Kilcormac-Killoughey 1-21 Birr 1-14

Birr 0-16 St Rynagh’s 1-07

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.

In 1999, captained by Mark Landers, a young Cork team took the hurling world by storm, beating Kilkenny to ensure one of the most unlikely All-Ireland title wins, even in their own long history.

Dónal Óg Cusack has raised serious questions about the future of hurling after last Sunday’s All-Ireland semi-final.

CLOCKS go forward at 1am tomorrow morning. Thirteen and a half hours later, championship-esque fare comes early for Offaly and Wexford as they meet in a battle which will have a major say on their hurling for the next couple of years.

IT’S a subject that was first raised by our own hurling expert, Tony Considine, last year, when he questioned the practicality of hurling under lights.

FOR the first occasion since 1988, four-time All-Ireland club champions Birr won’t be involved in the Offaly SHC semi-finals, after they were defeated 0-11 to 0-10 by reigning champions Tullamore at O’Connor Park on Saturday.

Westmeath 1-10 Offaly 1-7

“That was shite, lad. I don’t know where ye get ye’re standards from but I can tell ye that shite is not good enough for Tipperary” - Half-time speech from 1987.

O’Loughlin Gaels 0-15 Birr 0-9

Johnny Pilkington will return from work commitments in France in time for Birr's Leinster club final with O'Loughlin Gaels on Sunday.

JOHNNY PILKINGTON will be available to play with Birr in Sunday’s AIB Leinster club hurling final against Kilkenny champions O’Loughlin Gaels in Portlaoise.

All-Ireland club hurling champions Birr want Sunday week's Leinster final with O'Loughlin Gaels postponed because of a spate of injuries and withdrawals.

Birr1-19

Birr 0-15 Athenry 0-6

Birr star Brian Whelahan is rated as "extremely doubtful" for Sunday's All-Ireland semi-final clash with Athenry after a freak domestic injury.

Cork 2-21 Birr 1-17 Brendan Larkin NEW Cork coach Donal O’Grady has pledged to give every hurler on the pre-season panel the opportunity to prove himself.

Doubts have emerged over the return of a number of senior Offaly players to the inter-county panel despite reports to the contrary.

Offaly veterans Brian Whelahan and Johnny Pilkington have made themselves available to new county manager Mike McNamara for selection in the new year.

THE Irish Examiner of Monday, Dec 2, had a letter from Dr Fenton Howell of ASH Ireland in which he suggested that a significant increase in the price of tobacco products in the budget could contribute to the saving of the lives of thousands of people.

HURLING legends DJ Carey and Brian Whelahan last night warned GAA chiefs they will go “as far as they have to” to support Cork’s hurling rebels.

BIRR manager Pad Joe Whelahan is a passionate man at the most mundane of times so stick a microphone under his nose after his side have won yet another provincial title and the results are always likely to be entertaining.

Birr 2-5

THE primary concern for Kilkenny man Tommy Buggy these last few days has been the preparation of Carlow champions St Mullin’s for the herculean task of taking on reigning AIB All-Ireland titleholders Birr in the Leinster semi-final in O’Moore Park on Sunday.

By Jim O’Sullivan AGAINST different opposition, Kilcormac/Killoughey might at least have been competitive over a longer period in yesterday’s Offaly county hurling final in St Brendan’s Park.

BENNY TIERNEY may have discarded the goalkeeper’s mini-rainbow jersey but he remains one of the game’s most colourful characters.

THE GPA will not act on former Kilkenny All-Ireland-winning captain Eddie O’Connor’s suggestion of strike action in the All-Ireland finals, according to the players’ group chairman Dessie Farrell.

Offaly champions Birr won the AIB All-Ireland club senior hurling title for the third time at Thurles today where they easily overcame Clarenbridge of Galway.

Offaly senior hurler Johnny Pilkington has announced his retirement from the inter-county game.