Edenderry aim to throw gauntlet down to Tullamore in Division 1 Football League final

EDENDERRY will be very keen to throw a major challenge down to the county's dominant football club, Tullamore when they clash in the Division 1 Football League final in O'Connor Park on Sunday next – it has a 1pm throw in.

Winners of both the Senior Football Championship and Division 1 Football League for the past two seasons, Tullamore are now in the midst of a great golden era.

They have won the Senior Football Championship in 2021 as well as losing finals in 2020 and 2022. They have been a terrific force of nature in this decade and a big part of their modus operandi has been targeting the league in the first part of the season.

They have dominated that in recent years, availing of the opportunity to give valuable game time to fringe players while they were down their county stars. That was a big part of the manager, Niall Stack's plans in recent years and his replacement, Paul McConway has continued it on.

Having said that, Tullamore haven't been as dominant this year as other years. They only scraped into the semi-finals in fourth place, behind Ferbane, Bracknagh and Edenderry – Tullamore won four, drew two and lost two games as they tied with Shamrocks on ten points but got through on the head to head rule as a result of their win in Mucklagh.

Tullamore are in a very strong place and have a huge amount of numbers, though they raised questioning glances when they opted not to field their second team in the Division 3 Football League this year, withdrawing from it. While they had to use several of their intermediate side in the Division 1 Football League, that was a strange one and didn't look great for a club of their size – they fielded in the Division 5 Football League, reaching the final where they play Raheen on Saturday, and you would imagine that putting a team out in the higher grade should have been a priority but no doubt, there was some logic in Tullamore's reasoning for all that.

Edenderry have a big point to prove and the league is important for them. You could argue that it is way more important for Edenderry than Tullamore. The north Offaly side have flattered to deceive in recent years, looking good at times but not able to get across the line in big games – they haven't reached the Senior Football Championship final since 2014, haven't won the title since 2011, and that is a long time for a town of their size and with the talent at their disposal.

A key player in those years, Richie Dalton is now the manager and they are clearly working hard to make the changes that have to be made. Edenderry are still a work in progress but have had a good league, winning five games, drawing one and losing two.

Their draw was with Tullamore but Sunday's final will be a very different story. There was no county players playing at that stage and they are back now, though Tullamore will be down key players for this final – Diarmuid Egan is injured and Daire McDaid and Harry Plunkett are in Chicago on 60 day playing sanctions.

Cormac Egan missed their semi-final win over Ferbane but could be back for this one while Edenderry's county players, Lee Pearson, Rory Egan and Jordan Hayes all played in their semi-final win over Bracknagh. That trio along with attacking ace Cian Farrell are the backbone of the Edenderry team and will give them a chance against most opponents.

Tullamore do have a greater depth in strength, less grey areas on their team but there is a chance for Edenderry to record a win that would serve them very well for the season ahead.

Tullamore, however, are favourites. They may have a bit of work to do on their fitness and a few players cramped up late on in the semi-final win over Ferbane but they will be very keen to maintain their winning streak in this league.

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With championship around the corner, it will be an interesting game and a chance for supporters to see how they are going. It will be close to championship intensity and Edenderry will be very highly motivated.

Tullamore tend to find a way to win those games and they may do so again but Edenderry will push them the whole way.