Birr advance to date with Shinrone

Daithí Regan and Johnny Pilkington may have soldiered together for years as midfield partners for both Birr and Offaly, but they’ll be in opposition next weekend when Regan’s Shinrone meet Pilkington’s Birr side in the quarter-finals of the Offaly SHC.

Birr were assured of second place in their group regardless of their result this week but Pilkington will be hugely concerned with their lacklustre form in their 0-21 to 1-14 win over Brosna Gaels. Shinrone were much more impressive when they beat Belmont 3-19 to 3-10 on Saturday night, meaning that they’ve now won three games on succession.

Kilcormac-Killoughey remain the team to beat and GAA president Liam O’Neill was on hand to witness their 3-18 to 2-9 win over Tullamore, on the occasion of the opening of the new K-K clubhouse in Kilcormac. Goals from Conor Mahon, Dan Currams and James Gorman made their victory safe, while Tullamore struck their majors late on through Shane Dooley and Niall McCabe. K-K play Belmont next week in a repeat of their 2012 quarter-final.