Belmont’s historic Division 1 League success earlier this summer seems a distant memory after they were the big early fallers in the race for the Sean Robbins Cup last weekend.

A 1-14 to 1-15 defeat to Birr – the winning point was scored by Offaly All-Ireland U20 winning full back Ben Miller in injury-time – coupled with earlier losses to Kinnitty and Ballinamere, sent Belmont crashing out with a round still to play and facing a potential relegation battle. Elsewhere in Group 1, Ballinamere’s 4-22 to 0-16 hammering of 2022 champions Shinrone secured their place in the knockout stages with five points from a possible six. A win over Kinnitty in their last game will almost certainly qualify them directly for the semi-finals for the second year in-a-row given their healthy scoring difference.

Champions Kilcormac/Killoughey are also safely through the quarter-finals from Group 2 following a 3-26 to 0-17 win over Seir Kieran, which was their third on the bounce. St Rynagh’s are set to join them, despite being made to work hard for their 0-27 to 1-15 victory over Tullamore.

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