Going gets tough for Birr as they limber up for Athenry contest

BIRR have organised stern tests against Tipperary and Cork as the reigning All-Ireland club hurling champions continue their build-up to the semi-final clash with Athenry in Ennis on February 16.

The venues for the AIB Club football and hurling semi-finals were announced yesterday, with the pick of the hurling semi-finals set for Cusack Park at 2.30pm.

"Our lads are suffering now, suffering hard," laughed Birr manager and trainer Padjoe Whelehan. "We're back in harness now for the last two-and-a- half weeks, so we're well into it."

Though it wasn't his first preference, the Birr boss is very happy with the venue. "We were half-looking for Portlaoise, but that's in Leinster, and they wanted a neutral venue. Mullingar was mentioned, and places like Roscommon, but I was glad it went to a hurling area. The atmosphere will be better there, good local support as well, so we're happy enough. It's a big pitch, in fact the lads say it's bigger than Thurles, so that's why I'm training them so hard."

A major part of the team preparations are challenge games, usually against inter-county sides in experimental mode. Presently, Birr are on that circuit.

"We played Limerick last week, but didn't play that well. We won by a point, only a challenge of course, but I wasn't happy at all with the way they hurled. We have Tipp now on Sunday, Cork on Sunday week."

A tough schedule, but, as Padjoe well knows, it needs to be, because they're facing one of the best club sides to ever grace the scene.

Tough as Birr's programme sounds, going by their manager Pat Nally, Athenry, if anything, are on an even more gruelling circuit.

"We're well back into it. Tonight will be our 11th night on the trot and it's tough going. We played two challenges last weekend, Saturday and Sunday, and we have the same thing lined up for the next three weekends, two games on the Saturday and Sunday. We expect to be wrapping up our preparations with a match against Cork, early in February."

Nally is also happy with the chosen venue. "It's a fine pitch and lends itself to a good atmosphere anyway. It also has a good surface if you can't hurl there, you can't hurl at all," he said.

Six of the last eight All-Ireland titles have been evenly split between these sides, each of which is powered by some of the biggest names in the modern game Whelehan, Pilkington, Hannify, Errity, Rabbitte, Cloonan, Donoghue, Higgins, Hardiman.

Nally predicts a close contest.

"The last time we played Birr (three years ago, same stage) it was a terrific match, played in a good sporting manner, open hurling. Any time we ever play them it's like that. We're good friends with Birr. Padjoe is a good friend of mine and we've got to know each other over the years. There's never more than a point or two between us one way or the other, and I think it's going to be like that again.

"I saw them in the Leinster final, against DJ Carey's team, Young Irelands, and I was impressed.

"Young Irelands got a goal against the run of play just before half-time, but Birr hurled brilliantly that day. I was very impressed with them. One way or the other, there will be very little in it."

The other semi-final between Mount Sion and Dunloy will be played in Mullingar, but of more concern to the Munster champions are the injury problems which continue to beset centre back Tony Browne and midfielder Roy McGrath.