The draw for the Offaly SHC semi-finals has pitted holders Kilcormac/Killoughey against Birr and Shinrone against Belmont.

It follows quarter-final wins for Kilcormac/Killoughey and Shinrone over Ballinamere and Coolderry respectively. K/K remain firmly on course for a three-in-a-row of Sean Robbins Cup after overpowering Ballinamere by 2-29 to 3-17 in a repeat of last year’s county final in Tullamore on Saturday.

With Adam Screeney firing 0-8 and Conor Mahon and Charlie Mitchell finding the net in the 40th and 50th minutes, the champions were home and hosed before late goals from Dan Ravenhill (two) and Dan Bourke put a better complexion on the scoresheet from a Ballinamere perspective.

The other quarter-final between neighbours Shinrone and Coolderry in Birr yesterday was a much more memorable affair. Coolderry looked to have one foot in the last-four when a brace of Eoin Burke goals helped them to a 2-13 to 0-9 half-time lead.

But with goalkeeper Eamon Cleary – who scored a whopping 0-6 from placed balls – Killian Sampson, Luke Watkins and DJ McLoughlin to the fore, the 2022 champions came storming back to ‘win’ the second half by 1-16 to 0-6 and are now just 60 minutes away from reaching their third county final in four seasons.

The SHC semi-finals will be played on the weekend after next along with the SHC ‘B’ and IHC finals. Lusmagh and Carrig & Riverstown will contest the SHC ‘B’ final, while Birr will meet Drumcullen in the IHC decider.

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