Fascinating semi-finals in Offaly SHC “B” down for decision

THE Senior “B” Hurling Championship moves into the business end of affairs next weekend with two fascinating semi-finals down for decision.

Carrig-Riverstown v Clara: Saturday, September 20 in Birr 1pm

Carrig-Riverstown have been title favourites from an early stage but still have to prove themselves in big knockout games and the real business starts for them now.

They have been going very well the whole year and have played well in league and championship. It is knockout championship hurling, however, that will define them and Carrig-Riverstown have not always performed at their best in these type of games.

They are definite favourites to beat Clara. Clara went very well in the early part of the championship but have slipped into uncertain form in recent weeks, conceding too much in defeats to Carrig-Riverstown and Kilcormac-Killoughey and not able to hit the 20 point mark themselves.

Clara's dual commitments means that they just can't get the same volume of work done as Carrig-Riverstown. Clara have plenty of good hurlers and they will give it a real go but C-R are doing only hurling and that has to be a factor.

C-R are not hot favourites but they are quite warm ones and they will be dismayed if they lose here. They have to go and perform now and nothing can be taken for granted with this fixture.

Verdict - Carrig-Riverstown

Kilcormac-Killoughey v Lusmagh: Sunday, September 21 in Banagher 2.30pm

Lusmagh and Kilcormac-Killoughey could serve up one of the games of the year in Banagher on Sunday.

Going on recent years, Kilcormac-Killoughey deserve to be favourites but that tag actually belongs to Lusmagh now, though it comes with a very big warning notice attached.

Lusmagh have been very good this year. They are unbeaten with three wins and two draws and with former Birr goalkeeper, Brian Mullins in charge, they have turned a very big corner. It is great to see this proud club going well and Lusmagh have a lot going for them.

Kilcormac-Killoughey are seeking three in a row at this grade but are not the same unstoppable force they were. They lost Peter and Thomas Geraghty and Mark Mulrooney to their senior team and stared an early exit in the face when losing their first two games. Clodiagh Gaels had an opportunity to put them out but didn't and K-K have developed into serious contenders once again.

It is more or less a 50-50 game and you can make a strong case for going with K-K to return to the final once again. They have a lot of talent and they know how to win. Knockout hurling will tell us exactly where Lusmagh are and we don't really know how they will perform here. They look to have everything in place to get to a final and they have a few excellent big game players but there are niggling doubts.

Lusmagh should have beaten Carrig-Riverstown when drawing their last group game and that would have earned them a semi-final tilt with Clara instead of K-K. You could be confident of them beating Clara but not near as much with K-K. In a way, it is no harm for them that they have a game of this magnitude and it could be the making of their season but there could also be a price to be paid for not putting C-R away when they had them on the ropes.

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Leigh Kavanagh came back from injury for K-K in their win over Clara but could very well be used by their seniors against Ballinamere. Lusmagh should be the hungrier side and it would be good to see new champions at this grade – it is not good for Offaly hurling to have the same side winning senior B and senior every year but that is not K-K's issue, their achievements have been incredible in 2023 and 2024 and they remain very serious contenders.

Verdict – Lusmagh.