Kilcormac-Killoughey now hot favourites as Coolderry crash

Kilcormac-Killoughey are odds on favourites to retain the Seán Robbins Cup in Offaly after Coolderry, winners of the Offaly and Leinster championships in 2011, crashed out of the championship at the quarter-final stage for the second year in succession on Saturday evening.

Seir Kieran came into their clash with Coolderry in a rich vein of form after winning their last two group games by double figure margins and while Coolderry were marginally the better team in the early stages, a first half goal from Adrian Hynes gave the outsiders a narrow half time lead.

With Joe Bergin in imperious form – he ended the game with 0-11, six from play – Seir Kieran powered ahead in the second half and when Coolderry goalkeeper Stephen Corcoran was sent off with minutes to go, Seir Kieran’s four point lead looked to be enough. A Kevin Brady goal made it 1- 17 to 1-16, but Seir Kieran won the next two contested possessions and held on.

Kilcormac-Killoughey had some nervous moments of their own in last night’s tie against Belmont, particularly when a David Cox goal left just a point in it with 20 minutes to play. However the champions moved through the gears in the closing stages and eventually prevailed by 1-24 to 2-13. Ciarán Slevin was in top form from play and placed balls, claiming 13 points over the hour.

On a big weekend for scoring forwards, Shane Dooley was also in great form. When Tullamore led St Rynagh’s by 2-7 to 0-3 after 32 minutes of play, Dooley had posted the entire 2-7 for the Tullamore club. However St Rynagh’s roared back with the assistance of the strong wind in O’Connor Park and hit 1-8 to take the lead.

Tullamore dug deep and a Declan Hogan score with two minutes to play gave them a one point advantage, suggesting that a massive upset was perhaps on the cards. However St Rynagh’s replied with two Pat Camon points, regaining the lead as the game went into added time. Gary Conneely struck his second major in injury time to wrap up a 2-14 to 2-10 win.

Birr will be the fourth club in tomorrow night’s semi-final draw after they beat Shinrone 1-17 to 0-14 on Saturday evening. Dylan Hayden goaled in the first half to edge Birr in front and while the game was finely poised at 1-8 to 0-11 with twenty minutes to play, Birr showed far more composure in the closing stages and deservedly advanced.