Birr hopeful on county stars for decider

BIRR are confident of being able to call on the services of county players Stephen Brown and Gary Hanniffy for their AIB Leinster club hurling final against Ballyboden-St. Enda’s in Tullamore on Sunday week.

Brown was stretchered off after 10 minutes in the semi-final game against holders Ballyhale suffering from concussion and was detained in hospital overnight as a precaution. Hanniffy, one of the stars of their victory, went into the game with a bandaged wrist after having had 10 stitches inserted in a wound picked up in training two weeks ago, and experienced serious discomfort over the last quarter. However, he was able to finish the game and his fitness is not in doubt.

Brian Whelahan, the Birr captain, recognised that the final will be given an added spice by the fact that the Dublin side are jointly coached by Offalymen,Vincent Teehan and Liam Hogan, both of whom he hurled against. They are from the Coolderry club, with Hogan a member of the All-Ireland winning squad of 1981 and Teehan a three-times Leinster medal holder in 1988-‘89-1990.