Clara and Shamrocks reach point of no return in Offaly SHC “B”

WITH two rounds left to play, struggling Clara and Shamrocks have reached the point of no return in the Molloy Environmental Systems Senior “B” Hurling Championship.

Both are rooted to the bottom of the table with no point from their three games and a fourth successive defeat this weekend will put them into the relegation play off.

Having won the intermediate championship last year and with a few of that team gone, Shamrocks' struggles are not a surprise. They will have Offaly senior hurling panelist Padraig Cantwell back for their crunch game against Clodiagh Gaels this Saturday. Cantwell has had a long lay off with a knee injury but came on for their senior footballers last Saturday and his return is a help.

However, they will still be up against it with Clodiagh Gaels having been stung by Lusmagh in their last game.

Clara's form was not expected. They were beaten by Tullamore in the final last year but have lost their three games and must win their last two against Lusmagh and Shamrocks to stay in the hunt. They will need results to go their way in other games to scrape into the quarter-finals but their prospects of staying in the title hunt are greater than Shamrocks'.

Firstly they will have to beat Lusmagh who have done very well to turn the corner in recent weeks and now have a great chance of making the semi-finals.

Kilcormac-Killoughey are definitely through with six points from their thre games while Clodiagh Gaels, Lusmagh and Birr are all on four points. The top four qualify for the sem-finals with the bottom two in the relegation play off.

This weekend's games are:

Kilcormc-Killoughey v Birr; Friday in Rath 7pm

Verdict – Kilcormac-Killoughey.

Clara v Lusmagh: Saturday in Moystown 5.30pm

Verdict – Lusmagh.

Clodiagh Gaels v Shamrocks: Saturday in O'Connor park 5.30pm

Verdict – Clodiagh Gaels.