Aylward fumes at fixture schedule

BALLYHALE Shamrocks manager Maurice Aylward hit out of the timing of the provincial club championships.

Though delighted to have guided his team to a provincial title, Aylward issued a plea to Croke Park fixtures bosses.

He said: “This was our sixth game in a row in the last six weeks and the same players got one match in three months in the summer.

“It’s a pity you have to play that type of game three weeks before Christmas.

“The GAA are there and they’re trying to do everything and bring in different games.

“You can imagine if you got that (type of game) during the summer. If you got the Shamrocks, the Birrs, the Portumnas and the Toomevaras playing — you’d get the crowds flocking to it if it was sold right.’’

In terms of the contest, Aylward admitted they got the ‘tough’ game from Birr which they expected.

“There was a lot at stake to win the Leinster title and to see who would be kingpins of Leinster,’’ said Aylward.

Henry Shefflin found the cold tough but laughed: “There were plenty of hits going in and that kept us warmed up.”

He added: “The victory was great. It was tight at the end, but it was the sort of day when no one was going to run away with a match. Birr are a brilliant team, we have great respect for them and know what they have done for Leinster hurling. We knew they would come back and we had the few scores in the first half that gave us a bit of a cushion. Last year I was injured and it’s never the same when you’re on the line so it was great to be able to do my bit for the team.’’

Losing manager Pat Joe Whelahan felt Birr’s first-half performance wasn’t a true reflection of the Offaly giants.

“I switched the team before the game, putting Rory Hanniffy back and I kind of regret that now.

“But it was a decision I thought we had to make. We had young Harding, only 18, at wing back and I was kind of worried putting him out against Henry Shefflin or TJ Reid. I could not believe our first-half performance was so bad. Everything went wrong for us.

“But I thought we hurled well in the second half. We had enough chance to win it. I think we had them on the rack. They were all over the place. They were arguing and fighting in the middle of the field.”

He hinted son Brian will continue on for another year, saying: “He has 12 county championship medals and I think the record is 13. I think he will hang on and stay on the field for 13. I think he will.’’