Semi-finalists emerge in Offaly Senior “B” Hurling Championship

THE semi-finalists in the Molloy Precast and Environmental Systems Senior “B” Hurling Championship were decided with a round to spare when round 4 took place at the weekend.

Carrig-Riverstown, Lusmagh, Clara and Kilcormac-Killoughey have all made the semi-finals and the pairings will be determined in the final round of group games in two weeks time.

Table toppers Carrig-Riverstown continued their red hot form with a 1-25 to 0-16 victory over improving Clara on Saturday evening while Clodiagh Gaels' disastrous career continued when the very in-form Lusmagh beat them by 5-18 to 1-17 on Friday evening.

Beaten finalists in the last two years, Clodiagh Gaels have been hit with injuries this year while a one match ban for their star forward Liam Langton for their defeat by Kilcormac-Killoughey added to their tale of woe.

The loss to high flying Lusmagh left Clodiagh Gaels holding on by a thread, needing Coolderry to beat Kilcormac-Killoughey on Sunday and then them to beat Coolderry in the final round and Clara to take K-K: this sequence of results would have left K-K, Coolderry and Clodiagh Gaels tied on two points for the final qualifying spot and scoring difference in the games involving those three clubs determining who qualified.

As expected, however, K-K shut that door on Sunday very emphatically with a run away 3-23 to 1-11 win over Coolderry to secure their semi-final place.

Senior and senior “B” champions for the last two years, K-K have not been as good this year in the lower grade after losing Peter and Thomas Geraghty and Mark Mulrooney to their first team. However, they have managed to qualify and with the capacity to improve further, they are very much contenders – their performance was a real declaration of intent and will have been noted by the lgher three semi-finalists.

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After four rounds, Carrig-Riverstown have 8 points, Lusmagh 7, Clara 5, K-K 4 and Clodiagh Gaels and Coolderry have done.

The winner of C-R and Lusmagh will top the table and meet the fourth placed team in the semi-final – the loser of K-K and Clara will be fourth while a draw will be enough for C-R to top the group and a draw would also see K-K in fourth place.