Tulsk and Strokestown set for intermediate blockbuster

The answer to the question is obvious — Tulsk and Strokestown are the top two teams in this year’s intermediate football championship. 

But who will end up as top dog?

Deep down, these neighbours know that one of them will lift the Jamesie Murray Cup in October. At the moment, it’s impossible to see any of the chasing pack catching either of these heavyweights.

Here’s a rundown on the 12 teams vying for honours…

*Strokestown: Winning six games in the O'Rourke Cup gives Strokestown the right to enter the intermediate championship as top seeds. But the Black and Amber didn’t handle the favourites’ tag 12 months ago when losing the final to Elphin.

Another noisy neighbour wearing maroon and white will be out to spoil the party this season.

After winning the senior football championship in 2022, Strokestown's hangover of being relegated the following season hung over them like a bad smell last year, so manager Pierce McGinley will not want a repeat.

*Tulsk: After being relegated from senior football, the arrival of experienced manager Liam McNeill has proved that a rising tide can lift all boats.

They powered their way to O’Gara Cup League glory. With Evan Flynn, Tadhg O'Rourke and Dylan Gaughan leading the charge, they are in it for the long haul.

Expect themselves and Strokestown to be the standout clash when they eventually meet.

*Éire Óg: Unfortunately for the Loughglynn-based side, there has always been one team better than them in the intermediate championship over the past few seasons.

One gets the feeling that they will come up short again when the winning post is in sight.

If they can beat Fuerty in their most difficult group game, a semi-final final slot is on the cards. Any team with Conor Cox pulling the trigger are dangerous, but they need more from the supporting cast.

*Creggs: After a brilliant O'Gara Cup, which saw them finish third and ahead of last year's intermediate champions, Elphin, they gave Castlerea St. Kevin’s a serious game in the promotion/relegation battle for the right to play O’Rourke Cup football in 2026.

While they came up short, it proved to be a valuable experience.

Getting over the quarter-final hurdle is their biggest challenge. It’s one they are capable of clearing if they can keep all the jigsaw pieces together over the course of the championship.

*Fuerty: On their day, they are capable of taking out a big gun in a knockout game. But they lack the quality, strength-in-depth and consistency to travel the full journey over the course of a championship season.

They have lots of players double jobbing with the Athleague hurlers, and that will take its toll when both championships edge towards the closing furlong.

*St. Brigid’s: After hopping between intermediate and junior football over the years, St. Brigid’s have planted their roots and are now a settled intermediate championship side due to the amount of talented players the club has at its disposal.

This grade has proved to be a serious breeding ground for players to develop.

*Shannon Gaels: A club going in the right direction, both on and off the field.

After picking up six wins in the O'Gara Cup, they will be anxious to keep that momentum going in the championship.

With Strokestown as the top team in their group, the battles against St. Brigid’s and Kilbride will decide what direction they take.

*St. Michael’s: Under new manager James Martin, St. Michaels had a solid O'Gara Cup campaign. They were unbeaten in seven out of their 11 games, winning four to remain clear of the relegation zone.

Their number one priority will be to stay afloat. Privately, they will be planning an ambush on Creegs.

But it’s the closing group game against St. Barry’s that they will target to get the job done.

*Kilbride: Surviving last season’s relegation scrap was massive as the club is re-building.

With All-Ireland minor winner Conor Devaney in charge and still playing, they will not lack drive or determination.

Having Strokestown at home in their opening game is no advantage. The battles against St. Brigid’s and Shannon Gaels will steer the ship towards safety or another survival dogfight.

*Kilmore: Relegation from the O'Gara Cup was a blow, but they must pick themselves up for a championship campaign that has the North Roscommon men in a tough group.

Nothing will come easy against Éire Óg, Pádraig Pearses and Fuerty, so their renowned battling qualities will be required to avoid championship relegation.

*Pádraig Pearses: From winning the Junior A championship to reaching an intermediate championship semi-final a year later before surviving relegation last season, the South Roscommon men are well prepared for any eventuality that comes their way.

A club with the finger on the pulse in terms of developing players, they are reaping a rich harvest from the crop they have at present.

*St. Barry’s: This time last season, St. Barry’s were getting ready to give the Junior A championship a right rattle with no expectations.

Twelve months later, after a magical Roy of the Rovers story, they find themselves in the uncharted waters of the intermediate championship.

In reality, they are the clear favourites to go down, so it would be a bigger story than last year’s success if they can pull off the great escape.

Tuesday Teaser

Last week's teaser resembled Donald Trump's tariffs — it took lots of negotiating to get an agreement over the line.

Can you name the first Young GAA Player of the Year to win the Senior award? It was Tyrone’s Seán Cavanagh who won the Young Player award in 2003 and the Senior award in 2008.

John Croghan, Bundoran, was first to strike a good deal. QPR, Frenchpark; Joe Henry, Castleplunkett/Tooreen; Liam Dooley, Ballyhaunis; Paddy Conlon, Taughmaconnell; Michael Scally, Ballaghaderreen; Seán Farrell, Dublin; Murt Hunt, Ballyhaunis; Mary Gilfillan, Kilmore; Bernard Duffy, Longford/Loughglynn; Paddy Boland, Youghal; Pat, Sligo; Luigi, Ballyhaunis; Mick Fetherston, Dublin; David Callaghan, Castlerea; Mary McCarthy, Holloway; Kevin Flanagan, Dartford; Seán Toolan, Heston, and Michael Kearns, Clapham, also avoided heavy taxes.

This week’s Teaser: Can you name the only Senior Hurler of the Year to manage a county to win the All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship?

Answers by e-mail to willieefc@gmail.com or by text to 086 8356227. This week’s teaser came from London.?

Weekend watch

Star pupil: Darragh McCarthy who scored 1-13 for Tipperary during the Premier County's incredible All-Ireland final victory over Cork on Sunday.

Crucial win for: the Meath senior ladies’ footballers who defeated All-Ireland champions Kerry in their semi-final.

Much do better: the Galway senior ladies’ footballers will have huge regrets after losing their All-Ireland senior semi-final to Dublin, after extra time.

Spot of bother: Time is a great healer, but how do the Cork senior hurlers begin to pick up the pieces after a soul-destroying defeat to Tipperary?

Weekend highlight: It was unreal watching Tipperary producing a “Riverdance of Hurling”, outscoring Cork by 3-14 to 0-2 in the second half of Sunday’s All-Ireland final.

What a cracker: On Sunday, Croke Park will be like a Michelin-Star restaurant, with award-winning chefs, Jack O’Connor and Jim McGuinness, in the kitchen ready to serve up a delicious main course.

Hegarty’s motivational quote

“Do not stop thinking of life as an adventure. You have no security unless you can live bravely, excitingly, imaginatively — unless you can choose a challenge instead of competence.”

Did you know?

Cork in 2010 was the last side not to automatically qualify for the quarter-finals and win the All-Ireland — that will change after Sunday’s decider between Kerry and Donegal.

Finally for this week

The pick of the games in the Roscommon Senior Hurling Championship this weekend is the clash of St. Dominic’s and Roscommon Gaels in Knockcroghery on Saturday evening.