All to play for in wide open Offaly Intermediate Football Championship

THERE are no clear starters' favourites in the Tullamore Court Hotel Intermediate Football Championship, though it is possible to separate the teams into three grades of contenders:

St Brigid's, Tullamore and Raheen are in the top tier of title contenders.

Ferbane, Edenderry and Walsh Island are in the second class – they could win but Ferbane and Edenderry are second teams and you just don't know what they will have while Walsh Island are just down out of senior “B” and have more than their quota of elder statesmen.

It may be a bit harsh not to place Walsh Island in the top tier as they almost won the Division 3 Football League. They are masters of getting the most out of what they have and while they have a few players who are heading down the wrong side of the hill, they could emerge as contenders and will be difficult to beat.

St Rynagh's and Kilcormac-Killoughey are in the third tier of outsiders.

The top team in the two group qualifies for the semi-finals with second and third in two quarter-finals.

Walsh Island, Tullamore, St Rynagh's and Kilcormac-Killoughey are in group 1 and Tullamore are clear favourites to emerge from this. You would imagine, without being certain, that Walsh Island will be able to get out too and it is a toss of the coin between St Rynagh's and Kilcormac-Killoughey.

If Kilcormac-Killoughey really went at it, they could win this grade but there is no evidence of any change in their attitude towards football – and whatever about junior, the days of winning Offaly's third tier with an airy-fairy approach look to be over, though you never know.

Group 2 is the tougher group. Raheen, St Brigid's, Ferbane and Edenderry will all be competitive. Raheen and St Brigid's are favourites to emerge but could be vulnerable and Ferbane and Edenderry could get serious if they do come out.

It is a wide open championship. St Brigid's are definitely capable of winning it and Tullamore provide the great unknown. If they go at it, they could be very difficult to beat. Raheen have suffered some tough final defeats in recent years and are definite contenders – Dylan Hyland is a match winner for them but they do need other players to step up.

It will be interesting to see what way it unfolds and the jury is out on all teams. St Brigid's could be the team but are far from the finished article.

Verdict – St Brigid's.