PREVIEW: Fascinating battles loom in Offaly Senior Hurling Championship quarter-finals

TWO fascinating battles loom in the Molloy Environmental Systems Senior Hurling Championship quarter-finals this week which are fixed as parts of very attractive double bills with senior “B” hurling semi-finals on Saturday and Sunday.

The relegation play off between Belmont and Tullamore will also attract interest with both clubs desperate to stay in the top flight.

Birr v St Rynagh's: Saturday in O'Connor Park at 4.30pm

Two sides with a major point to prove will go head to head in O'Connor Park on Saturday when Birr and St Rynagh's cross swords in O'Connor Park.

Both sides have blown hot and cold this year, playing some good hurling but also having poor games and they enter the business end of affairs with considerable question marks hanging over their prospects.

St Rynagh's are marginal favourites here but that is very much based on past rather than current form and this is a 50-50 game. Birr have been more impressive this year. They were in the tougher of the two groups and just made the quarter-finals when beating Kinnitty in their last game. They drew with Ballinamere, got a late winner against Belmont and were well beaten by a rejuvenated Shinrone.

St Rynagh's have't really performed to date. They were hammered by Kilcormac-Killoughey and produced their best display when beating Coolderry but later lost to Seir Kieran. They also beat Tullamore but their form is not that of county champions. While Aaron Molloy has been an exciting addition to their attack and Luke O'Connor has the pace to unlock defences, St Rynagh's do look to be heading for a valley period.

Some of their elder statesmen appear to be heading down the wrong side of the hill but there could still be a powerful kick in them and Birr could feel this pain. You can be sure that St Rynagh's will perform in this one and the big doubt around Birr is a very strong reliance on Eoghan Cahill up front. His shooting lately has been spectacular and it is no longer enough for a team to warn defenders and midfielders not to foul – frees conceded by half forwards are also likely to be punished with laser like deliveries over the bar.

This is a hard one to call but Birr's form has been that bit better.

Verdict – Birr.

Coolderry v Shinrone: Sunday in Birr at 3.30pm

With both sets of players very familiar with each other, Coolderry and Shinrone could provide the game of the weekend.

Birr will be no place for the faint hearted and both sides have found good form in recent weeks. Coolderry's confidence will be boosted after giving Kilcormac-Killoughey their first proper test in their last group game while Shinrone have done very well to turn the corner after a poor start to the campaign.

Coolderry were not far off Kilcormac-Killoughey in a 1-18 to 0-15 defeat and that performance augurs very well for their prospects here. We shouldn't read too much into it but Coolderry still performed very well and one of their great strengths is their ability to turn up and perform in big games – it doesn't always result in victory and they can have bad days but it is rarely down to lack of effort or poor attitude.

Coolderry do have injuries problems with forwards Eoin Burke and Gearoid McCormack and they can't afford any losses. Their intermediates are in the final and they won't want to take any of them but Coolderry will still be confident of winning here.

While Shinrone have competed in the last two finals, winning and losing one, it is part of Coolderry's psyche that they will always expect to beat them and when channelled the right way, that can be a help.

Shinrone were in bother early on as they drew with Kinnitty and Ballinamere did a job on them but they performed really well when a gun was to their head in round 3, beating Birr well. They followed that up with a comfortable win over Belmont and have found form at the real right time.

Their display against Birr was particularly impressive. They moved at pace, their passing was slick and it was reminiscent of their 2022 title winning form. They have players back, improving with time and Shinrone have positioned themselves into the second tier of contenders, behind Kilcormac-Killoughey.

The jury is still out on them and Coolderry will test every last ounce of their mettle. It will be fiercely fought and it should provide great entertainment with no result even a small surprise.

Verdict – Shinrone.

Relegation play off

Belmont v Tullamore: Sunday in Clara at 12 noon

Pipped in agonising circumstances in a few semi-finals over the years, Belmont's relegation play off with Tullamore is as big a game as any of them. Relegation to senior B would be a pure disaster for them and they are now on very thin ice.

While relegation would not be as big a blow to Tullamore, their desire to stay in top flight hurling is as powerful as Belmont's. They have enough good hurlers in their ranks to beat Belmont and they have been very solid this year, competing well in most games.

David Nally was a big loss to Belmont this year but came on as a sub for Ferbane footballers on Sunday and will have a big influence here. Belmont looked very good when winning the Division 1 Hurling League before the start of the championship but it has really unravelled for them since. This game is fraught with danger for them but they will be fired up and the stakes are huge. It will be tight but you would expect Belmont to perform and stay up.

Verdict – Belmont.