Pilkington only plus for injury hit Birr

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.

However, that was about the only good news for manager Pat Joe Whelahan yesterday, on the day that his son Simon underwent surgery in Dublin for a groin injury. And even at that, the flamboyant Pilkington isn't due back from France until Friday at the earliest.

Of the four teams contesting the finals in Leinster and Munster on Sunday, Birr are the only club with serious injury problems and are understandably annoyed the provincial council rejected their request for a one-week deferment of the game.