Clara hanging on by a thread as Offaly SHC “B” nears knockout stages

DESPITE recording their first win at the weekend, Clara are hanging on by a thread in the Molloy Environmental Systems Senior “B” Hurling Championship.

They gave themselves a lifeline with a fine 2-16 to 0-16 win over Lusmagh on Saturday but are still relying on another result to fall in their favour in the fifth and final round of group games on the weeekend of September 2 and 3.

Kilcormac-Killoughey, Clodiagh Gaels and Birr are definitely into the semi-finals and will be joined by either Lusmagh or Clara while Shamrocks will meet Clara or Lusmagh in the relegation play off.

Kilcormac-Killoughey continued their very impressive form with a fourth consecutive win at the weekend, beating Birr by 1-12 to 0-9. Clodiagh Gaels recovered from a surprise defeat by Lusmagh with a big 4-24 to 0-11 win over struggling Shamrocks.

It leaves K-K top of the table on eight points, Clodiagh Gaels on 6, Lusmagh and Birr on 4, Clara on 2 and Shamrocks on 0.

Clara, beaten by Tullamore in the final last year, will be expected to beat Shamrocks in their final group game but they also need Birr to beat Lusmagh. Any other result in that game will see Clara bow out but if Birr win, they will go through instead of Lusmagh on the head to head rule – Clara were beaten by Birr so will lose out if they tie.

Those dual results are possible but Clara are on very icy ground. Birr might be very marginal favourites to beat Lusmagh but the fact that they are through no matter what the result is a big factor in this game. Lusmagh's need is much greater and with the best will in the world, Birr won't be up for this as they would be for a must win game.

It would be very close to a 50-50 game in normal circumstances and the team that needs to win gets the result a high percentage of the time in the GAA world. It happened just over a week ago in intermediate football when Ballinagar surprised Daingean to make the quarter-finals: Daingean were already through to the semi-finals while Ballinagar had to win to have any chance of surviving.

It would almost be a surprise if Lusmagh don't get a result against Birr and Clara are in the unhappy position of not having their fate in their own hands.

In the other fifth round fixture, the two championship favourites, Kilcormac-Killoughey and Clodiagh Gaels meet. The winner of this will top the group and play the fourth placed team in the semi-final but both will be playing within themselves here, not showing their full hand. It doesn't really matter who meets who in the semi-finals and K-K and Clodiagh Gaels have the luxury of having a handy afternSoon for a change.

Meanwhile, the Intermediate Hurling Championship is down to the semi-final stage. Drumcullen had an easy 1-20 to 0-11 win over Edenderry in the quarter-final on Sunday while St Rynagh's edged out Shinrone, 2-16 to 0-21. Carrig-Riverstown and Coolderry are seeded in separate semi-finals after topping their group.

Seir Kieran retained their intermediate status with a 0-26 to 2-17 win over Belmont in the relegation play off. It was a very close run thing though as they required extra time to win and Belmont were adamant that they had scored a winning point injury time – maintaining that the sliotar was over the bar before the Seir Kieran goalkeeper caught it.