Old giants stir again as holders are tamed

GAA/Birr 1-13 Ballyhale 1-10:The vulnerability factor eventually kicked in to the cost of reigning Leinster club champions Ballyhale Shamrocks, as Birr won a match marked by hurling passion, excitement and fine skills in conditions more suited to water polo at Nowlan Park yesterday.

From the start it was always going to be a major ask for the champions to attempt another hurdle minus the services of Henry and James "Cha" Fitzpatrick.

Shefflin and Fitzpatrick - who is just off the crutches - could only watch in helpless dismay as the match unfolded.

It was a day of fulfilment and atonement for last year's unlucky defeat shipped by the Offaly men. The day belonged to the Whelahans, Hanniffys and O'Mearas and the man of the match, Niall Claffey.

Claffey was part of a terrific, uncompromising performance by the Birr defence, turning in a display that surpassed even that of Ballyhale's Eamonn Walsh in the opposing defence.

The match developed into a see-saw struggle with both teams prepared to give their all and, unfortunately, there were a couple of yellow cards and an accidental collision that saw Birr corner forward Stephen Browne taken off on a stretcher in the first quarter. It was also something of a victory for Pad Joe Whelahan, the Birr manager, and his sideline helpers.

The strategy deployed by the Birr team had to be admired. Playing into the wind in the first half they stuck manfully with the Kilkenny champions and were only two points adrift - 1-7 to 1-5 - at half-time.

Brian Whelahan evaluated their half-time position thus: "We knew we had a great chance and I felt that with wind advantage in the second half it would take a mammoth effort to deny us."

Birr were quickly back on terms after the break and finished the fresher team, although it took a great save by goalkeeper Brian Mullins to keep out a rifled shot from Ballyhale Shamrocks' top player, TJ Reid.

Reid was highly influential in everything Shamrocks attempted up front. But the home attack were generally well held and outgunned by a solid Birr defence, in which Claffey was ably abetted by Brian Whelahan and Rory Hanniffy.

Paul Cleary at full back put in a stubborn performance and even got on the scoreboard with a long-distance free.

"We prepared well for this match and we knew we had the work done to beat Shamrocks," added Whelahan. "In fairness, they were without perhaps two of the best players in the land, but we were short too."

Shamrocks manager Maurice Aylward was very disappointed, but accepted the result.

"Birr, in fairness to them, were that bit fresher than us," he said. "This, of course, is the outcome of their competitive commitments as against ours.

"They don't get it as tough in Offaly as we do in the Kilkenny championship. Birr's hurling really only begins at this stage in the club championship."

When Birr took the biggest lead held by either side during a hectic match, a three-point advantage in the closing stages, nobody really felt they would be caught.

But, in fairness to Ballyhale, they were desperately unlucky not to net on two further occasions in the closing quarter, especially when Mullins brought off a double save from TJ Reid and when Brendan Costello hit the side netting with a worthy effort.

Ballyhale full back Walsh truly did not deserve to be on a losing team having produced such a marvellous performance and he got great support in the Shamrocks rearguard from Bob Aylward.

TJ Reid was something special in the Shamrocks attack. He scored five points in all, one classy effort from a sideline cut.

BIRR:B Mullins; JP O'Meara, P Cleary (0-1 free),M Verney; Brian Whelahan (0-2), R Hanniffy (0-1),N Claffey; Barry Whelahan (0-2), P O'Meara (0-1); K Hehir (0-1),M Watkins, M Dwane; G Hanniffy (1-2), D Hayden (0-2),S Browne. Subs: S Whelahan (0-1)for Brown; P Molloy for Dwane; Seán Ryan for O'Meara, M Mulrooney for Molloy.

BALLYHALE SHAMROCKS:J Connolly; P Shefflin, E Ward, P Holden; M Dermody, A Cummins, B Aylward (0-1); M Fennelly (0-1),C Fennelly; B Hoyne, TJ Reid (0-5, one sideline cut), B Costello (1-1); E Reid (0-1), P Reid (0-1),K Nolan. Sub:M Aylward for Nolan.

Referee: J Owens(Wexford).