Birr put down a marker

FOUR-time All-Ireland club champions Birr served notice of their intent when overwhelming reigning kingpins Coolderry by 1-16 to 0-10 in a one-sided fourth round encounter at Shinrone on Saturday.

Thomas Bolger was the star man, grabbing 1-7 for Paul Murphy’s unbeaten side, while former Offaly custodian Brian Mullins produced a crucial second-half save from Kevin Teehan as Coolderry briefly threatened a fight back.

Ken Hogan’s Coolderry welcomed Brian Carroll back from injury but they were still without Kevin Brady, Cathal Parlon and Kevin Connolly, while Paul Cleary, who missed Offaly’s championship campaign, returned to the Birr fold at full-back.