have enough good hurlers to really trouble Trim.

Trim had a good win over double seeking Ratoath in the Meath final with James Murray scoring a sensational ten points, including two from play and two super sideline cuts. They have a good side and their confidence is flying.

The provincial club championships in all grades are now very competitive competitions, difficult to win. The standing of a county in football or hurling often has little bearing on how their club champions will fare and Offaly clubs have experienced this at first hand.

Kilkenny's Mullinvat sent Bracknagh packing in intermediate football while Kildare's Naas blew Shinrone out of the water in senior hurling. Tullamore will be under absolutely no illusions about the enormity of the task they face on Saturday but at the same time they have a chance, albeit in the role of underdogs.