Trapdoor under Ballinamere as shock Tullamore draw sparks life into Offaly SHC

A FANTASTIC come from behind draw by Tullamore against Birr has sparked life into the Molloy Precast Environmental Systems Senior Hurling Championship, removing the air of inevitability about the knockout line-up – Birr, Belmont, Kilcormac-Killoughey and Shinrone are all through with Ballinamere, Coolderry and Tullamore in the hunt for the final two places.

Ten points behind nine minutes into the second half and trailing by seven inside the last five minutes, Tullamore stunned Birr as sub Jay Sheerin and Dan Fox got in for brilliant goals and Eoghan Cahill and Shane Dooley exchanged injury time frees to leave it all square, Tullamore 4-14, Birr 2-20, at the final whistle.

It was a great result for Tullamore, a poor one for Birr, though the favourites had one very big rainbow to console themselves with as they digested it all on Friday evening – the point was enough to secure their place in knockout hurling and a win over Ballinamere in the final group game will put them into the semi-finals.

The result has transformed the season for Tullamore, who have improved dramatically under the guidance of former Kilcormac-Killoughey manager Shane Hand. Their initial priority was to retain senior status and they effectively secured that with a very hard earned win over Seir Kieran in the previous round but this point means that their fate is in their own hands - and a win over Coolderry in the final round in 2 weeks time will put them into the quarter-finals.

That would be a huge achievement for Tullamore and they are in bonus territory now. They will be underdogs against Coolderry but have a good 45% chance and it means that the stakes are huge in the final two games in this group on September 6-7.

Ballinamere did what they had to do with a 1-23 to 0-17 win over Seir Kieran in Banagher on Saturday evening. Beaten finalists last year when they almost got there against Kilcormac-Killoughey and second favourites this year, Ballinamere haven't got going fully yet and while they were comfortable against Seir Kieran, it wasn't an overly convincing display.

The big positive for Ballinamere was the return from injury of Dan Ravenhill. The Offaly star only came on in the 58th minute but his availability is crucial to Ballinamere and they will be hoping he will be able to start in the last round against Birr.

There was further good news for Ballinamere when Dan Bourke was cleared to play. They were having palpitations when the brilliant Bourke, a man who really makes Ballinamere tick, went for a scan on an injured knee over a week ago. Fortunately, it wasn't serious and he not only played against Seir Kieran but was in terrific form as he scored five points from play.

Ballinamere will need all hands on deck against Birr as there is now a trapdoor under their feet with both Birr and Tullamore tugging furiously at it.

Birr are top of the table with five points, Coolderry and Ballinamere have four, Tullamore have three and Seir Kieran are in the relegation play off with their group programme completed.

While Ballinamere haven't found their 2024 form yet, the time to do is knockout hurling but that day has arrived earlier than they anticipated and they have to treat their game with Birr as a winner takes all shootout.

If Ballinamere lose to Birr and Tullamore beat Coolderry, Ballinamere will be gone and that would be a pure disaster for a club with such lofty aspirations. Both results are certainly possible, even if Coolderry will be favourites to beat Tullamore and Ballinamere are more than capable of taking Birr.

Ballinamere's first round malfunction against Coolderry has placed them in this precarious position and if they tie on four points for the third qualifying spot, Coolderry will go through on the head to head rule.

A draw will be enough for Coolderry against Tullamore and that would also do Ballinamere if they did lose to Birr – them and Tullamore would tie on four points if this happened and Ballinamere have the head to head in their favour.

It is a help for Ballinamere that Coolderry are also in a knockout game against Tullamore. If they lose and Ballinamere get a point against Birr, Coolderry will be licking their wounds for the remainder of 2025.

It will make it all very interesting – the two games will take place at different venues at the same time and with supporters keeping in touch with scores, it will make for a most entertaining afternoon or evening.

By contrast, group 2 is way more mundane and is already a done deal, apart from the identity of the table topper and semi-finalist.

Belmont's impressive 0-23 to 1-17 win over Shinrone on Saturday places them top of the table on seven points with their group schedule completed.

Kilcormac-Killoughey's predictable 3-28 to 0-13 win over Kinnitty on Sunday saw them leap frog Shinrone into second place on five points. Shinrone are safely into the quarter-finals on four points, Kinnitty and St Rynagh's are bottom with no point and the loser of their clash in the final round will meet Seir Kieran in the relegation play off.

Shinrone and Kilcormac-Killoughey meet in the other clash and Belmont will be watching this closely. If Shinrone win or draw, Belmont will top the group and go straight into the semi-finals but if K-K win, the holders will be the group winners. Them and Belmont would tie on seven points if that happened but with them having drawn in the first round, scoring difference will be used to separate them – and this will be K-K, who have a much better scoring difference as things stand, without the final round coming into the equation.

Belmont, however, will be thrilled to be where they are after their worse season in several years in 2024 when they didn't qualify out of the group. Despite one of their most valued stalwarts, Leon Fox transferring to Louth, Belmont hit the ground running with that draw with K-K and have emerged as genuine title contenders. They stuttered badly against Kinnitty in round 3, lucky to win with an injury time goal, but played very well in their win over Shinrone and now have a bit of breathing space for a few weeks – which will be very welcome for a club who have a lot of dual players with Ferbane footballers.

While the semi-finalist has to be decided in group 2, all interest in the final round will be on group one and the fate of Ballinamere, Coolderry and Tullamore.