Four battle for final berth in Offaly IFC

Tullamore will be clear favourites to make the final of the Tullamore Court Hotel Intermediate Football Championship next weekend while the semi-final between Ferbane and St Brigid's looks to be a real 50-50 one.

St Brigid's v Ferbane: Friday, September 26 in Daingean 7.30pm

A repeat pairing with Ferbane edging St Brigid's by 0-18 to 3-7 in their group clash in Ferbane back in August.

There was very little between them that day and it is likely to be the same here. St Brigid's are desperate to make the final. They were ambushed by Ballinagar in last year's semi-final and hav a lot going for them.

It will take a really big performance to take Ferbane out. Ferbane have plenty of players with senior experience. Joe Maher, Shane Nally and David Kelly all played in last year's senior final loss to Tullamore and they have plenty of others. Paddy Clancy has played in recent games, though he is also in the senior plans so it remains to be seen if he is available for this.

Ferbane got away late on to beat Walsh Island in the quarter-final while St Brigid's went straight into the semi-final as group winners. Ferbane are no world beaters but their form-line is marginally better and they are very slight favourites.

Verdict – Ferbane.

Tullamore v Raheen: Sunday, September 28 in Walsh Island 12 noon

Raheen have often had the Indian sign over Tullamore at this level in recent years, able to beat them in big games. They took Tullamore out in the semi-finals last year and normally fancy their chances against them.

The goal posts, however, have shifted for this.

Firstly, Raheen are down their star man Dylan Hyland who was sent off in their quarter-final win over St Rynagh's and has accepted his two match ban - his suspension means he will also miss the final if Raheen do make it.

They did terrifically well to beat St Rynagh's with Hyland gone before half time, displayed great character but Tullamore are a very different proposition, way stronger than Rynagh's and Hyland's absence means that they are very much underdogs.

The second factor is that Tullamore seem much more intent on winning this championship this year. They have often displayed a lukewarm attitude towards it and this was certainly the case last year when they took a few players off this team for their first senior game against Ballycommon, scarcely using some afterwards.

That has not happened this year. They drafted up players such as Ben Heffernan and Liam Dillane but Heffernan was always a senior standard defender while Dillane has grasped his chance with both hands. They haven't used anyone else, instead using minimal subs in senior and even telling players to run injuries off in a couple of games – they have other players to come back on their senior team, Diarmuid Egan and Nigel Bracken and were definitely not going to give an intermediate a run for the sake of it.

In other years, they might have but there is a determination in Tullamore to win this grade and get their second team up to senior B. With such numbers and quality at their disposal, it is important that they get up there.

This game will certainly test the veracity of the theory that Raheen can't win without Hyland. Yet the reality is that they would be underdogs, even if Hyland was playing. The focus on the Offaly star is a bit hard on the other Raheen players, who are very honest and committed and there is plenty of football in them. Life has thrown them a curve ball this year though with two of their strongest players, Shane Hyland and Conor Carroll out with injuries and now Hyland gone.

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They can't cushion those type of blows and are now on life support, though Tullamore's past vulnerabilities at this grade will give them hope. Raheen have nothing to lose and they will give it everything. Tullamore, however, should be able to get the win. A few of their team would make a lot of other senior sides in the county. Raheen certainly don't have as many in this category and while this time of year and weather conditions can be a great leveller, the form book and Raheen's woes all point towards a Tullamore win.

Verdict – Tullamore.