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.

According to Whelahan, Liam Power is 'definitely out', Paul Molloy has a broken finger, his son Barry has been out of work and John Paul O'Meara has a back problem and was 'lucky' to start in the semi-final against Castletown.

"We are four down and with Johnny away, I thought they (Leinster Council) might give us a week's grace. Kilkenny got their match put back a week and we got no say at all,'' commented Whelahan. "It's very unfair. We are seven years on the run and we got no break. One more week wouldn't make a difference, it's the last hurling game of the year. They were very unfair, to be honest. What chance have we against 15 Kilkenny lads. They have the Comerfords and the Dowlings who won All-Ireland medals. They hammer Offaly every year, don't they?''

However, a defiant Whelahan vowed that they would be all the more determined to defend their title. "We won't give up. We are not All-Ireland champions for nothing.''

O'Loughlin Gaels are in the happy position of being able to pick from a full-strength panel, manager Michael Nolan confirmed yesterday. The likelihood is that they will pick the same fifteen who started in the semi-final against Rathnure: "We have a couple of small injuries, but we think everyone will be okay,'' he commented. "We'll probably start the same again.''

Cork champions Newtownshandrum, seeking to become the first team from the county to win the Munster club title since Midleton in the late eighties, may again be without team captain John McCarthy against Patrickswell. He was injured in the county final win over Blackrock and was ruled out for the provincial semi-final against Toomevara. According to team manager Patsy Morrissey, his chances of being picked are '50/50.'

"It's seven weeks since the county final and that's the last time he hurled. John is captain and that will carry a certain amount of weight. In terms of fitness, he is making good progress, but in terms of his hurling he hasn't an awful lot done over the last few weeks.''

Donal Mulcahy, who suffered a serious injury against Blackrock is said to be making 'remarkable progress,', but he has no chance of playing.

Looking ahead to the final, Morrissey acknowledges that the Limerick champions have a very experienced side.

"A lot will depend on the weather and the pitch,'' he added.

Patrickswell are coached by Jim Faul, who was part of the management which led Sixmilebridge to an impressive All-Ireland final win in 1996 and which inspired a run of Clare successes in the provincial and All-Ireland series. They report no injury worries after a training session on Sunday morning.

Faul agrees that they have 'a good mixture'. "We have a good few experienced lads, to go with the younger players we have in the team and it's working well,'' he commented.

In the semi-final against Mount Sion, Gary Kirby and Anthony Carmody were replaced before the end - by John McDermott and Brian Geoghegan but these were merely tactical substitutions. "It was all about bringing in two fresh players,'' Faul pointed out.