They keep time in carefree fashion down Offaly way. That the millennial championship, postponed for months due to poor weather and the recent agricultural crisis, was pushed back by a further 15 minutes yesterday hardly mattered, especially with an extra hour of daylight guaranteed. As it was, the issue was decided in minutes flat with the mood the local team was in.
"There are men hurling all their lives that never played in a county final," declared Pat Joe Whelahan afterwards. "The most important date of the year is your own county final."
The Offaly showpiece is predominantly a family affair and yesterday was no different. Since 1988, Seir Kieran has produced hurling teams that have belied the size of the tiny village. Five championships have been backboned by the likes of the Dooley brothers, the Coughlans, and the Connors'.
In recent years they have faced down the powerhouse team from Birr, another side rich in family legacy. The feeling was that yesterday would be a step too far and so it transpired, with the town side blitzing their way to a 16th championship on a scoreline of 3-21 to 1-9.
"If we'd won by anything less than 10, I would have been disappointed to be honest," reflected Whelehan. "Because we had been fine-tuned for this game. After we lost the All-Ireland semi-final to Athenry last year; first thing we said was that we had to come back and win another county title.
"This is the first time we have done the back-to-back. It's very important to us. And it was hard for Seir Kieran to keep going the way we were playing. But they are a terrific little club and they keep coming back. People say they'll all retire now but they won't; they'll be back hurling again next year."
Or perhaps even next week. Most local teams are already well into training for the 2001 Offaly championship. Whelahan, who has been at the helm for Birr's great drives to provincial and All-Ireland glory in the recent past, may have managed his local side for the last time.
Again heavily involved with Tipperary club Toomevara, he was due to step aside from Birr after this season. Now, with another summer looming and yet another championship collected, it might be hard to say goodbye. In the dressing room the talk was of a three-in-a-row.
"They'll have me in the graveyard yet. I don't know what's going to happen. I suppose we'll just enjoy this first, have a good night or two. It's hard to keep it going."
But it didn't look that way. Rarely have a team looked more on song. Seir Kieran, a team of craftsmen, could not cope with Birr's ferocious speed and movement. If it turns out to be Pat Joe Whelehan's last day on the sideline, he will surely remember this performance for its sheer style.
The goals seemed a celebration of the Offaly game-style. After just six minutes, Brian Whelehan sent a soaring clearance towards the Offaly square which was collected by his brother, Brian. The livewire forward danced free and found Paul Molloy with a perfect hand-pass and the corner forward buried the shot. From there Birr moved out of sight, easing in to a 1-10 to 0-2 lead before combining for their second goal.
Simon Whelehan, superb all afternoon, flicked a pass behind his shoulder to Gary Hanniffy who in turn glanced the ball onto his brother Rory, who was haring towards the Seir Keiran goal. The younger Hanniffy galloped for 20 yards before rapping his shot past Liam Coughlan. It was as sweet a goal as you could hope to see.
"Yeah, they were good all right," conceded, Pat Joe Whelehan. There's always been good hurlers here. Gary (Hanniffy) had a great game. We put young Stephen Brown in and he did brilliantly; only 17. Young Hanniffy is a great bit of stuff. There is a lot to come from this team," he promised.
Billy Dooley bustled through Birr's defence with the impatience of a man who had seen enough and somehow fired a consolation goal for his beleaguered parish side in the second half and his brother Johnny guided five points against the traffic.
But it was Birr's day by a landslide. Seir Keiran will bide their time. Patience is no virtue is this part of the world.
BIRR: B Mullins: G Cahill, J Errity, D Franks; J P O'Meara, B Whelahan, N Claffey; J Pilkington, G Hanniffy (1-4, one free), L Power (0-3), B Whelahan, D Pilkington (0-2); P Molloy (1-3), S Whelahan (0-5, frees), R Hanniffy (1-3). Subs: S Brown (0-1) for B Whelahan (40 mins), P Murphy for S Whelahan, B Hennessy for D Franks (56 mins), C Hanniffy for J P O'Meara, G Doorley for L Power (58 mins).
SEIR KIERAN: L Coughlan; P Scully, K Kinahan, P Connors; D Murphy, K Dooley, J Guinan; F O'Neill, J Dooley (0-2), Johnny Dooley (0-5, 3 frees), M Coughlan (0-1), B Dooley (1-1); G Connors, E Coughlan, S Dooley. Subs: D Coffey for F O'Neill (43 mins), M Mulrooney for G Connors (57 mins).
Referee: P Horan (Offaly).
