Big games in Offaly Senior Football Championship

THERE will be big, very attractive games when the second round of the Offaly Tullamore Court Hotel Senior Football Championship takes place next weekend.

Edenderry face a potentially season defining clash when they travel to Mucklagh to take on Shamrocks in group 1 – badly beaten by Tullamore in the first round, a second defeat will leave Edenderry in serious bother.

Shamrocks and Rhode drew in their opener and Rhode face off against Ferbane, who are playing their first game.

Group 2 saw two draws with Bracknagh and Clara, and Ballycommon and Clonbullogue sharing the spoils. Four qualify out of the strong group 1 with the top two teams going into the sem-finals and third and fourth meeting the top two teams in group 2 in the quarter-finals.

This week's games are:

Group 1

Ferbane v Rhode: Friday, July 17 in Ferbane 7.30pm

There are two very attractive games in group 1 this weekend and the meeting of Ferbane and Rhode is the pick of them. Rhode did well to draw with Shamrocks in the first round and will relish taking on Ferbane.

It is a big game for Ferbane. They have been so close to winning a championship in recent years but just can't beat Tullamore in big championship games. Despite the loss of Cathal Flynn, they remain second favourites but this will tell a lot more about. Rhode have the benefit of a game and it is close to a 50-50 one, even if they are heading into transition.

Expect a fiercely fought, very interesting game.

Verdict – Ferbane.

Shamrocks v Edenderry: Saturday, July 18 in Mucklagh 7pm

In a way, the meeting of Shamrocks and Edenderry is the most fascinating of the weekend. Shamrocks should have beaten Rhode but missed too many chances. Still, they would have taken a point before hand and that result does open up a path to the quarter-finals for them.

Edenderry have a major point to prove after Tullamore blew them out of the water in the second half of their opening round. There will be a lot of circling of the wagons going on in Edenderry since and they have been hurt by the nature of their defeat.

Expect a big kick from them here and Shamrocks could be sitting ducks. On the basis of the first round games, Shamrocks are the favourites and it does represent an opportunity for them to take a giant step towards the quarter-finals. They have to perform and do it, however, and no result would be a surprise here.

Verdict – Shamrocks.

SEE NEXT: Huge work rate and Dooley magic leads Tullamore to great shock win over Shinrone

Group 2

Clara v Ballycommon, Saturday, July 18 in Clara at 4.30pm

A big test for Clara, who look to have the players to make a quarter-final but were held to a draw with Bracknagh. The format this year looks to be a winning one and it gives huge incentive to the teams in the weaker groups.

Ballycommon were solid in their draw with Clonbullogue and will relish taking on Clara. They have the experience of playing senior for a couple of years and Clara will be under no illusions about how difficult this will be to win. The home side are favourites but it is in the slight category.

Verdict – Clara.

Durrow v Bracknagh: Saturday, July 18 in Durrow 2.30pm

Durrow make their debut on Saturday and it will be very interesting to see how they go. They have a lot of very good footballers, many of them Offaly senior hurlers. They have gone back for former Roscommon goalkeeper Shane Curran as manager and are determined to make an impact.

If they get the balance right between football and hurling, they are well capable of making a quarter-final but they have not always managed that. We just don't know what we will get from Durrow against Bracknagh. They could click and win well or they could suffer a disappointing defeat.

There is an equal possibility of both, though the likelihood is of a tight, keenly contested game. Bracknagh did well to draw with Clara and their sole concentration on football is an advantage.

Verdict – Bracknagh.