No obvious front runner in competitive Offaly Intermediate Football Championship

THERE is no clear favourites in what looks to be a wide open Intermediate Football Championship – this championship also consists of two groups of four with all eight teams qualifying with the result that the real action won't commence until the quarter-finals.

It should be a very competitive championship, once you reach the quarter-finals, and you have four of the main contenders in the one group, St Brigid's, Tullamore, Ballinagar and Raheen.

Erin Rovers look to be the pick of the teams in group 1 and were pipped in the semi-final last year while Ferbane's second team will be strong. St Rynagh's are in one of their valley periods while Kilcormac-Killoughey won junior last year and have often won football titles with a minimum of effort in the past but that is much more difficult now.

St Brigid's were beaten in last year's final but the loss of one of their exciting emerging talents, forward Ben Kennedy to a broken leg is a big blow to their prospects.

Raheen have often flattered to deceive but have one of the best forwards in Offaly in Dylan Hyland. One man can't win a championship in this grade but he could certainly inspire them to glory.

Ballinagar have the players to win this grade. Junior champions in 2022, they had two players on the Offaly senior football panel last year in Morgan Tynan and Diarmuid Finneran, two members on the Offaly U-20 football team in Geordi O'Meara and Robbie Gallagher and others who have played on county underage teams in recent years.

That depth of talent gives them a great chance but there are plenty of doubts about them. They have obvious title potential but you would have to stop short of making them favourites.

Tullamore are the big unknown. They have a huge pick, a few players with senior experience and more who have represented Offaly on county underage teams. If they get all their players out and make winning this a priority, they won't be far away – they will be very hard to beat and it won't be a surprise if they won it.

Similarly, Ferbane's second team should be decent. They have a big parish, a big pick and a mixture of players. They have won this grade before and while it is not certain that they are strong enough to do so again, they are well capable of beating any of the teams in this grade.

Intermediate now provides a good level of football and the fact that so many teams have realistic prospects adds to its attraction. There is a case to be made for making Tullamore favourites but Ballinagar represent the great conundrum here. The talent is there but do they have everything that is required to win three big knockout games, how would they go against parish rivals Raheen in a knockout derby and all that game would entail?

These are the great questions while St Brigid's, Raheen and Erin Rovers also have considerable potential.

Verdict – Ballinagar.

First round games

Group 1

St Rynagh's v Erin Rovers, Cloghan on Friday, July 26 at 7.30pm; Verdict – Erin Rovers.

Kilcormac-Killoughey v Ferbane, Kilcormac on Saturday, July 27 at 7.30pm; Verdict – Ferbane.

Group 2

Raheen v Ballinagar, Geashill on Friday, July 26 at 7.30pm;Verdict – Raheen.

St Brigid's v Tullamore, Croghan on Saturday, July 27 at 5pm; Verdict – Tullamore.