Bracknagh hoping for late reprieve as big football fixtures announced

BRACKNAGH will get a reprieve in the Offaly Senior Football Championship if Tullamore defeat Ballinagar in the Senior “B” final.

Bracknagh were devastated to be relegated on Friday night when they coughed up a twelve point half time lead and were over powered by a Brian Duignan inspired Durrow in the second half of a thrilling relegation play off in Geashill on Friday night.

It looked like Bracknagh were doomed to senior “B” football for 2027 but an unexpected escape chute loomed onto the horizon when Tullamore surprised Daingean in the Senior “B” Football Championship semi-final on Saturday.

Peter Fox scored a sensational two point winner deep in injury time to snatch victory from Daingean's grasp. Ballinagar had an easy win over Tubber in the other semi-final and if Tullamore defeat Ballinagar in the senior “B” final on Saturday week, Bracknagh will stay in senior – if Ballinagar win, Bracknagh are down.

Kilcormac-Killoughey won back to back Senior “B” Hurling Championships in 2023 and 2024. They opted against going senior on both occasions with the relegated team getting a reprieve. Kilcormac-Killoughey had the option of fielding two teams in the top flight in those years but that has since been removed and an Offaly bye law was passed, ruling that a club can't have two teams competing in the senior championship.

It means that Tullamore won't have any say in the matter if they do win. Irrespective of the result in the final, Ballinagar will compete in the Leinster Club Intermediate Football Championship as second teams are not allowed compete at provincial level.

It was a big week in the Offaly football world. In the Senior Football Championship quarter-finals, Shamrocks recovered from an awful start to beat Clara by 1-19 to 1-12 while four in a row seeking Tullamore finally clicked in the second half to put Ballycommon to the sword, 5-13 to 0-12. The semi-final draw pitted Tullamore against Rhode while Shamrocks will meet Ferbane.

In the Intermediate Football Championship quarter-final, St Brigid's had an easy win over Gracefield but it came at a high cost as former county player Cian Donohue got a late red card. St Brigid's have footage of the incident and are likely to seeking a hearing to attempt to get that red card over turned.

Edenderry had a dramatic extra time win over Walsh Island in the other quarter-final and they could get much stronger. Cian Farrell, a county footballer for a few years, is eligible to play in this grade. He has been in New York for the summer, playing football with the Sligo team there and their season ended on Sunday, freeing him up to return and play for his club. Farrell would have been an automatic on the Edenderry senior team but wasn't named on the first fifteen list that they were required to submit to the County Board and this means he can play the lower grade.

Edenderry got Raheen in the semi-finals draw and Farrell's presence could have a big bearing on this championship. Ferbane and St Brigid's meet in the other semi-final.

The Junior Football Championship semi-finals took place last weekend with favourites Doon beating Shannonbridge in a much anticipated local derby. Clodiagh Gaels got the better of Erin Rovers in the other semi-final.

The fixtures have been made for these big football games on the weekend of September 25-27 with two hugely enticing double bills in O'Connor Park.

The senior “B” final between Ballinagar and Tullamore and junior football final between Doon and Clodiagh Gaels takes place in headquarters on Saturday, September 26 with the junior at 2.30pm, the senior B at 4.15pm.

O'Connor Park will host the senior football semi-finals on Sunday, September 27 with Ferbane and Shamrocks at 2.30pm, Tullamore and Rhode at 4.00pm.

The intermediate football semi-finals have been staggered to allow supporters see both. Ferbane and St Brigid's play under lights in Tubber at 7.30pm on Friday, September 25 and Edenderry meet Raheen in Daingean at 12 noon on Sunday, September 27.