Holders draw Rynagh's in Offaly SHC semi-final

The St Rynagh's team stand for the national anthem. ©INPHO/Bryan Keane.

The Offaly SHC semi-final draw has pitted four-in-a-row chasing Kilcormac/Killoughey against St Rynagh’s and Ballinamere against Belmont.

St Rynagh’s and Belmont battled past Shinrone and Birr in their respective quarter-finals at the weekend to join group toppers K/K and Ballinamere in the last four. At Glenisk O’Connor Park yesterday, Belmont came through a huge test of character to edge out Birr by 0-20 to 0-18.

The West Offaly side held a commanding 0-12 to 0-5 lead at the break, but Birr came storming back to hit the front – 0-16 to 0-15 – with 10 minutes remaining. A brace of David Nally points restored Belmont’s lead, only for Eoghan Cahill to level from a free. Conor Grennan and Nally then put the winners two up before Cahill left the minimum in it again. However, a late Paddy Clancy score got Belmont across the line.

In the other quarter-final at Grant Heating St Brendan’s Park on Saturday, a Stephen Quirke goal in the 50th minute proved a game-changer as St Rynagh’s came from 0-19 to 0-23 down to beat Shinrone 1-24 to 0-25.

The Banagher men, who failed to reach the knockout stages last year, never looked back after that as late points form Eoin Woods (two), Gary Conneely, Darragh Scully and county star Shane Rigney completed the comeback.