GAA: Lengthy injury list leaves Birr unbalanced

THE closely-knit group of Birr players so successfully managed by the flamboyant Pat Joe Whelahan, have been getting accustomed to organising their working and social lives around their hurling.

Four times in the past nine years they have captured the AIB All-Ireland club title, becoming the first team in hurling to reach that milestone, last March. Naturally enough, they want the trend to continue.

It's understandable then, why they should be so disappointed the Leinster Council insisted their final with Kilkenny champions O'Loughlin Gaels should go ahead as scheduled in O'Moore Park tomorrow.

Several times during the week Whelahan voiced his annoyance with the decision of the provincial council not to grant them a week's postponement due to an injury crisis.

The manager pointed out that Simon Whelahan (one of Pat Joe's sons) had surgery on Monday and Barry Whelahan (another son) hadn't returned to work because of a recent injury.

Paul Molloy and Liam Power are also concerns.

Goalkeeper Brian Mullins and the six backs are unchanged from the lineout in the All-Ireland club final triumph earlier in the year.

Reports indicate Barry could play, but whether or not Power or Molloy can is doubtful.

Simon's surgery should surely rule him out, but he made an unexpected return from a knee operation in last year's semi-final replay against Castletown, when he ended up as man-of-the-match!

But defender Joe Errity is adamant the champions will be understrength.

"Obviously, you'd like to be working from a full squad of players. But it's not possible and we'll have to get on with what we have," he commented.

"I suppose we always prided ourselves on our depth of talent, and to lose four lads off a club team who would probably be starting is a big hindrance.

"But, the lads who came in the last day proved well capable of being there and they hurled well, which was a confidence-booster for them."

Three years ago they met tomorrow's opponents, O'Loughlin Gaels, in Dr Cullen Park, and won comprehensively. Errity is impressed by manner of their return.

"They have shown how good they are, to come back so quickly and regain the Kilkenny title because they're not easily won down there," he adds.

Paul Cleere, one of the three O'Loughlins selectors, makes a similar observation.

"When we met Birr three years ago, we were after winning our first county title and coming out of Kilkenny was a huge bonus for us," he states.

"We put in a big effort into beating Craobh Ciaran [from Dublin], but Birr's experience told against us. But, I would say the team has come on a lot since then. A lot of the lads [have benefited] from their involvement at inter-county level."

The O'Loughlins management had obvious concerns after their semi-final win over Rathnure; they excelled in the opening twenty minutes but were hard pressed at the end to ensure a three points victory.

"It wasn't good for the nerves," Cleere admits, "but in hindsight it was a good way to get through. Having played as well as we did in the first half it might not have helped to win too comfortably!"

But he doesn't believe that Birr will be seriously undermined by their injuries.

"They have strength in depth, maybe above all other clubs teams who might suffer from the loss of key players an awful lot more," he said.

"It's not going to weaken them greatly. I'd say the Castletown boys would attest to that.

"We're expecting the mother-and-father of a battle."

Errity concurs, pointing out that the underlying current of the traditional Kilkenny/Offaly rivalry will simply add a little more spice to affairs.

"But, the other way round, Kilkenny always have the run over Offaly. And you can be sure that they'll be looking to bring that type of form into the game."

While Andy and Martin Comerford will have a vital role to play, as will the Dowling brothers Sean and Brian, the O'Loughlins team is well balanced.

Taking everything into account, I expect them to come out on top.