Revised format for Offaly club championships gets the green light
Club delegates gave the green light for revised formats in the 2020 Offaly club championships at a special county board meeting earlier this week.
Due to the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, it was not possible to run the championships as originally planned, and the modified competitions will now take place from the end of July until mid-October.
The rather bizarre criss-cross system whereby clubs play teams not in their own group won't apply in this year's football championships. Instead, it will be the more customary format with teams coming up against the three other teams in their group.
Ferbane (pictured above lining up for last year's final) will open the defence of their senior football title against Edenderry (Group 1), while Rhode will face Clara in the opening round of Group 2.
The Rhode v Clara game will be a repeat of last year's highly controversial semi-final clash between the clubs.
The top two teams in each group will advance to the semi-finals (there will no quarter-finals), with the winner of Group 1 facing the runner-up in Group 2 and vice versa.
The bottom team in each group will face each other in the relegation play-off.
In the SHC, defending champions St Rynagh's will meet Belmont in the first round (Group 2), with 2019 finalists Birr taking on Kilcormac-Killoughey in their opening fixture (Group 1).
The original plan to have eight-team groups in the Senior, Senior 'B' and Intermediate hurling championships has been shelved. Instead, there will be two groups of four teams in each case, with the top two in each group progressing to the semi-finals.
Extra-time and 'winner on the day' regulations will apply to championship semi-finals. If county finals end in a draw, a replay will take place within seven days.
Although there had been some speculation about the possibility of knockout championships due to time constraints, Offaly's management committee was not in favour of such an approach.
The details of the groups in the various Offaly club championships are provided below (the dates for fixtures have not been confirmed yet).
Tullamore Court Hotel Senior Football Championship
Group 1
Ferbane, Edenderry, Shamrocks, Bracknagh.
Group 2
Cappincur, Tullamore, Rhode, Clara.
Tullamore Court Hotel Senior 'B' Football Championship
Group 1
Erin Rovers, Shannonbridge, Gracefield, Tubber.
Group 2
Walsh Island, Ferbane, Ballycumber, Durrow.
Tullamore Court Hotel Intermediate Football Championship
Group 1
St Brigid's, Doon, Clonbullogue, Kilcormac-Killoughey.
Group 2
Raheen, St Rynagh's, Clodiagh Gaels, Ballycommon.
Tullamore Court Hotel Junior Football Championship
Group 1
Kilclonfert, Kinnitty, Ballinagar, Daingean.
Group 2
Rhode, Tullamore, Clara, Edenderry.
Tullamore Court Hotel Junior 'B' Football Championship
Group 1
Raheen, Erin Rovers, Bracknagh, Tullamore, Ballyfore, Ferbane.
Group 2
Ballycumber, Durrow, Shamrocks, Clonmore Harps, Gracefield.
Tullamore Court Hotel Junior 'C' Football Championship
Group 1
Doon, Clodiagh Gaels, Rhode, Ballycommon, Edenderry.
Group 2
Daingean, St Brigid's, Cappincur, Shannonbridge, Clonbullogue.
Tullamore Court Hotel U-20 Football Championship
Round 1
St Michael's V Clara
St Manchan's V Gracefield
Wheery V Tullamore
St Rynagh's V St Vincent's
St Patrick's V St Broughan's
Na Fianna V Shamrocks
Quarter-finals
St Michael's or Clara V St Manchan's or Gracefield
St Rynagh's or St Vincent's V Wheery or Tullamore
Na Fianna or Shamrocks V St Patrick's or St Broughan's
Durrow V Kilcormac-Killoughey
Molloy Environmental Systems Senior Hurling Championship
Group 1
Coolderry, Seir Kieran, Birr, Kilcormac-Killoughey.
Group 2
Shinrone, Ballinamere, St Rynagh's, Belmont.
Molloy Environmental Systems Senior 'B' Hurling Championship
Group 1
Tullamore, Clara, Clodiagh Gaels, Carrig & Riverstown.
Group 2
Drumcullen, Kilcormac-Killoughey, Kinnitty, Lusmagh.
Molloy Environmental Systems Intermediate Hurling Championship
Group 1
Brosna Gaels, Belmont, Shamrocks, St Rynagh's.
Group 2
Birr, Shinrone, Seir Kieran, Coolderry.
Molloy Environmental Systems Junior Hurling Championship
Group 1
Tullamore, Ballyskenagh/Killavilla, Kilcormac-Killoughey, Ballinamere, Shamrocks.
Group 2
Coolderry, Gracefield, Kinnitty, Crinkill, Clodiagh Gaels.
Molloy Environmental Systems Junior 'B' Hurling Championship
Group 1
Ballinamere, Tullamore, Seir Kieran, Edenderry, Drumcullen, Kilcormac-Killoughey.
Group 2
Birr, Belmont, Carrig & Riverstown, St Rynagh's, Coolderry, Lusmagh.
Molloy Environmental Systems U-20 Hurling Championship
Round 1
Shinrone V St Rynagh's
St Brendan's V Na Fianna
Ballinamere V Coolderry
Kilcormac-Killoughey V Tullamore
Quarter-finals
St Brendan's or Na Fianna V Ballinamere or Coolderry
Kilcormac-Killoughey or Tullamore V Shinrone or St Rynagh's
Drumcullen/Seir Kieran V Shamrocks
Belmont V Kinnitty/Lusmagh