Unexpected draw hands Belmont Offaly SHC semi-final berth as mouth watering quarter-final pairing emerges

BELMONT were the big winners as Shinrone's terrific, thrilling 0-19 to 1-16 draw with title favourites and holders Kilcormac-Killoughey upset all predictions for the concluding stages of the Molloy Environmental Systems Senior Hurling Championship.

The repercussions of Donal Morkan's dramatic, controversial equalising free were plentiful. First of all, it denied K-K direct passage to the semi-finals, allowing Belmont get a berth that they were not anticipating – a win would have earned K-K top spot while Birr had booked their semi-final passage with an equally dramatic win over Ballinamere on Saturday evening.

The really tantalising part of the results was that it throws up an absolutely mouth watering quarter-final pairing between Kilcormac-Killoughey and Ballinamere. It is a repeat of last year's county final when K-K just about did enough to retain their title and it is a game that will command huge interest.

Ballinamere have not recaptured their 2024 form yet, stumbling into the quarter-finals. Defeats to Coolderry and Birr meant that they were relying on Coolderry to beat Tullamore in their game on Saturday night to survive – and that just about happened with Tullamore having ample chances to have won in a one point loss.

It also means that Shinrone will now face Coolderry in the quarter-finals and Birr and Belmont will be kept apart in the two semi-finals. It throws the whole campaign up in the air – funnily enough Shinrone would still have met Coolderry even if they lost here, they couldn't top the group anda win would only have earned them second spot over K-K in group 1 and a tilt at Ballinamere.

It also changes the goalposts a bit for Birr, who now face the prospect of a semi-final against K-K, who remain the favourites but showed a vulnerability in Birr that will give great encouragement to everyone still in contention: if K-K beat Ballinamere, there will be a 50-50 chance of Birr drawing them.

It was a weekend full of talking points, thrills and spills.

Birr, Belmont and Tullamore have been the three most improved teams in the championship and Tullamore were desperately unlucky to lose out, beaten by a solitary point, 1-16 to 1-15 in a thrilling battle with Coolderry on Saturday.

They were agonisingly close to snatching a late win and their defeat had another powerful spin off as it saved Ballinamere from a shock, devastating exit. A Tullamore win would have put their parish neighbours and last year's beaten finalists out after they also lost by a point, 1-19 to 2-15 to Birr in their final group game.

That would have had serious repercussions in Ballinamere but they survived by a thread and live to fight another day. Despite their very uncertain form this year, they can still dream of glory and with so many county players in their ranks, no one will be taking them one bit for granted, especially K-K who know how hard earned last year's final win was.

Ballinamere, however, have not clicked yet and blew hot and cold once again on Saturday, snatching an injury time lead with a Brian Duignan goal but then conceding three of the last four points to lose by one and leave them depending on Coolderry winning to survive.

By the time the final whistle blew in Kilcormac, the Coolderry result was known and the Ballinamere mentors were quickly able to relay the message to their players but there was absolutely no celebrations among them, just a palpable sense of relief.

Birr were much happier, even though they were already assured of qualification. They have done really well to top a strong group and are playing very well under the management of Barry Whelahan. They made a few big changes for this game and played very well to edge a fierce battle.

Tullamore were the unlucky team. With former Kilcormac-Killoughey manager, Shane Hand in charge, they have been the most improved team in Offaly this year. Much closer to relegation that a quarter-final in recent years, they were so close to qualifying but drawing with Birr and almost beating Coolderry represents very decisive steps forward for Tullamore – and they would have taken this with both arms at the start of the year.

Shinrone are also motoring well. Their display against K-K will give them great encouragement and they will be favourites to beat Coolderry in their quarter-final.

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In the other group 2 game, St Rynagh's drew the curtain on a very poor year when beating Kinnitty by 1-26 to 0-17 to avoid the relegation play off. It was St Rynagh's first time in memory not to make the knockout stages but at least they don't have to battle the drop now and can try and rebuild for next year.

The relegation play off is between Kinnitty and Seir Kieran and all those games will be in two weeks time.