Knockout line-up begins to emerge in Offaly Senior Hurling Championship

THE knockout line-up has begun to emerge in the Molloy Environmental Systems Senior Hurling Championship after completion of the fourth round of games last weekend.

The big result was a shock win for a fired up, very impressive Seir Kieran over St Rynagh's but it will take another big shock for them to make the quarter-finals – they have to beat Tullamore in the final round next Sunday but they also require Coolderry to surprise championship favourites, Kilcormac-Killoughey.

Ballinamere qualified for the semi-finals on Sunday when they clicked into top form in the second half to give surprise packets Kinnitty a dose of reality, winning by 2-23 to 0-9. In the other group 1 game, Shinrone produced their best performance of the year to beat an off colour Birr by 2-21 to 1-16. That win guaranteed Ballinamere top spot and a place in the semi-finals.

They are on seven points with Birr, Shinrone and Kinnitty all on three and Belmont in the relegation play off with no point from their three games.

All four fixtures have a 4pm throw in next Sunday with Birr meeting Kinnitty and Shinrone taking on Belmont in group 1.

The top two teams in each group criss-cross in two quarter-finals. In group 1, Shinrone will qualify in second place if they beat Belmont while the winners of the Birr and Kinnitty game will join them – a draw will be enough for Birr as their scoring difference is better.

Shinrone look like they will make it even if Belmont do get their act together and beat them. If this happens and Kinnitty beat Birr to go onto five points, Shinrone will qualify at the expense of Birr under the head to head rule.

If Shinrone lose and Birr beat Kinnitty, scoring difference will decide which of Shinrone and Kinnitty qualifies as they drew their clash. In this scenario, the scores counts from all games and Shinrone are in a stronger position compared to Kinnitty, on -10 points compared to -17: this scoring difference could be overturned but that is unlikely. A Shinrone defeat and a draw between Birr and Kinnitty will see Shinrone exit and Birr and Kinnitty qualify.

Seir Kieran had a great 1-20 to 1-17 win over St Rynagh's last Friday evening but Coolderry's hard earned 0-21 to 1-14 victory over Tullamore the following night stacks the odds against them making the quarter-finals.

The only way Seir Kieran can qualify is if they beat Tullamore on Sunday and Coolderry shock Kilcormac-Killoughey. Kilcormac-Killoughey have been in blistering form to date and with the winner of them and Coolderry qualifying for the semi-final in top spot, they have the incentive to perform and will want to go this route.

If they beat Tullamore and K-K take Coolderry, Seir Kieran will be gone and Coolderry and St Rynagh's will qualify on scoring difference. This would leave St Rynagh's, Coolderry and Seir Kieran tied on four points and scoring difference determining which two make the quarter-finals.

The scoring difference will only apply from the three games involving those three teams in that scenario and St Rynagh's are on +6 if this emerges. Coolderry are on +2 while Seir Kieran are on -8. Seir Kieran can't improve that as their game against Tullamore won't count following Coolderry's win in Kinnitty on Saturday evening.

The loser of Tullamore and Seir Kieran will be in a relegation play off.

Round 5 fixtures take place on Sunday next at 4pm and previews are:

Group 1

Crinkle: SHC, Birr v Kinnitty

Birr's defeat by Shinrone raises legitimate questions about their title prospects while Kinnitty were not able to live with Ballinamere once they hit top gear in the second half. Kinnitty have done really well this year, securing their senior status with games to spare and a quarter-final would be a bonus for them. No one truly expects Kinnitty to win the Robbins Cup and while Birr may harbour dreams, it would take a fair leap of imagination for anyone who saw them in Banagher last Sunday to envisage them doing it.

The stakes are very simple for both teams here with the winner qualifying for the quarter-finals. Kinnitty should be very competitive here and they will give it one mighty go. Birr are very beatable and this is ripe for an upset but they are favourites to survive.

Verdict – Birr.

Lusmagh: Belmont v Shinrone

Shinrone turned a very big corner in Banagher on Sunday, playing some exceptional hurling in the second half of their win over Birr. It was a performance that augurs well for their prospects and while Kilcormac-Killoughey look to be way out ahead of everyone else, Shinrone and Ballinamere look to have the best prospects of shocking them.

Firstly Shinrone have to make sure of qualification by getting a result against Belmont. A draw will be enough for them but Shinrone will be aiming to build on the form they showed last weekend after a very stuttering start. Belmont and Shinrone games are normally fiercely fought battles that go down to the wire but this one should be different. Belmont's season unravelled spectacularly after winning the Division 1 Hurling League and they are in the relegation play off.

They have only pride to play for here and you can be sure of them fighting hard for this. They can't, however, be in as good a place as Shinrone and there will be a big difference in the way both are training. Belmont's focus is now on the relegation play off against Tullamore or Seir Kieran and it will keep them working hard but with Ferbane playing a senior football quarter-final the following weekend, they would be foolish to risk any players carrying injuries or not fully fit here. Shinrone really need to perform here and the odds favour them.

Verdict – Shinrone.

Group 2

Rath: Kilcormac-Killoughey v Coolderry

Coolderry will give this everything they have and they won't fear Kilcormac-Killoughey at all. They will relish rattling into them but K-K are warm favourites. They have been in outstanding form so far and want to go straight into the semi-finals.

Both St Rynagh's and Seir Kieran will be keeping a close eye on this one as a Coolderry win could see Seir Kieran qualify at the expense of St Rynagh's. You never know but there has been little evidence from the games and performances so far to suggest that K-K's winning streak will end here.

Verdict – Kilcormac-Killoughey.

Banagher: Seir Kieran v Tullamore

Seir Kieran have to beat Tullamore to put themselves in position to make the quarter-finals and then hope that Coolderry do them a favour in Banagher. Them beating Tullamore is not guaranteed and their clash is not far off a 50-50 one.

Seir Kieran did very well against St Rynagh's but their earlier form was suspect while Tullamore have battled hard after an opening round mauling by Kilcormac-Killoughey. Tullamore have huge incentive here as this is also a relegation battle – the losers meet Belmont in the relegation play off and will be underdogs for this.

It is a high stakes game and it should go down to the wire. Seir Kieran's form against St Rynagh's earns them the favourites tag but this is a real banana skin for them.

Verdict – Seir Kieran.