Bracknagh take giant leap forward in Offaly SFC

BRACKNAGH took a giant leap forward when the second round of the Tullamore Court Hotel Senior Football Championship took place last weekend.

Four late points gave Bracknagh a deserved draw, 0-9 each, with a very below par Edenderry and it gives them a great chance of securing one of the qualification places out of group 2.

As expected Rhode had things all their own way in the other group 2 clash, beating a very understrength Shamrocks by 4-17 to 1-9 – Rhode could have scored 6-20 had they been truly clinical but as it was, they didn't spare Shamrocks.

Rhode have secured at least a quarter-final place in group 2 and will go into the semi-finals as table toppers if they beat Bracknagh in their final round robin game – if Bracknagh somehow managed to pull off a major shock in that game, they would go into the semi-finals as them and Rhode would be tied on four points but Bracknagh would edge it on the head to head rule.

Bracknagh and Shamrocks drew in the first round and it looked like scoring difference would decide which of these would go into the quarter-final and relegation play off. However, Bracknagh's very good draw with Edenderry has thrown the cat among the pidgeons and they are now in pole position for qualification.

It could still go wrong for them if they lose to Rhode, which is more than likely, and Edenderry and Shamrocks draw in the last game. If there is a decisive result there, however, Bracknagh will be through along with the winners of Edenderry and Shamrocks. While Edenderry are not going well, struggling desperately for their best form, they will be favourites to beat Shamrocks.

If they draw, then Edenderry will be okay. Their scoring difference is much better than Shamrocks': -7 points compared to -17. If that happened and Bracknagh also lose, there will be three teams on two points and two qualifying. Bracknagh's scoring difference is exactly level and they would have to lose by more than seventeen points to Rhode to bow out – that is unlikely but far from impossible. Seventeen points was Rhode's winning margin over Shamrocks and they are well capable of cutting loose again. Shamrocks should have Jack Bryant back for the Edenderry game and that will be a big help but the chances of a draw here are outside.

In group 1, Tullamore are defintely out and they will top the group if they beat Durrow in their final game. Tullamore walloped a troubled looking Clara by 4-15 to 1-4 on Friday evening while the Durrow v Ferbane game was postponed on Sunday as a mark of respect to former Offaly GAA chairman Brendan Ward and will be played on Tuesday evening.

That game will dictate exactly what is needed in the final round but irrespective of that, we know that a third win will put Tullamore into the semi-finals and a third loss against Ferbane will put Clara into the relegation play off.

There is still plenty of football to be played but champions Rhode and Tullamore are now joint title favourites with Ferbane just behind them. Edenderry's prospects have slipped into the outside category. They can't be ruled out and could get going in knockout football but their form has not convinced so far. Durrow are dark horses – their game against Ferbane will tell more and you wouldn't back them at the moment but they have a lot going for them, plenty of fit young men, well able to play football. Clara and Shamrocks almost certainly can't win a championship this year and Bracknagh are also rank outsiders.

The final round fixtures are:

Group 1

Tullamore v Durrow; Ferbane v Clara.

Group 2

Edenderry v Shamrocks; Rhode v Bracknagh.