All the groups and first round draws for the 2020 Offaly GAA Club Championships were finalised at a County Board meeting on Tuesday evening, 3rd March.
Football sponsors, the Tullamore Court Hotel, were represented at the draw by Philip O’Brien, while Donal Molloy attended on behalf of Molloy Environmental Systems, sponsors of the hurling championships. Here are the details of what unfolded:
Senior Football Championship
Group 1: Ferbane, Edenderry, Shamrocks, Bracknagh.
Group 2: Rhode, Clara, Cappincur, Tullamore.
First Round Fixtures: Bracknagh v Tullamore; Shamrocks v Rhode; Ferbane v Cappincur; Edenderry v Clara.
(Note: The championship has a ‘criss-cross’ format, initiated last year, with teams in Group 1 playing teams in Group 2, and vice-versa)
Senior B Football Championship
Group 1: Gracefield, Tubber, Erin Rovers, Shannonbridge
Group 2: Ballycumber, Durrow, Walsh Island, Ferbane
First Round Fixtures: Tubber v Walsh Island; Erin Rovers v Durrow; Shannonbridge v Ballycumber; Gracefield v Ferbane
(Note: The championship has a ‘criss-cross’ format, initiated last year, with teams in Group 1 playing teams in Group 2, and vice-versa)
Intermediate Football Championship
Group 1: Clonbullogue, Kilcormac/ Killoughey, St Brigid’s, Doon
Group 2: Raheen, St Rynagh’s, Clodiagh Gaels, Ballycommon.
First Round Fixtures: St Brigid’s v St Rynagh’s; Doon v Clodiagh Gaels; Clonbullogue v Raheen; Kilcormac/ Killoughey v Ballycommon
(Note: The championship has a ‘criss-cross’ format, initiated last year, with teams in Group 1 playing teams in Group 2, and vice-versa)
Junior ‘A’ Football Championship
Group 1: Ballinagar, Birr, Daingean, Kilclonfert, Kinnitty
Group 2: Clara, Edenderry, Rhode, Tullamore.
First Round Fixtures: Kilclonfert v Daingean; Ballinagar v Birr; Kinnitty a bye; Edenderry v Rhode; Clara v Tullamore
Junior ‘B’ Football Championship
Group 1: Ballyfore, Ferbane, Bracknagh, Tullamore, Raheen, Erin Rovers
Group 2: Clara, Gracefield, Clonmore Harps, Ballycumber, Durrow, Shamrocks.
First Round Fixtures: Bracknagh v Tullamore; Ballyfore v Erin Rovers; Raheen v Ferbane; Ballycumber v Gracefield; Clara v Clonmore Harps; Shamrocks v Durrow.
Junior ‘C’ Football Championship
Group 1: Edenderry, Ballycommon, Doon, Clodiagh Gaels, Rhode.
Group 2: Cappincur, Clonbullogue, Shannonbridge, Daingean, St Brigid’s.
First Round Fixtures: Clodiagh Gaels v Doon; Rhode v Edenderry; Ballycommon a Bye; Daingean v Clonbullogue; Cappincur v Shannonbridge; St Brigid’s a Bye
Under 20 Football Championship
1st Round: (1) Na Fianna v Shamrocks; (2) St Patrick’s v St Broughan’s; (3) St Rynagh’s v St Vincent’s; (4) Wheery v Tullamore; (5) St Michael’s v Clara; (6) St Manchan’s v Gracefield.
Quarter-Finals: Durrow v Kilcormac/ Killoughey: 1 v 2; 3 v 4; 5 v 6; 7 v 8.
The Senior, Senior ‘B’ and Intermediate Hurling Championship each have one group of eight teams, so it was decided to just hold the first round draw at the County Board meeting. The Junior ‘A’ and Junior ‘B’ Championships had the groups and first round fixtures finalised.
Senior Hurling Championship
First Round Fixtures: Belmont v Shinrone; Kilcormac/ Killoughey v Ballinamere; Birr v Seir Kieran; St Rynagh’s v Cooldery.
Senior ‘B’ Hurling Championship
First Round Fixtures: Clara v Clodiagh Gaels; Kilcormac/ Killoughey v Carrig & Riverstown; Tullamore v Drumcullen; Lusmagh v Kinnitty
Intermediate Hurling Championship
First Round Fixtures: Coolderry v Shinrone; Shamrocks v Brosna Gaels; Belmont v Seir Kieran; Birr v St Rynagh’s.
Junior ‘A’ Hurling Championship
Group 1: Kilcormac/ Killoughey, Tullamore, Ballinamere, Ballyskenach/ Killavilla; Shamrocks.
Group 2: Kinnitty, Crinkle, Coolderry, Gracefield, Clodiagh Gaels.
First Round Fixtures: Ballinamere v Shamrocks; Ballyskenach/Killavilla v Kilcormac/ Killoughey; Tullamore a Bye; Crinkle v Clodiagh Gaels; Gracefield v Kinnitty; Coolderry a Bye
Junior ‘B’ Hurling Championship
Group 1: Drumcullen; Kilcormac/ Killoughey; Seir Kieran; Edenderry, Ballinamere, Tullamore, Clara.
Group 2: Coolderry, Lusmagh, Carrig & Riverstown; St Rynagh’s, Birr, Belmont.
First Round Fixtures: Tullamore v Clara; Seir Kieran v Drumcullen; Edenderry v Kilcormac/ Killoughe; Ballinamere a Bye; Coolderry v St Rynagh’s; Birr v Carrig & Riverstown; Lusmagh v Belmont.
Under 20 Hurling Championship
First Round Fixtures: (5) Kilcormac/ Killoughey v Tullamore; (6) Shinrone v St Rynagh’s; (7) St Brendan’s v Na Fianna; (8) Ballinamere v Coolderry.
Quarter-Finals: Belmont v Kinnitty/Lusmagh; Drumcullen/Seir Kieran v Shamrocks; 5 v 6; 7 v 8
The entire fixture list for each grade will be announced in the near future.
By kenny Tue 3rd Mar
