Offaly GAA

The race for the Sean Robbins Cup is now down to the last four, with two enthralling games in prospect. Kinnitty v Birr throws in at 2pm, while St Rynagh’s play Kilcormac/Killoughey at 3.30pm, both games in O’Connor Pk.

Birr v Kinnitty

In the opening game 22 times champions Birr, who last won the title in 2008 when they defeated today’s opponents Kinnitty in the final 1-15 to 0-15.  Birr’s last final appearance was in 2013 when they lost to Kilcormac/Killoughey.  Kinnitty for their part have been county champions on 10 occasions but it is now 32 years since the Sean Robbins Cup rested at the foot of the Slieve Blooms.  This will be the fifth meeting of Birr and Kinnitty at semi-final stage and it currently stands at two wins each.

1975      Birr                    1-8             Kinnitty             0-11             semi-final

replay  Birr                   1-12             Kinnitty             1-10

1979      Kinnitty          2-18             Birr                      2-7             semi-final

1980      Kinnitty          2-12             Kinnitty              3-8             semi-final

1993      Birr                   1-17             Kinnitty             2-12             semi-final

The teams and scorers for their most recent semi-final meeting in 1993 were:

Birr: Robbie Shiels; Louis Vaughan, Michael Hogan, Brian Hennessy; Johnny Carroll, Brian Whelahan (0-4), Gary Cahill; Conor McGlone (0-1), Matt Feenane (0-3); Noel Hogan, Daithi Regan (0-1), Oisín O’Neill (1-0); Declan Pilkington (0-3), Paul Murphy (0-1), Adrian Cahill (0-4).  Subs: Ray Landy for J Carroll, Paddy Kirwan for N Hogan.

Kinnitty: Liam Bergin; Vincent Bergin, Liam Carroll, Tom Robinson; Brendan Ryan, Paddy O’Donoghue, Ger Coughlan; Joe Carroll, Michael Carroll; Mark Corrigan (1-2), Pádraig McGuinness, Seán Carroll; Paddy Corrigan (0-6), Michael Bergin, Peadar Bergin (1-4).  Subs: Johnny Flaherty for S Carroll, Michael Molloy M Carroll.

Ref: Sean O’Meara (Shinrone)

St Rynagh’s v Kilcormac/Killoughey

The second semi-final is a repeat of last year semi in which St Rynagh’s defeated Kilcormac/Killoughey 1-22 to 1-16 at today’s venue.  While St Rynagh’s have been county champions on 16 occasions, the last time they lifted the Sean Robbins Cup was in 1993 when they defeated Birr in the final.  St Rynagh’s are today competing in their 6^th semi-final in a row and bdding to reach the decider for the 4^th time in that period.  Kilcormac/Killoughey for their part are hoping to get back to County Final day after completing a marvellous three in a row of county titles from 2011 to 2014.

Despite the fact that St Rynagh’s and clubs from the Kilcormac/Killoughey parish have met 28 times in Championship hurling this is just their 4^th meeting at semi-final stage with St Rynagh’s having won all three

1965      St Rynagh’s                      1-15      Killoughey                           1-11   semi-final

1969      St Rynagh’s                      2-19      Kiloughey                              2-7   semi-final

2015      St Rynagh’s                      1-22      Kilcormac-Killoughey      1-16   semi-final

The teams and scorers for their most recent semi-final meeting 12 months ago were:

St Rynagh’s: Conor Clancy; Daniel Maloney, Dermot Shortt, Niall Wynne; Conor Hernon, Garry Conneely, Pat Camon; Seán Dolan, Nigel White; Matthew Maloney (0-1), Stephen Wynne (1-12, 0-8f, 0-1 ‘65), Ronan Hughes (0-2); Aidan Treacy, Joey O’Connor (0-2), Stephen Quirke (0-4).  Subs: Ben Conneely (0-1) for C Hernon, Simon Lyons for N White, Ger Scales for A Treacy, Ger Rafferty for M Maloney, Paul Quirke for S Quirke.

Kilcormac-Killoughey: Conor Slevin; Con Mahon, Ger Healion (1-0), Alan McConville; Enda Grogan, Peter Healion, Brian Leonard; Damien Kilmartin, Killian Leonard; Ciarán Slevin (0-9, 0-5 frees), Kevin Grogan, Peter Geraghty; James Gorman, Dan Currams (0-2), Cillian Kiely (0-3). Subs: Thomas Geraghty (0-2) for K Leonard, Cathal Mahon for Con Mahon.

Referee: Tony Carroll (Kinnitty)