Crunch time in the battle for knockout places in Offaly SFC

A bumper weekend of profit for the various different mobile networks looks to be in store as simultaneous throw-in times tomorrow evening and again on Sunday evening should result in frantic calls and texts going over and back across the county. Eager supporters will be desperately trying to establish whether they are being helped or hindered by other results, in many cases furrowing the brows as they try to work out the mental arithmetic of scoring differences and recall past group results. Here's a quick guide to the six games taking place, plus what each team will be hoping to achieve once the dust has settled. Clara v St Brigid's (Saturday, 6pm, Geashill) For Clara, this game is about nothing more than keeping their run of championship form going. In fact this game is the perfect example of why the current championship structure needs overhauling. Clara have absolutely nothing to play for and would probably be best served by granting a walk over. By playing this game, all they are doing is risking injuries by taking on a Croghan team that are fighting for their lives. In the recent league semi final against Rhode, Clara fielded a very weakened team and there is no guarantee that they won't do the same again. St Brigid's have been handed a huge advantage by playing Clara in the final game and can guarantee progress with a win. A draw will also be enough as long as Ferbane don't beat Gracefield by six points or more - while they could lose and still progress, as long as Gracefield win and the combined winning margin from the two games is fifteen points or less. Tullamore v Shamrocks (Saturday 6pm, Tubber) Though this fixture is technically a contest for second place in the group, Tullamore have nothing to play for and, with Shamrocks in danger of missing out on a quarter-final spot if they don't get a result, there is only one possible outcome here. It's not Tullamore's fault that they are in this situation, but it's highly unlikely that they will risk any of their dual players for a fixture like this and Shamrocks should win comfortably, thus leaving them in second place and Tullamore in third. Shamrocks have recovered from a disastrous start to the season and the momentum from winning three games in a row going into the knockout stages could carry them a long way this year yet. Ferbane v Gracefield (Saturday 6pm, O'Connor Park) These two clubs are in the unpleasant situation of knowing that they might have already sealed their own fate with their results so far, however their poor form justifies their current predicament. Gracefield need a miracle and cannot progress unless they win and St Brigid's lose by a combined margin of sixteen points or more. For Ferbane, the picture is a little less bleak in that a win will give them a good chance of progressing, but even then they will need a favour from either Clara or Tullamore and neither of those clubs have any incentive to play well this weekend. This game is as much about avoiding relegation as reaching the knockout stages for both of these clubs, as it can be very difficult to stop a bad run once it takes hold and, right now, neither of these clubs are moving in a positive direction. Rhode v Walsh Island (Sunday 6.45pm, O'Connor Park) Technically there is nothing to play for in this fixture but, for Walsh Island, this game represents a chance to top the group and to really announce their re-emergence as a force in Offaly club football. Even without their championship lives on the line, Rhode have a very high cruising speed and while this game isn't a do-or-die fixture for either club, there is a strong possibility that some good football could be played here. As many as half the players on the field will feel that they could be playing county football next year and that alone should sharpen the edge of this fixture. Tubber v Ballycumber (Sunday 6.45pm, Ferbane) No game between next door neighbours could ever be classed as uncompetitive and after Ballycumber so comprehensively won the last tie between these two teams in the 2008 quarter final, Tubber have plenty of motivation. Ballycumber cannot be overtaken by any more than one club no matter what results emerge this weekend and so their place in the last eight is assured, however local rivalry will guarantee that every ball will be well contested against the Tubber men. Tubber need to match whatever result Edenderry achieve against Erin Rovers to guarantee progression and a full blooded encounter in Ferbane is likely to transpire as a result, with their greater need possibly playing a part in the eventual winner. Edenderry v Erin Rovers (Sunday 6.45pm, Killurin) After a bright start to the season, Edenderry's championship campaign has regressed and they look to be paying the price for reaching full pace so early in the year. Their feeble display against Rhode in the previous round would have hurt manager Peter Brady to the bone and they now have to rediscover their appetite for playing football against Erin Rovers. Rovers have struggled to make any real impact this year and, after giving themselves a chance to save their season with a draw against Walsh Island, they were a very definite second best against Ballycumber and now have nothing to play for, as they cannot avoid the bottom two places. Nonetheless, it would be utterly unlike Erin Rovers to compete with anything less than complete honesty and their connections to Tubber through Brosna Gaels should be enough to ensure a strong performance from Rovers. The venue is also likely to suit the Pullough men and if Edenderry do emerge with a win, chances are that they'll have earned it.