Semi-finalists could be determined in Offaly Senior Hurling Championship “B” this weekend

THE four semi-finalists in the Molloy Precast and Environmental Systems Senior “B” Hurling Championship could be known this weekend.

With three rounds played, Carrig-Riverstown, Lusmagh and Clara are all safely through. C-R have six points and Lusmagh and Clara have five each and can't be caught for three of the semi-final places on offer.

Kilcormac-Killoughey put themselves in pole position for the fourth spot by collecting their first brace of points with a win over Clodiagh Gaels the last day. Clodiagh Gaels and Coolderry are pointless and are staring an early exit in the face.

Clodiagh Gaels' most realistic path to salvation is for them to beat Lusmagh and Coolderry in their last two games but they also require K-K to lose to Coolderry and Clara. Coolderry's only escape chute is to beat K-K and Clodiagh Gaels – that is a more straightforward way in than Clodiagh Gaels, who are dependant on other results. If Coolderry win their two games, they will qualify as they will have K-K on the head to head if they did tie on four points.

There is one more possibility. If Coolderry beat K-K and lose to Clodiagh Gaels, K-K lose to Clara and Clodiagh Gaels also get a result against Lusmagh, they will qualify – if Clodiagh Gaels lose to Lusmagh and beat Coolderry, them, Coolderry and K-K would tie on two points if the above sequence of results happened with scoring difference deciding who qualifies.

At the moment, however, K-K are favourites to be the fourth semi-finalist and they will be there is they beat Coolderry on Sunday.

Clodiagh Gaels v Lusmagh: Friday, August 22 in Kilcormac 7pm

It just hasn't happened for Clodiagh Gaels this year. Beaten in the last two finals, they have been hit with injuries while a suspension for star attacker Liam Langton for their must win game against K-K the last day was a pure disaster. Even if they do produce a kick here, they will more than likely exit the championship this weekend.

Lusmagh have performed really well this year, emerging as real title contenders. Clodiagh Gaels have never feared them in the past and the fact that Lusmagh are through is a factor. A Clodiagh Gaels win is very possible and it is very common for the team who has to win to beat the team who doesn't but the south Offaly club have been the form team.

Verdict – Lusmagh.

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Clara v Carrig-Riverstown: Saturday, August 23 in Birr at 4.45pm

Clara and Carrig-Riverstown have been in excellent form this year and this would be a right good game if there was something meaningful at stake. There isn't and a bit of shadow boxing may emerge in Birr with both sides up for it but short of full intensity. No result will surprise and C-R's freshness may help them as they don't have dual players – even if Clara's senior B footballers had a bye last weekend.

Verdict – Carrig Riverstown.

Coolderry v Kilcormac-Killoughey: Sunday, August 24 in Clareen 12.30pm

With the Geraghty twins, Peter and Thomas and Mark Mulrooney gone to senior, Kilcormac-Killoughey are not the same invincible force they were in this grade the last two years. Champions in 2024 and 2023, their win over Clodiagh Gaels gives them a great chance of making the semi-finals and they can seal a spot by beating Coolderry on Sunday.

K-K are way more beatable now than the last two years but could still be very strong if they do get through. Coolderry have struggled after winning intermediate. A few vastly experienced players were instrumental in their intermediate win and the step up was always going to test their legs. Coolderry have enough good hurlers to have a chance here but it does represent a good opporunity for K-K to book their semi-final slot.

Verdict – Kilcormac-Killoughey.