Padjoe’s plan worked like clockwork for brilliant Birr

THE morning after the night before in Birr and even if some of the players are a little under the weather following their massive welcome home as the first club to win four hurling All-Ireland titles, manager Padjoe Whelehan was as clear-headed as ever, reflecting on a job well done.

"We got back last night about ten past ten, big crowd in the square, great celebrations that went on for some time. I didn't get too involved in all that, not my style, but it was great to wake up this morning as four-times champions.

"You know you have it down now, a lot of hard work and planning went into it. It was all about getting it right on the day, especially against Athenry and Dunloy, teams we had trouble with before.

"Dunloy were doing a lot of talking about how they should have beaten us in '95, should have beaten us last year, and we were very aware of that.

"I was talking to Gary O'Kane afterwards (Dunloy centre-back), said to him that he'd hurled very well against us last year, but he wasn't going to do it this year, we had a plan.

"And it worked out well for us, with Gary Hanniffy; when Gary O'Kane was moved, that was a big psychological shift, for us.

"Once that happened, we were in business. He did a lot of damage against us last year, we weren't rightly tuned up for him, but this year we were, that was the difference."

Also satisfying from the manager's point of view was that in winning this championship, his side had travelled a hard road.

In conditions that varied from near-bog to near-perfect, they had beaten the champions of near-neighbours and bitter rivals Laois, beaten the Kilkenny kingpins, beaten the only team of recent years that were on the same high plane as themselves, Athenry, with their three All-Ireland titles, then comprehensively topped Dunloy in the final, a side that had sorely troubled them in previous meetings.

"Not an easy ride this year, tough one, I had to time it very well, make sure everything was done right, timed right. And we won in good ground hurling conditions, like in Croke Park yesterday, but also won in dire conditions, against Young Irelands.

"We train for that, train for every condition. I would never train indoors if the pitch is muddy, that's where we train, because that's where we'll play.

"We'll go out and do our training in the muck and mud because we'll have to play our game in the muck and mud. But they hurled really well, did everything I asked of them I'm very proud of them.

"To go up to Croke Park and win an All-Ireland final by eleven points, it's terrific, they've been brilliant."

They should be feeling well pleased with themselves then, and yet if full-forward and free-taker Simon Whelehan (Padjoe's son) is to be believed, there's a niggle in the minds of many of the players.

"From a team point of view, I'm delighted we won, but I'm disappointed at my own display in fact a lot of the lads feel the same way.

" funny ould game, we were in and out of it a bit, I've seen us play a lot better. I got seven frees, mis-hit one, scored the others, but I'd like to have had more from play, missed a lot.

"My body is so sore today, you wouldn't believe it, that was hard going yesterday, but still, none of that will take from the celebrations!"

Next up now for Birr is the Offaly championship, where they are going for a record five-in-a-row.