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Offaly Senior Football Championship Quarter-Final Preview

Friday, 1 October 2021 12:13

Durrow and Tullamore are already waiting in the last four.

It's quarter-final weekend in the Offaly Senior Football Championship with two standout ties in prospect. 

Surprise package Durrow and last year's runners up Tullamore are both awaiting two sides from Edenderry, Ferbane, Rhode and Shamrocks. 

Edenderry v Ferbane 

The 2019 champions Ferbane have endured a nightmare run of luck and indifferent results to date and are coming into this one with the underdogs tag, that they won't have been used to wearing in recent times. 

They opened up with a convincing win against Cappincur in Group 1 but then stuttered into scraping a draw against Durrow against the run of play before losing out to Rhode in a repeat of the 2016,'18 and '19 finals. 

It's been a difficult term on the injury front too. Offaly hurler Oisin Kelly picked up a serious injury while training with Belmont and faces a long spell on the sideline. Another strong scoring presence Cian Johnson has been unavailable throughout the campaign and Paddy Clancy picked up a red card in the final group game. 

Edenderry have arguably failed to live up to their potential since last reaching the county decider in 2014 and will view this as a great opportunity of making another semi-final. 

Their issue has been consistency. They've played in patches across each group game without every hitting top gear for a full fixture. 

The opening tie with Bracknagh is a prime example. Edenderry could only manage a draw against a team who failed to win a game thereafter and shipped a huge score to Tullamore. 

Following a narrow win against Shamrocks, Edenderry then managed to draw against Tullamore who are a lot of people's idea of a strong favourite for the 2021 title. 

The ability is there to cause anyone problems but the big if is; can they harness that ability for a sustained period?  

Winner: Edenderry

 

Rhode v Shamrocks

A bit like Ferbane, Rhode come into this in a somewhat surprising position. Everyone involved will have expected to secure a direct semi-final spot and rightly so.

It was not to be however as the missed out on top spot following a opening day defeat to a highly spirited Durrow side and needed a final day victory against their old rivals to secure a preferable draw in the quarter-finals. 

Little can be taken from their routine win against a dogged Cappincur in between as they been statistically the poorest side in this year's championship. 

The cost of that win against Ferbane will be felt in this contest as Brian Darby will be but a spectator after failing to have his dismissal overturned at committee level.

They've suffered season ending injuries to two players including Eoin Rigney and will have somewhat of a different feel for this contest. 

It could be a case of leaning once again on the scoring prowess of Niall McNamee inside and minimising the threat of his heir apparent for Shamrocks at the other end of the field. 

Shamrocks are no forlorn hope in this one as their form in drawing with Tullamore is clearly strong. However they are very inexperienced at this level and are pinning their hopes on quite a number of young players in key positions. 

They haven't reached a final since losing out to Tullamore in 2007 and undoubtedly all eyes will be on Jack Bryant and if he can rack up a score and end the reign of Rhode. 

Realistically he is going to need a personal tally of 0-8 or more if they're going to win out on Sunday afternoon. 

There's no doubt that Shamrocks are one of the coming teams in Offaly football but you'd have to think their day in the sun is in the future and not now. 

Valuable experience will be gained on the day but ultimately the experience of Rhode should be enough to win out on the day. 

Winner: Rhode 

Fixtures:

Saturday

Offaly SFC:

Edenderry v Ferbane

Relegation Final: 

Bracknagh v Cappincur - Daingean 4pm

Sunday 

Offaly SFC:

Rhode v Shamrocks 

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