Birr handle cold best to retain title

Birr 2-5

Even deep in the bowels of the impressively re-vamped stand it was howling and swirling round the columns and trusses.

On the field, as the anthem was being played, was referee Dickie Murphy of Wexford. In his natty but skimpy referee's attire, his shivers were evident even from the top deck why then did he allow this game go ahead?

True, despite having recently hosted Feile na Gael with several games on consecutive days, groundsman Peter Carroll had the pitch in miraculous shape for the throw-in, but no pitch in the world would have held up to what was endured in Portlaoise yesterday and by game's end, some of the best hurlers in the land, some of the best we've seen over the past decade, the likes of DJ Carey, Brian Whelehan, Charlie Carter, Johnny Pilkington, were reduced to the ordinary, to the less than ordinary, as legs went from underneath, grip was lost on stick, ball was stuck in mud.

It wasn't a Leinster hurling final, it wasn't related to hurling, it was a Leinster farce.

And still, despite all that, Birr are once again worthy champions. Though Young Irelands of Kilkenny never got the chance to display their hurling wares, no-one can seriously dispute this result. Denied as they undoubtedly were by the appalling conditions, Young Irelands were also denied on this day by a truly heroic effort from the proud reigning Leinster and All-Ireland champions.

Having won the toss, the Kilkenny champions opted to play into the teeth of the storm in the first half and with just three minutes to go to the break, that decision appeared to be about to bear fruit. On a day when scores were always going to be at a premium, Birr had opened the scoring after just three minutes, a Simon Whelehan free, but magnificent defence kept the potent Birr attack at bay for the next twenty-three minutes, just two more points added, through hard-working and effective midfieldfer Barry Whelehan, and man-of-the-match Rory Hanniffy. Meanwhile, Young Irelands had got in for what appeared likely to be the most telling score of the game, a goal from corner-forward Dick Carroll after slick work by first DJ Carey, the final pass from Martin Carter. Tied, 0-3 to 1-0, 26 minutes of wind-advantage, it was looking ominous for Birr. However, on a day when no-one fully mastered the conditions, the one player who stood above 29 other heroes (31 with subs included) was that man Hanniffy.

Rory is one of the younger guns in this all-conquering Birr side, not one of the five ever-presents who were yesterday winning their sixth Leinster title with this remarkable club, but yesterday, he was the man most crucial. Already prominent from his wing-forward position as a ball-winner, in the 27th minute he ghosted into space about twenty metres out, took advantage of a second chance, and shot to the previously unbeatable Martin Carey's net through a crowded goalmouth. It gave Birr breathing space and when Simon Whelehan added a pointed free nearly three minutes into injury-time to make it 1-4 to 1-0 (where did the injury-time come from?) given the conditions underfoot, that four-point cushion was critical, a lot bigger than it looked. Given also that Young Irelands captain Carey had been called on to make two brave and goal-saving stops, the Hanniffy goal was a massive influence on the final outcome.

The second half? Suffice to say that in the first twenty-five minutes of 'action', we had but two points, one from each side. Charlie Carter, who had worked his socks off in the first-half, shot the first, a class point, and of course it was Rory Hanniffy with the reply for Birr.

The game was sealed in the 57th minute, speculative lob by Paul Molloy, held in the wind, sucked out keeper Carey, dropped in no-man's land, and Simon Whelehan was first with the opportunist flick to the back of the net. A pointed Young Irelands free from DJ closed out the scoring.

Birr the winners then, kudos to Padjoe Whelehan and his boys, utterly committed defence well-marshalled by Joe Errity and Brian Whelehan, midfield won by Barry Whelehan and Johnny Pilkington, who showed he's still there with the best, able to get down and dirty when the occasion calls for it, while up front, well, that kid Rory Hanniffy was a revelation, ably supported by Simon Whelehan. No losers on this day, only survivors, and Young Irelands can hold their heads high. Trojan work in defence, maybe they had spun themselves out with that first-half effort, but this Birr side, every one of whom has played senior competitively for Offaly, is sheer class. In any conditions.

Scorers - Birr: R. Hanniffy 1-2; S. Whelehan 1-2 (0-2 frees); B. Whelehan 0-1.

Young Irelands: D. Carroll 1-0; C. Carter 0-1; DJ Carey 0-1.

BIRR: B. Mullins; G. Cahill, J. Errity, JP O'Meara; N. Claffey, Brian Whelehan, D. Franks; J. Pilkington, Barry Whelehan; D. Pilkington, G. Hanniffy, R. Hanniffy; P. Molloy, S. Browne, S. Whelehan. Sub; L. Power (Browne 41).

YOUNG IRELANDS: M. Carey; C. Carroll, E. Farrell, C. Fitzgerald; S. Byrne, T. Drennan, C. Phelan; J. McDermott, O. Carter; J. Fitzgerald, J. Carey, C. Carter; D. Carroll, DJ Carey, D. Carter. Subs: P. O'Neill (D. Carter 38).

Referee: D. Murphy (Wexford) - surely the coldest man in Ireland yesterday, heroic endurance to even stay on the pitch.