Birr prove men for all seasons

As news of proceedings in Munster swept through the icy stands in Nowlan Park yesterday afternoon, the Birr faithful fell into a momentary collective murmur and then warmed themselves with the sight of their team strolling to their fourth Leinster title of the decade. The belief was that they might yet while another glad winter away on the back of the exploits of this remarkable bunch. Despite Castletown's game effort - particularly during the first half when they fired with a relentless wind - there was an assurance about the Offaly side which was never called into question.

Those faces that have reigned pre-eminent so often on dry game days in summer were equally effective during yesterday's grey and mud-streaked spectacle. Men for all occasions.

Brian Whelahan was, as ever, economical and indomitable. Operating at centre half back, after a few early stray attempts, he casually torpedoed over a pair of audacious 65-metre frees into the face of the wind.

While he bagged four points from various continents, brother Simon contentedly picked off points from close range, finishing the afternoon with five frees. Simon and the third of the Whelahan contingent, Barry, also proved a nightmare to contend with in loose play.

But the foundation of this win was spread well beyond the storied Whelehans. The burly Gary Hanniffy merrily threw himself into the thick of any action he could find and cut free with a number of heartening thrusts through centrefield which yielded him three points.

At midfield, Johnny Pilkington had another laconically devastating day while at full forward Declan Pilkington moved with edgy prescience, making you wish for a drier, faster sod. It was his early goal that stabilised Birr when Castletown were throwing serious shapes in the early minutes.

The Laois champions had shot themselves into a two-point lead, courtesy of frees from Paul Cuddy and Patrick Phelan, when Birr struck from the blue. Gary Hanniffy drove a long clearance in Declan Pilkington's general direction, the Birr captain skipped on to it, danced free and released a low, almost lame shot which somehow bobbed past Johnny Lyons. Castletown's hope of putting early daylight between them and the opposition vanished thereafter.

But they hurled pragmatically over the first half hour. Paul Cuddy was immense in the heart of the back line, sweeping up countless ball as well as coping with the lively Hanniffy and contributing five points to the Castletown cause, including a mammoth free which matched Whelahan's best in terms of scale and ambition.

Elegant wing back John O'Sullivan, Cyril Cuddy and Robert Delaney also defended stoutly, but they were less coherent going forward, with Joe Errity, Gary Cahill and Donal Franks comfortably mopping up Castletown's lobbed ball.

A point by Padraig Cuddy after 25 minutes left the score at 1-4 to 0-7 and a late Paul Cuddy free gave Castletown a slender advantage at the break, but given the wind it never looked likely to be enough.

Birr, as expected, went to work over the last half hour. Between the 38th and 48th minutes, they pushed steadily out of sight, the choice score a nonchalant Declan Pilkington point.

Castletown dug in stubbornly - Eddie Kirwan chipping a point after 46 minutes to leave them trailing 0-9 to 1-10 - but they never looked as if they might tellingly breach the Birr defence.

Birr, meantime, remained true to the ground-hurling style which has served them so well and although most of the scores came from frees, they spiced the occasion with a few flourishes.

The last 10 minutes belonged to them entirely, with Johnny Pilkington and Gary Hanniffy unerring in the gloom before Paul Molloy signalled the victory whoops with a late, late, bolt from the blue.

So, for the second year in succession, a Laois hurling side discovers that at this stage bravery, organisation and no little ability can still leave you with nothing.

For Birr, another post-Christmas adventure beckons and they can only be eagerly awaiting the days when the ground starts to firm up again. They were solid yesterday which was more than enough. In true Offaly tradition, the magic they'll reserve for the Croke Park.

BIRR: B Mullins; D Franks, J Errity, D Hanniffy; G Cahill, B Whelehan (0-4, frees), R Hanniffy; J Pilkington (0-1), N Claffey; B Whelehan, G Hanniffy (0-3), L Power; B Milne (0-1), D Pilkington (1-1), S Whelehan (0-5, frees). Subs: P Molloy (0-1) for L Power, O O'Neill for D Hanniffy (60 mins).

CASTLETOWN: J Lyons; M Phelan, P Cuddy (0-5, 3 frees, 65), T Phelan; R Delaney, J Cuddy, J O'Sullivan (0-1); D Cuddy, C Cuddy; E Kirwan (0-1), P Cuddy (0-1), G Cuddy; F O'Sullivan (0-1), P Dollard, P Phelan (0-2, frees). Subs: J Palmer for G Cuddy (24 mins).

Referee: A MacSuibhne (Dublin).