Birr in seventh heaven after Leinster final win

Former All-Ireland senior club hurling champions Birr secured their seventh Leinster title in controversial circumstances at O'Connor Park, Tullamore today when they held out for a 1-11 to 0-13 victory over Ballyboden St. Endas.

in testing conditions, a long range sideline free from Ballyboden midfielder Enda Kinsella was sent in towards the square in the 62nd-minute, and although television replays clearly showed that the ball came off the stick of Birr defender Brian Watkins for a '65', the shot was signalled as a wide by the umpires and from the resulting puck-out referee Anthony Stapleton blew the full-time whistle.