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LEINSTRER SHC QUARTER-FINAL Birr 1-17 Ballyboden St Enda's 0-8: BIRR SENT out a rather defiant message as they came away from Parnell Park with a convincing 12-point victory over the Dublin champions on Saturday.

The effects of a tough campaign seemed to tell on a Ballyboden team who, having run Birr so close in last year's provincial final, were still at the starting blocks by the time Birr had this game wrapped up. And although opposing managers Pad Joe Whelehan and Liam Hogan briefly squared up to each other midway through the first half, the talking was done on the pitch as the Leinster champions put their opponents to the sword in a breathtaking first-half display.