End of an era as father-time catches up with brave Birr

WASN’T THIS as fine a start to any hurling match as you’re ever likely to see?

The movement of the ball by Birr, first-time, on the ground, was as good as I’ve ever seen, resulted in two fantastic goals; to me, it was reminiscent of the Offaly team of the 90’s at their very best.

What happened to them after that opening 10-minute spell?

First, you have to give credit to Portumna for the way they switched their team around, most notably the move of Ollie Canning to full-back, then bringing Damien Hayes to wing-forward. From then on Portumna started to come into it, with the Smiths, Andrew and Leo, really hurling well — Andrew especially, his first goal was critical, a kick to the net when it appeared his chance was gone.

Then we come to Joe Canning. Only a youngster, he has already built a reputation for himself as a fantastic hurler and he reinforced that reputation yesterday with some truly phenomenal points – a free from his own 45m line, two more from inside his own half, a sideline cut from 45m on the left – but it was his setup work yesterday that caught my eye. He was superb, great vision, set up many a Portumna score.

What really caught Birr though, I think, is mileage on the clock. I know they’re not an especially old team overall, but look at some of the key positions, look at some of the guys who were in there; Niall Claffey at full-back, Rory Hanniffy and Barry Whelahan in midfield, Gary Hanniffy and Brian Whelahan in the half-forward line, Simon Whelahan at full-forward – when the ante was upped by Birr, when the pace increased on what is a massive pitch in Croke Park, these guys were all found wanting, and that told against Birr.

At half-time, even playing against the wind for the second half I felt the conditions were going to suit Portumna even more, because they would now be carrying the ball, using their pace. And they opened up the space inside, brought Joe Canning to wing-forward, played a little deeper, exploited their superior pace in the open spaces created, won convincingly.

This is Portumna’s second All-Ireland title in three years; where the first was a dour battle against Newtownshandrum, this was real class in every line of the field, as fine a display as we’ve ever seen by any team in Croke Park on St. Patrick’s Day.

So many fantastic scores, so much eye-catching combination play; question, though – will Portumna go on to achieve what this great Birr team has achieved over the last 15 years?

The challenge now facing them, a challenge that has failed so many Galway teams down the years, is to do this back-to-back. On yesterday’s display I’d back Portumna to beat most county hurling teams, including many in Division One, and some they’d have beaten very comprehensively.

But can they come back and do this again?

Further question about Portumna – how many of this team will play for Galway this year? Were I Ger Loughnane (and don’t ever get us confused!), I’d be quite happy now to be facing this question and I’m sure that even as you read this, himself, Louis Mulqueen and Seán Treacy will be discussing this very question.

Seán, of course, will be very familiar with all these Portumna players, seeing as he was the man who coached them to their first All-Ireland title two years ago, started this ball rolling.

Who should they be looking at? Eoin Lynch for a start, a powerful ball-winning midfielder; Leo and Andrew Smith, and of course the standout trio, Ollie and Joe Canning and Damien Hayes. Those are six players that would reinforce any county team.

I want to go back to Birr. It’s been a bad weekend for Offaly hurling. We’ve all admired what Offaly have achieved over the last few decades, in both codes; to see them hammered by Limerick on Sunday, in the National League, then this yesterday, you’d have to say this is definitely a county in transition, could even be operating in Division Two next year.

Yesterday, the first 10ten minutes apart, they were simply outclassed, outplayed in every department.

A bad sign for them too — the best performers they had, while they lasted, were their older players, which doesn’t inspire much confidence for the future.

I suppose you could say that Padjoe worked a minor miracle this year in even getting them to an All-Ireland final; winning Leinster was a major achievement for this team.

Final word; I think the whole affair was saddened for me with the sending-off of Brian Whelahan – it was reminiscent of Tommy Dunne last year with Toomevara, of Zidane with France in the World Cup.

I thought the referee, John Sexton, had a very good game, and he had no choice but to do what he did, even though there was only a minute left at that stage.

I know Brian Whelahan, I’ve seen him hurling now for nearly 20 years, and just as was the case with Tommy Dunne last year, I know this is not his form. He’ll be the first to put his hand up and say ‘I was wrong’, and he was.

However, it won’t sour my memories of what has truly been a fantastic hurler. Am I writing his hurling epitaph? I hope I am, because I think he should finish now – he has done his bit for Birr, for Offaly, and for hurling.

On an opposite note, a man I’d like to see coming out of retirement is Ollie Canning.

On his display yesterday (though Andrew Smith was my man-of-the-match), he still has much to offer.

Overall then, congrats to Portumna, worthy All-Ireland club champions, the title heading across the Shannon; will we see the same thing happening in September?