All-Ireland club champions Birr relinquished their hold on their title when they were defeated by old rivals St Rynagh's in an extraordinary semi-final at St Brendan's Park, Birr, yesterday.
St Rynagh's plundered goals at vital stages over the hour which left Birr reeling, and despite throwing everything at their opponents in the closing 10 minutes, the team featuring the Whelahan brothers could not find their way through for a goal that would have brought them back into the game.
Birr had a slight edge in the early stages and opened up a two-point lead after 10 minutes. St Rynagh's struck for their first goal after 23 minutes, when Kieran Flannery flicked the ball to the net following a sideline cut.
Birr replied with three points to regain the lead; but in first half injury time Fintan Dolan finished a loose ball to the net to put Rynagh's 2-2 to 0-6 in front at the interval.
Within five minutes of the restart, Birr were level again; but Rynagh's then hit 2-1 in three minutes, their entire second-half total, to go six points clear.
St Rynagh's: D Hughes; S Rigney, S McGuckin, M Hanamy; R Mannion, H Rigney, E McHugh; M Rigney, P Mulhare (0-1); F Dolan (1- 0), M Duignan (1-0), E Martin (0-2); R Devery, K Flannery (1-0), M Conneely (1-0). Subs: T Moylan for Devery; A Kelly for Martin.
Birr: B Mullins; S Whelahan, J Errity, G Doorley; Barry Whelahan (0-1), Brian Whelahan (0-2), N Claffey; O O'Neill (0-4), C Hanniffy; D Hanniffy (0-1), D Regan, D Pilkington (0-1); L Power, G Cahill, G Hanniffy (0-1). Subs: P Carroll for G Hanniffy; B Hennessy for D Hanniffy.
Referee: Martin Kirwan (Ballyskenach).
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