Offaly SFC undermined by walkover

Offaly's Ciaran Burke during the national anthem. ©INPHO/Bryan Keane.

This weekend’s final round of group matches in the Offaly SFC have been overshadowed by Durrow’s decision to concede a walkover to Rhode.

The teams were due to meet in Daingean tomorrow at 6pm, but Durrow have informed the county board that they aren’t in a position to fulfil the fixture due to having only 13 players available. Their squad has been decimated by the decision of most of their dual players to opt out and concentrate on sister club Ballinamere’s SHC quarter-final against Kilcormac/Killoughey on Sunday week instead.

After losing their previous three group games to Edenderry, Ferbane and Ballycommon, the Westmeath-border club felt it was a dead-rubber fixture as they couldn’t qualify for the knockout stages, while there is no relegation from the SFC this year in order to facilitate an extra team in the top-flight in 2026.

The only punishment Durrow will face is a €200 fine, despite widespread criticism over their withdrawal.

Meanwhile, Offaly’s 2026 football hopes have suffered a major blow with the news that goalkeeper Paddy Dunican has ruptured his ACL.

Dunican, whose return from Australia was a big factor in Offaly’s surprise Allianz Football League Division 3 triumph this year, suffered the season-ending injury while playing outfield for his club Shamrocks in their recent SFC defeat to neighbours Tullamore. He will undergo surgery at the end of the month and is expected to be sidelined for at least nine months, meaning he is unlikely to see any action in next year’s Allianz League.

The Mucklagh man, who has played for Athlone Town in the League of Ireland, is one of the best fly keepers in the game and is also a noted dead-ball specialist. He is also a considerable loss to Shamrocks who have qualified for the knockout stages of the Offaly SFC.