Weekend of destiny in Offaly hurling championships

THE biggest weekend of the year to date in the Offaly Senior and Senior “B” Hurling Championships is coming up.

There are some huge, mouth watering games in senior hurling with knockout places on the line and a couple of clubs facing tension filled afternoons as their fate depends on other results.

St Rynagh's, Birr, Ballinamere and Belmont are definitely through to the knockout stages but Tullamore, Shinrone and Coolderry are hanging by a thread, needing results to fall their way to get into the quarter-finals.

Four in a row seeking champions Kilcormac-Killoughey are also on unusually precarious ground and if Coolderry beat Kinnitty in group 1, they will be gone unless they get at least a draw against Birr.

St Rynagh's are currently top of group 1 with six points but if Kilcormac-Killoughey beat Birr, they will take top spot from their grasp and qualify for the semi-finals as group winners on the head to head rule – second and third in each group criss cross in two quarter-finals. If Kilcormac-Killoughey don't beat Birr, then St Rynagh's will go direct into the semi-finals.

Coolderry's only path to the quarter-finals is to beat Kinnitty and Birr to win against Kilcormac-Killoughey – if that happens, they will put the champions out on the head to head rule.

Group 2 is even more interesting. A Birr win is definitely possible against Kilcormac-Killoughey but Coolderry will be living in more hope than anything else for this.

Ballinamere are top of group 2 with six points, Belmont and Tullamore are on four, Shinrone on two and Lusmagh on no points. Shinrone play Lusmagh and have to win this to get to four points but even the people at this will be more focused on events a few miles out the road in Banagher where Ballinamere and Belmont clash.

Ballinamere will qualify for the semi-finals if they get a point and Belmont will top the group if they win. Belmont are already through and under normal circumstances, this game would only be mildly interesting for neutrals. On this occasion, however, it is absolutely fascinating as the fate of Tullamore and Shinrone are dependant on the result.

Tullamore are finished their group games and they need Belmont to win to make the quarter-finals. If this happens, they have Shinrone on the head to head but if Ballinamere win and Tullamore, Belmont and Shinrone are tied on four points for two quarter-final places on Sunday evening, Tullamore will lose out on scoring difference.

Shinrone need Ballinamere to win. In the event of a tie with Tullamore, they are out but they qualify if three teams are level on four points so one hugely engrossing, tension filled afternoon is in store for Shinrone and Tullamore, who are powerless.

Tullamore are unlucky to be so vulnerable. They had a terrific shock first round win over Shinrone but conceded two calamitious late goals when they took the eye off the ball with the game won. At the time, those goals didn't dampen Tullamore's celebrations who were so happy to take a big scalp but they have come back to haunt them and it means they will lose out on scoring difference if the three teams tie – if they had conceded just one and not two goals, Tullamore would be through as we speak but now find themselves utterly reliant on Belmont beating or drawing with high flying Ballinamere.

This weekend's games are:

Group 1

Coolderry v Kinnitty: Saturday, September 5 in Rath at 4.00pm

Coolderry have had a messy couple of weeks with their manager Paul Cuddy unexpectedly resigning and his two selectors, Kevin Brady and Martin Corcoran taking over as joint managers for the remainder of the season.

The result of Birr and Kilcormac-Killoughey will determine whether it is for just one game or they get an extension. Apart from needing to win to stay in the hunt for a quarter-final place, this game has ramifications for Coolderry in terms of relegation – they won't welcome the mention of that word but this is also a “relegation semi-final” as the loser will play Lusmagh in the play off for the drop back to senior “B”.

It is a banana skin for Coolderry. They would expect to beat Kinnitty but the wheels have come off to an extent since a terrrific first round win over Kilcormac-Killoughey. They were particularly poor when losing to Birr in round 3 and the managerial upheaval means that a lot of circling of wagons is taking place in this great club.

Kinnitty's struggles have not been a surprise but they will relish this one. It is close to a “free shot” for them and they do have an outside chance. Coolderry have been badly hit by injuries this season and should be able to win but it is not written in stone.

Verdict – Coolderry.

Birr v Kilcormac-Killoughey: Saturday, September 5 in Banagher at 4.00pm

The most attractive game of the weekend by far is the meeting of Birr and Kilcormac-Killoughey and the hosts St Rynagh's will be expecting a bumper crowd in Banagher.

It is a huge test for Kilcormac-Killoughey, who have looked more vulnerable this year than at any stage in the past three seasons. They have been without their two star forwards, Charlie Mitchell and Adam Screeney and while no one will be shocked if Screeney makes a surprise appearance here, the word on the street is that it will be a semi-final at least before he can play again.

Injuries to defensive lynchpins Jordan Quinn and Cillian Kiely in their win over St Rynagh's are causing palpitations in Kilcormac-Killoughey. They are their full and centre back and absolutely pivotal to their prospects. Kiely was in terrific form against St Rynagh's and K-K may not have won without his defensive tour-de-force.

Quinn went off with a knee injury and that always sets people thinking of one thing only – cruciate – while Kiely departed late on. Both players were getting tests in the wake of that and their availability has a big bearing on this. If one is out, Kilcormac-Killoughey are vulnerable, if both are gone, they are sitting ducks – that doesn't mean they won't win but Birr's victory chances immediately rise by ten percent.

Birr are likely to welcome back their star attacker Eoghan Cahill, who missed the past couple of games with injury. They were poor in their defeat by St Rynagh's but have performed well and are motoring well. They are improving and are title contenders, though this will tell us more.

The stakes aren't high for Birr as they are in the quarter-finals and can't make the semi-finals but they have no fear factor around K-K and relish taking them on. They almost took them out in the semi-finals last year and they will certainly want to win this and open up the championship for them and everyone else.

It will be very interesting to watch it all. K-K can't lose, though a draw will do them, and this is knockout hurling for them. Their hunger and work rate hasn't been at the right levels to date but you would imagine this won't be a problem in a game of these stakes. They will probably find a way to survive but it will only be a mild surprise if they are handing back the Sean Robbins Cup on Saturday evening.

Verdict – Kilcormac-Killoughey.

Group 2

Shinrone v Lusmagh: Sunday, September 6 in Birr at 3.30pm

Struggling for form and displaying the hallmarks of a squad going into the red, needing a rest, Shinrone showed terrific character to keep their qualification hopes alive with a great win over Belmont in their last game.

They now have to beat Lusmagh to ensure they fulfil their end of the bargain and it will be a huge surprise if they don't collect the points. Lusmagh have been fighting very hard on their return to senior hurling but it has been a big step up for them – this is also a “relegation semi-final” as the losers will play the losers of Coolderry and Kinnitty there.

Lusmagh have nothing to lose here but Shinrone should be able to get the win with a bit to spare.

Verdict – Shinrone.

Ballinamere v Belmont: Sunday, September 6 in Banagher 3pm

A semi-final place is at stake but this game is commanding attention more because of the impact the result has on Shinrone and Tullamore.

Playing a quarter-final would not be a disaster for either but Ballinamere and Belmont will want to go direct to the semi-finals and expect them to contest this with complete honesty and professionalism.

Ballinamere have gone very well this year and have a great chance of capturing a first ever senior hurling title. Belmont are also in the equation, though it was not lost on their supporters that they “reverted to type” when the pressure came on in the second half of their defeat to Shinrone – excellent in the first half, Belmont's composure went when Shinrone got a run on them in the second half as they began to hit “hail Mary's” forward with increasing frequency.

Ballinamere are slight favourites but this is close to a 50-50 game. A Belmont win is entirely possible and they have beaten Ballinamere before. Belmont are well capable of a big performance and no result will be a surprise here.

Verdict – Ballinamere.

Senior “B” Hurling Championship

The knockout lineup for the Senior “B” Hurling Championship will be decided on Saturday afternoon when the closing three games take place.

The top four qualify for the semi-finals. Seir Kieran and Clara are definitely in and Clodiagh Gaels, Carrig-Riverstown and Kilcormac-Killoughey are engaged in a frantic fight for the other two spots.

The big game is the meeting of Clodiagh Gaels and Carrig-Riverstown with the loser going out if Kilcormac-Killoughey beat Drumcullen, who are already in a relegation play off.

Seir Kieran v Clara: Saturday, September 5 in Mucklagh at 1.30pm

The meeting of Clara and Seir Kieran is a “dead rubber” with both already through. The winner will top the group, playing fourth in the semi-final but this is neither here nor there – though Kilcormac-Killoughey could end up in fourth spot and they have not been convincing this season. Expect a fairly pedestrian afternoon with the intensity well below knockout hurling.

Verdict – Seir Kieran.

Clodiagh Gaels v Carrig-Riverstown: Saturday, September 5 in Kinnitty at 1.30pm

Clara and Carrig-Riverstown is the pick of the games by a considerable distance with the winners through and the losers out – if K-K beat Drumcullen. A draw is enough for Clodiagh Gaels but Carrig-Riverstown have to win.

If Carrig-Riverstown and Kilcormac-Killoughey win, those two will tie on five points with Clodiagh Gaels and it is the Killeigh based club who will be out on scoring difference.

It should be a terrific game. Clodiagh Gaels have played better this year and they are favourites but this is a tricky one.

Clodiagh Gaels can produce poor performances and that can't be ruled out but Carrig-Riverstown have been hit by injuries. County star Cathal King is out for the season and they just can't afford his loss. They have a decent chance but Clodiagh Gaels' form suggests that they will qualify.

Verdict – Clodiagh Gaels.

Drumcullen v Kilcormac-Killoughey: Saturday, September 5 in Banagher at 2pm

Kilcormac-Killoughey had a great run when winning a senior and senior “B” double in 2023 and 2024. Their second team looks to have slipped a bit more this year and they lost to Peter Geraghty to their senior team against St Rynagh's. Brian Guinan can't be far away from getting the call up to first team action either and with injuries mounting, K-K, for all their numbers, are operating off a restricted senior panel.

Senior is the only game in town for K-K and the second team is not the priority for the club. Drumcullen have a definite outside chance here but just haven't got going after winning intermediate last year and K-K should be able to make the semi-finals.

Verdict – Kilcormac-Killoughey.