Birr retain title in difficult conditions - report

Birr 2-5 Young Ireland 1-2

Under the most difficult conditions imaginable, Birr captured their sixth Leinster Senior Hurling Club Championship titles in Portlaoise when outplaying Kilkenny champions Young Ireland by 2-5 to 1-2.

Wind and rain lashed O'Moore Park spoiling to some extent what had been billed as a potential classic. Conditions favoured defences with scores difficult to come by.

Young Ireland enjoyed wind advantage in the first half and when James Fitzgerald drilled a 5th-minute goal out of Brian Mullins' reach, the game came alight.

As players slipped and slithered all over the place, scores were so elusive that after 19 minutes that early goal kept the Kilkenny side in front by 1-0 to 0-2.

But Birr put in a late charge which yielded a goal by Rory Hanniffy and points by Hanniffy and Simon Whelehan to lead at the break by 1-4 to 1-0.

With DJ Carey inconspicuous, Young Ireland managed only two points with wind assistance and a 57th-minute goal by Simon Whelehan clinched a deserved win for the holders.