Senior semi-finals draw made as Offaly hurling championships move near conclusion

THE draw for the semi-finals of the Molloy Precast and Environmental Systems Senior Hurling Championship were made after Shinrone's breathtaking come from behind win over Coolderry in Birr on Sunday evening.

The group winners, Belmont and Birr were kept apart in the semi-finals and Shinrone's reward is a match up with Belmont while Birr meet holders and favourites Kilcormac-Killoughey – K-K were brilliant in their demolition of Ballinamere on Saturday in Tullamore.

The Senior “B” and Intermediate Hurling Championships are down to the final stages with Lusmagh meeting Carrig-Riverstown in senior B while Birr and Drumcullen will clash in the intermediate.

In the Junior Hurling Championship semi-finals, Brosna Gaels have been drawn against Edenderry while Ballyskenach-Killavilla face Tullamore.

All of these games will take place on an action packed weekend on October 4-5. Fixtures will be made soon by the Competitions Control Committee and they have a big of juggling to do.

Birr v Kilcormac-Killoughey will be in O'Connor Park in Tullamore. St Brendan's Park is Birr's home ground and there is no way that K-K will agree to play there – O'Connor Park is their natural habitat and they love playing there. The ideal solution would be a double bill with that and the intermediate hurling final between Birr and Drumcullen but Birr have a cross-over involved in both managements and are likely to want them played on separate days.

One possibility is a senior hurling semi-final double bill in Tullamore with the senior B and intermediate hurling finals doubling up on the other day in Birr but Drumcullen would have to agree to play in Birr.

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The other one is that the Belmont v Shinrone senior semi-final double up with the intermediate hurling final in Birr with the senior B final and K-K v Birr senior semi-final take place in Tullamore – again that is dependant on Drumcullen agreeing to play in Birr while Lusmagh and Carrig-Riverstown will both be keen to play in Birr so it remains to be seen what the Competitions Control Committee come up with.