Two teams through as Offaly Intermediate Hurling Championship takes shape

THE Molloy Precast and Environmental Systems Intermediate Hurling Championship moved closer to the knockout stages with completion of round 2 at the weekend.

With two groups of four, the top team in each one qualifies for the semi-finals with second and third meeting in two quarter-finals.

In group 1, St Rynagh's are assured of knockout hurling after a very good 1-16 to 1-14 win over Birr in Banagher on Thursday evening. They have four points from their two games with Birr and Seir Kieran on two and Belmont with none.

Seir Kieran got away for a 3-25 to 2-20 win over Belmont on Thursday evening but will now be without former county star Joe Bergin who came on as a sub in their senior hurling defeat by Tullamore on Friday evening.

Seir Kieran meet St Rynagh's in the final round on August 24 with Belmont playing Birr. Only St Rynagh's are guaranteed of qualification in this group and a draw against Seir Kieran will put them into the semi-finals..

A point for Seir Kieran will guarantee their advancement to knockout hurling and a draw will also assure Birr of progression. Belmont have to beat Birr to survive and if St Rynagh's beat Seir Kieran, you would have three teams on two points for the last two qualification spots with scoring difference deciding. If Seir Kieran beat St Rynagh's and Birr beat Belmont, three teams will tie on four points with scoring difference determining who goes into the semi-final.

There are a lot of different permutations but at the moment, Seir Kieran and Birr are favourites to advance as Birr will be fancied to eliminate Belmont.

Group 2 is similarly poised. Shamrocks' 0-18 to 0-14 win over Drumcullen puts them top on four points and they are assured of at least a quarter-final place. Drumcullen and Shinrone are on two points while Ballinamere are pointless and looking at the relegation play off, though they could still survive.

Shinrone gave themselves a good chance of qualification with a 3-16 to 4-9 win in Ballinamere on Friday evening. Shamrocks were two points behind, 0-9 to 0-7, at half time and did well to outscore their opponents by six points in the second half.

Drumcullen meet Ballinamere and Shamrocks have Shinrone in the final round on August 23-24. The results this weekend means that a draw will be enough to earn Shamrocks' a semi-final place while Ballinamere have to beat Drumcullen to stay in the hunt – again there is the possibility of three teams tying on both two and four points in this group. Three teams will tie on two points if Ballinamere and Shamrocks win and there will be three on four points if Shinrone and Drumcullen win.

Scoring difference will separate if three teams tie on the same points but at the moment, Drumcullen and Shinrone are favourites to join Shamrocks in the knockout stages from this group and the relegation play off could be between Belmont and Ballinamere.