Kirwan not happy to go again

Will they or won't they? After watching Birr gradually scythe down his side's six-point half-time lead to restore parity at full-time, Castletown coach Paddy Kirwan vowed he would not turn up for next Sunday's scheduled replay in Birr.

"We've already been screwed by having to come here a week after our last match and it's time the Leinster Council showed Laois a bit of favouritism. We want a fortnight between this match and the replay," he vented afterwards.

Kirwan, understandably emotional after what was an enthralling match redolent of summer times, was incensed about the series of Birr frees that Brian Whelehan sent whistling over to bring about the replay, seeing the decisions as a further manifestation of a generally dismissive attitude in the province towards Laois hurling.

"I am sick of hearing people go on about Laois hurling - we were supposed to come down here and get destroyed today and it breaks my heart to see those lads getting done by the likes of that.

"We've worked hard, killed ourselves, but you can't legislate for those. Look at the foul count - we are not a dirty team, even if we are from Laois."

The manner in which Birr slowly reeled their opposition back from the doorstep of a famous win must have been agonising for the Castletown management to witness. John Richard Kingston's goal, bustled over on the stroke of half-time after Brian Mullins parried Patrick Mullaney's initial strike, put them into a 1-6 to 0-3 lead.

Early in the second half, there was the sense that a few early Castletown scores would put daylight enough between the sides to wave them through but they were held to a lone Finion O'Sullivan free.

Birr's defence absorbed everything, with Niall Claffey especially prominent and an offensive rotation - with Brian Whelehan pushing into midfield and his brother Barry directing operations from centre-half forward - got them motoring in the last quarter.

Birr's main problem had been their stray shooting - they finished with 14 wides - but even if Gary Hannify was missing the type of frees he has been putting over since he still believed in Santa, Stephen Brown compensated in style.

They young corner-forward took a four-point haul, with two consecutive and sweet strikes in the opening minutes of the second half that must have forced Castletown to doubt the permanence of their advantage.

However, the Laois side's defence was extraordinarily composed, with both Paul and Cyril Cuddy resolute at its heart. The Phelans flanking the corners also got through a mountain of work and, as Kirwan noted in tribute, ensured that Birr never opened them up for a goal chance.

Castletown were unfortunate that David Cuddy's first half accuracy deserted him - he hit all three of their second half wides, while Brian Whelehan stepped in to end Hannify's nightmare from placed balls.

In fairness to Hannify, however, he never hid and won a more-than-useful share of possession in open play.

PaJo Whelehan, Birr's long-time manager, was low-key afterwards, allowing that he was delighted to get the draw.

For a time early in the second half, salvation appeared beyond them. They extended their glaring wides tally with two in succession and then Johnny Pilkington hinted at the side's growing frustration by spoiling a fine gallop with an ambitious long-distance strike on goal that also trickled away harmlessly wide.

Had Castletown been able to bang over another few scores at this stage, then they might have pulled away. Instead they found themselves under siege, with the Birr backs queueing up to return Castletown's harried clearances with interest.

Thus, the Laois champions potency dried up completely and they did well to survive to fight another day, having managed just the solitary second half score.

Encouragingly for the Laois game, Castletown's ambition clearly extends well beyond a decent showing against Birr and they have the wherewithal to trouble the illustrious Offaly club again next week.

The replay was fixed after the game despite Paddy Kirwan's insistence that Castletown would not recognise the tie. The hope must be that some intervention will assure the replay of a fixture that would have graced any month of the year, let alone early December.

BIRR: B Mullins; G Cahill, J Errity, JP O'Meara; D Franks, B Whelehan (0-4, 70, 3 fs), N Claffey; J Pilkington, B Whelehan; P Molloy, G Hannify, R Hannify; S Brown (0-4), D Pilkington (0-1), L Power.

CASTLETOWN: J Lyons; T Phelan, P Cuddy, M Phelan; D Keenan, C Cuddy, R Delaney; J Palmer (0-1), D Cuddy (0-3, 2 fs); M Butler, JP Kingston (1-0), F O'Sullivan (0-1); B Ferns, J O'Sullivan, P Phelan (0-2, 1 f).

Referee: D Murphy (Wexford)