Knock-Out Places Secured In Offaly Hurling Championships
Belmont and Kilcormac-Killoughey were the big winners from Round 5 of the Molloy Environmental Systems Offaly Senior Hurling Championships, as they secured semi-final berths with wins over Shinrone and St Rynagh’s, respectively.
Belmont – who welcomed back Oisin Kelly in the second half after a long lay-off due to injury – produced a blistering display in St Brendan’s Park against Shinrone to claim top spot in Group 2.
Cathal Flynn (2) and Paddy Clancy were the goal-scorers while David Nally top-scored once again with 0-9. Belmont were even more convincing than the final scoreline of 3-18 to 2-14 suggests, with Shinrone hitting 1-6 in the closing stages.
Consequently, Ballinamere finish second in the group, with Shinrone in third. Meanwhile, Coolderry defeated Seir Kieran to avoid the relegation play-off.
A Cathal Kiely goal was the decisive score as Kilcormac-Killoughey defeated reigning champions St Rynagh’s by 1-19 to 1-15 in O’Connor Park.
This means that K-K are also in the semi-finals, with St Rynagh’s coming second in the group and Birr took third place when they came from behind to defeat Kinnitty by 1-14 to 0-12 in Rath. (Ballinamere and Clodiagh Gaels had a bye this weekend).
The quarter-finals are St Rynagh’s v Shinrone & Ballinamere v Birr.
The six-team Senior ‘B’ Hurling Championship also had the final round of group games on Sunday afternoon. Tullamore had goalkeeper Adam Cleary to thank for a late penalty save which kept them in the Championship with a one point win over Kilcormac-Killoughey. K-K were through anyway, but had they settled for a point, ‘The Blues’ would have been out as Drumcullen defeated Clara. Meanwhile, Birr had three points to spare over Lusmagh. Therefore, Clara, K-K, Birr and Tullamore are through to the semi-finals, while Drumcullen and Lusmagh must contest the relegation play-off.
In the Intermediate Hurling Championship on Saturday evening, Shamrocks overturned their defeat to Carrig & Riverstown in the group stages to advance to the final for the second year in a row on a scoreline of 2-9 to 1-9. On Sunday afternoon, Seir Kieran came through an exciting semi-final against St Rynagh’s with a late goal helping them to a 3-17 to 1-22 victory in Shinrone.
WEEKEND RESULTS (To Be Updated On Sunday):
SHC – Kilcormac-Killoughey 1-19 St Rynagh’s 1-15; Belmont 3-18 Shinrone 2-14; Birr 1-14 Kinnitty 0-12; Coolderry 4-11 Seir Kieran 1-14.
SHC ‘B’ – Tullamore 2-15 Kilcormac-Killoughey 0-20; Birr 1-16 Lusmagh 0-16; Drumcullen 2-19 Clara 1-18.
IHC S-F – Shamrocks 2-9 Carrig & Riverstown 1-9; Seir Kieran 3-17 St Rynagh’s 1-22.
