Leinster Club Championship SH Semi-final / Birr 4-17 Castletown 1-9: Birr's hurling conveyor belt roles on.
Any doubts about the reigning club champions ability to cope with a plethora of injury problems were assuaged as early as the opening minute of this Leinster club hurling semi-final when one of their call-up teenagers, Michael Dwane, popped up to crash home their first goal in 30 seconds at Nowlan Park yesterday.
Birr proved that they have an arsenal of young talent waiting in the wings ready and able to augment the talents of the more established players such as the Whelahans, Hanniffys and Pilkingtons.
The blend of experience and youthful flair was a huge success for the Offaly men and generally had bemused Laois champions Castletown struggling to come up with answers that would avoid a totally unexpected drubbing.
It was no surprise that Brian Whelahan was the provider of the ball that allowed young Dwane to make an early impact with an opportunist goal.
That early goal and follow-up points from Rory Hanniffy and Paul O'Meara had Birr in front by 1-2 after only four minutes. Castletown's problems grew even more acute when Johnny Pilkington produced a smashing goal just on the half-time break for a 3-8 to 1-5 interval lead.
It got far worse for Castletown as the second half progressed and it was of little consequence when they had midfielder John O'Sullivan sent to the line for a second bookable offence in the third quarter.
Joe Errity and Declan Pilkington , two of the older hands who played in Offaly's minor All-Ireland win of 1986, had a major influence in their central positions.
Brian Pilkington was enthusiastic afterwards about the way the younger set fitted into the general pattern.
"These young lads proved themselves today that they are more than ready to take their places and perform in big-time senior matches". He was largely referring to Dwane Paul O'Meara and Dylan Hayden.
The Offaly All-Star emphasised the interest that is still very much alive among the older members of the team. "We enjoy training and playing in matches and having a few drinks afterwards. Thats what makes it." Whelahan is as excited about playing in anoher Leinster final as he was in his first over a decade ago. "I'm looking forward to meeting O'Loughlin Gaels in the final. It should be another fine game."
The Offaly selectors show-cased the extent of their young talent when the issue was put beyond doubt in the second half by introducing more minors in Niall Rogers Mark Quinlan and Paul Cleary. Quinlan is only 16 years of age.
Castletown were visibly disillusioned by it all. The only time they looked like recovering was during a brief few minutes in the first half when a Patrick Phelan goal gave a glimmer of hope. But they lacked the quality of combined play and confidence shown from the start by the champions.
Anything Brian Whelahan touched turned into gold. Apart from that winning pass for Dwane's first goal his delivery midway through the first half set up Declan Pilkington's goal.
When Castletown eventually got off the mark with Phelan's goal in the eight minute it was only fitting that John Palmer was involved. James Hooban had his moments also in Castletown's all too brief better monmets in the first half.
The Laois followers must have been wondering if their team was going to register a second half score. John Richard Kingston, who opened their second half account in the last quarter, proved their only second-period scorer along with Cyril Cuddy.
BIRR: B Mullins, G Cahill, J Errity, J P O'Meara, D Franks, B Whelahan (0-2 one free), N Claffey, D Hayden (0-5 one free), R Hanniffy (0-3), P O'Meara (0-2), D Pilkington (1-1), G Hanniffy (0-2), S Browne (0-1), J Pilkington (1-0), M Dwane (2-0). Subs: P Cleary for J P O'Meara; N Rogers (0-1) for G Hanniffy; P Carroll for D Pilkington; M Quinlan for G Cahill.
CASTLETOWN: J Lyons, M Phelan, R Delaney, T Phelan, J Palmer, P Cuddy (0-1), D Keenan, C Cuddy (0-1), J O'Sullivan, P Cuddy, D Cuddy (0-1), F O'Sullivan, J Hooban, J R Kingston (0-3), P Phelan (1-3 two frees). Subs: O Dooley for P Cuddy; B Ferns for F O'Sullivan; T Dooley for P Phelan; P Mullaney for M Phelan.
Referee: E Morris (Dublin).
