Fixtures released for big Offaly football games

THE fixtures have been released for some big Offaly football championship games on the weekend of October 10-12.

The draw was made for the semi-finals of the Tullamore Court Hotel Senior Football Championship.

Holders Tullamore will meet Rhode while Edenderry take on Ferbane. It has been decided to play these as a double bill in O'Connor Park, Tullamore on Sunday, October 12 with Edenderry and Ferbane at 2.30pm and Tullamore and Rhode at 4.15pm.

Tullamore and Edenderry topped their groups and were kept apart in the semi-final draw which took place after Ferbane had a sensational come from behind win over Shamrocks in a thrilling quarter-final in O'Connor Park on Sunday.

Rhode had an expected win over Bracknagh on Saturday and will be hoping to turn over their long time rivals. Ferbane and Edenderry already drew in the group stages in a game that Ferbane should have won but Edenderry have been playing consistently better this year and will be slight favourites for that.

There is also a very attractive double bill in O'Connor Park on Saturday, October 11. The Intermediate Football Championship final between St Brigid's and Tullamore is at 2.30pm and will be preceded by the Junior Football Championship final between Clodiagh Gaels and Rhode at 2.30pm.

There are also two finals on Friday, October 10. The Junior “B” Football Championship final between Tullamore and Shamrocks is in Clara at 7.30pm while the Junior “C” Football Competition final between Edenderry and Raheen is in Gracefield at 7.30pm.

A busy weekend of action includes three crunch Senior “B” Football Championship games at 12 noon on Sunday, October 12.

Cappincur meet Gracefield in Geashill, Ballinagar and Clara clash in Durrow and Tubber and Daingean play in Rhode.

The stakes are huge in these games. Clara are guaranteed top spot but it is up in the air for the other three semi-finalists. Cappincur will get there if they beat Gracefield who are already assured of meeting Ballycumber in the relegation play off.

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Ballinagar need to beat title favourites Clara to be sure of qualification while both Daingean and Tubber are also on a knife edge. If Ballinagar lose to Clara, they will need Daingean to beat Tubber to qualify – but if Ballinagar beat Clara and Daingean lose to Tubber, Daingean will be gone so it is all incredibly tight. Tubber will qualify with a win over Daingean. There is also the possibility of teams tying on points and head to head results or scoring difference determining the outcome so it is all incredibly tight - Cappincur are favourites to advance but can't take anything for granted against Gracefield and will be conscious of how close Ballycumber came to beating Daingean on Sunday, even though they were already in the relegation play off.