Belmont the big early casualty as Offaly SHC moves closer to knockout stages

BELMONT have been the big early casualties as the Molloy Environmental Systems Senior Hurling Championship moves towards the knockout stages

A devastating last gasp defeat to Birr on Saturday means that Belmont are the first of the contenders to bow out, and they now find themselves in a rearguard action against relegation.

With three of their four games played, Belmont are bottom of group 1 with no points and can't make the quarter-finals. It has been a dramatic turnaround, in the wrong direction, by Belmont who looked in very good health when beating Birr well in the Division 1 Hurling League final just before the start of the championship.

However, it has all unravelled for them in the championship as a shock first round defeat by surprise packets Kinnitty started a slide that they were unable to halt.

Ballinamere got the better of them in the second round and last week's 1-15 to 1-14 defeat by Birr summed up a campaign where it just didn't happen for them and they didn't have much luck. They looked to be heading to victory for much of the second half but Birr hauled them in and then got in front. Belmont got level going into injury time and it was very much up for grabs. Defender Ben Miller floated over a sensational winner for Birr after Jack Clancy was blocked down while trying to launch a Belmont attack and their championship aspirations were over in the blink of an eye.

Belmont had welcomed back David Nally after he missed their first two games but their championship campaign suggested that last year rather than the league was a more accurate reflection of where they were. They have been the unluckiest team in Offaly over a few years, desperately close to making a final, but they took a step backwards last year. Their league win, a historic first ever senior title, indicated that they were moving in the right direction again but now they are gone.

Their defeat was also a huge result for Kinnitty, who had a bye. They have three points on board after following up their Belmont win with a last gasp draw with Shinrone. Staying up was their priority at the start of the year and they are now certain of that but are also within touching distance of a quarter-final.

Kinnitty have games to come against Ballinamere and Birr. They will be underdogs in both but no one will be ruling them out with the fighting spirit and character they have shown to date. A point will guarantee them a quarter-final place but they may not even need that.

In group 1, Ballinamere are assured of qualification with five points from three games and a win over Kinnitty in their last game will more than likely earn them top spot and a place in the semi-finals. Kinnitty and Birr both have three points from two games and Shinrone have one from two.

If Ballinamere and Birr win their remaining games, they will tie on 7 points at the top of the table – Birr have to play Shinrone and Kinnitty. Ballinamere and Birr drew their first round clash so scoring difference will determine who tops the table. Ballinamere's whopping 4-22 to 0-16 demolition of Shinrone on Saturday has placed them in pole position – their scoring difference is +24 points, Birr's is +1 and that is a sizeable gap.

Shinrone are on life support in this group, though they are not out of it yet. Champions in 2022 and beaten finalists last year, their draw with Kinnitty has piled the pressure on them and they will be really regretting the concession of a Paddy Delaney equalising goal right at the end of injury time. While they were missing Killian Sampson and Darren Crean on Saturday, the scale of their defeat was still thought provoking. Their defence was exposed by a very good Ballinamere attack and Shinrone have also struggled to replace long serving full back, Darren O'Meara who has retired.

Adrian Cleary has returned from Australia and came on as a sub against Ballinamere. He will be very important to Shinrone's survival prospects and while they will be hoping to salvage a quarter-final place, they will also be keeping an anxious eye on the relegation trapdoor.

Shinrone's match against Birr in round 4 will dictate their year. They have to win this to stay alive and this will be the game of the round, a high stakes shootout between two clubs who know each other very well.

Kinnitty's performances to date command complete admiration but the possibility that they will lose to Birr and Ballinamere is a very real one. If this happens and Shinrone can win their two games against Birr and Belmont, they will go through – the losing margin against Ballinamere is a problem for them as their scoring difference is -18 compared to +3 for Kinnitty.

If Kinnitty do lose their two games, 3 points could be enough for Shinrone – if them and Kinnitty tied on 3 points for a qualification spot, scoring difference will decide who goes through. The odds favour Kinnitty at the moment but they won't be taking anything for granted with that.

Birr are in a strong position, though nothing is guaranteed yet. They were spectacularly poor in that league final loss but have done very well to rally the forces and have their fate in their own hands.

As things stand, you would put your money on Birr making the quarter-finals while it is wide open between Shinrone and Kinnitty for the third qualification spot. However, if Birr beat Shinrone and on current form, that is very possible, then the meeting of Shinrone and Belmont will determine who goes into the relegation play off.

Group 2 is much more straightforward. Kilcormac-Killoughey have six points from three games and are assured of a quarter-final while a win over Coolderry in their last game will secure a semi-final. St Rynagh's have four points from three games, Coolderry two from two and Seir Kieran and Tullamore 0 from two.

Unlike group 1, results here have gone exactly as expected. Title favourites Kilcormac-Killoughey have been in scintillating form and beat Seir Kieran by 3-26 to 0-17 last Friday. Their scoring difference is +67 points and they are the team to beat.

St Rynagh's and Coolderry are on course for the two quarter-final places. If they record expected wins over Seir Kieran and Tullamore in round 4, they will be through – Seir Kieran and Tullamore meet in round 5 and it looks like the loser of this will be in the relegation play off.

Tullamore's prospects of a surprise in round 4 look to be greater and they will be hopeful of giving Coolderry a real run for their money – if they won their last two games and K-K beat Coolderry, Tullamore will qualify for a quarter-final. If Seir Kieran were able to surprise St Rynagh's and beat Tullamore, they could qualify but this is really dependant on Tullamore beating Coolderry. If Coolderry beat Tullamore and lose to K-K and Seir Kieran did win their two games, you would have Seir Kieran, Coolderry and St Rynagh's tied on four points for two quarter-final places. However, scoring difference at the moment would see Seir Kieran bow out – they are on -29 points with St Rynagh's on -5 and Coolderry on +2.

Round 4 fixtures are on August 31-September 1

Group 1

Kinnitty v Ballinamere; Shinrone v Birr.,

Group 2: Seir Kieran v St Rynagh's; Tullamore v Coolderry.

Round 5 fixtures are on September 6-8:

Group 1

Birr v Kinnitty; Belmont v Shinrone.

Group 2

Kilcormac-Killoughey v Coolderry; Seir Kieran v Tullamore.