THE Offaly senior hurling championship quarter-finals take place this Saturday and they should attract a big crowd to St. Rynagh's Park, Banagher as Kilcormac/Kilioughey cross sticks with Ballyskenach at 4.15 p.m. and 1998 county champions Seir Kieran meet Lusmagh at 5.45 p.m.
Last Sunday's matches brought the curtain down on the group series, and in the Group 1 clash St. Rynagh's served notice of their intentions as they hammered Kilcormac/Killoughey by 2-13 to 0-8 in Rath.
The Double K's were the pre-match favourites but they slumped badly as St. Rynagh's produced their best display of the campaign to- date to reach the semi-final where they meet the winners of the Kilcormac/Killoughey v Ballyskenach quarter-final.
After 16 minutes St. Rynagh's were leading 1-6 to nil, with their goal coming from inter-county star Michael Duignan. By the three quarter-mark Kilcormac/Killoughey had clawed themselves back into the fray and were trailing by just five points, 1-8 to 0-6, however, another well executed goal, this time by Fintan Dolan, sent St. Rynagh's on their way to an emphatic win.
In Group 2, Ballyskenach hadn't the services of Donal Golden and Cathal Murphy, and they also hit sixteen wides, but still they had enough firepower to record a comfortable 2-17 to 1-12 win over Tullamore in Banagher. Overall, it has been a championship to forget for the 'Blues' as they won just one of their four games.
Brothers Noel and Brendan Murphy were on fire for Ballyskenach scoring six and three points, respectively, while John Dooley also hit the target on five occasions, with three of his scores coming from placed balls.
Ballyskenach haven't been beaten in the championship to-date and they will start as underdogs against K/K in the quarter-final, but under the guidance of Paddy Kirwan they'll be quietly confident of upsetting the applecart.
When they get their momentum going, Ballyskenach are capable of playing attractive, fast flowing hurling. They are young and fit also, and they will no hold fears for Kilcormac/Killoughey. And if the likes of Noel Murphy, Brendan Murphy and Donal Golden are on song upfront they will cause problems. But Ballyskenach do seem to have frailties in defence and If K/K can exploit these then they can secure their place in the semi-final.
Kilcormac/Killoughey manager Danny Owens must have been bitterly disappointed by his side's display against St. Rynagh's. After claiming the scalps of Seir Kieran, Coolderry and Drumcullen, the Double K's looked as if they had the ability to defeat St. Rynagh's, but they collapsed terribly and that has to be a source of major concern for them.
Kilcormac/Killoughey carved out their three victories after coming from behind and starting slowly has been a trademark of all their displays this year. A slow start against Ballyskenach could prove fatal, but if the Hands -Mark, Niall and Shane, the Spains - Tony and Seamus, the Rigneys - Kevin and John perform well, then K/ K should advance. But psychologically they must be right as over the past number of years they have failed to perform to their potential in the knockout stages.
The other quarter-final sees reigning champions Seir Kieran pit their wits against Lusmagh and the reward for the winners is a semi-final encounter with Birr.
Major doubts loom over the availability of Seir Kieran's Joe Dooley and Mick Coughlan and this will probably have a huge bearing on the outcome. If both those players were 100% fit, then the Clareen men would get a resounding vote of confidence to win, but without them, it levels the playing field and Lusmagh could spring a surprise.
Lusmagh haven't lost a match in the championship, defeating Kinnitty, Tullamore and Shinrone, while they drew with Ballyskenach. John Troy, one of country's top forwards, has been showing good form of late and that is good news for them as he has been showing good form of late and that is good news for them as he has the talent to torment Seir Kieran's rearguard on Saturday.
The biggest problem facing Lusmagh is how they plan to contain the Dooleys - Johnny and Billy, and Joe if he plays. They have caused headaches for most teams over the years. Seir Kieran lost to Birr and Kilcormac/Killoughey, while they drew with St. Rynagh's, so they are certainly not unbeatable. But when it comes to the knockout stages of the championship they become a different team and it is extremely difficult to quell their fighting spirit and resolve.
Two intriguing contests are in prospect, but Kilcormac/Killoughey and Seir Kieran should be good enough to reach the semi-finals and join St. Rynagh's and Birr, respectively.