Birr - 2-12, Dunloy - 1-11: Unlucky Dunloy endured the heartbreak of yet another All-Ireland club semi-final defeat when they came a cropper at the hands of the Brian Whelahan-inspired Birr at Clones yesterday.
With a fiercely-contested and tense encounter delicately poised at 2-9 to 1-9 in Birr's favour in the 54th minute, their goalkeeper Brian Mullins produced a top-class save to deny Paddy Richmond what looked a certain goal. And with it went Dunloy's chance of upsetting the odds.
Determined Dunloy looked the sharper of the two sides in the opening half as they played a fluent and attractive brand of hurling before vocal support. After 14 minutes they deservedly led 1-3 to 0-1, their goal coming from Paudie McMullan.
Birr responded with a goal of their own in the 22nd minute as Johnny Pilkington's mis-hit effort fell into the path of the waiting Simon Whelahan, who fired home.
Dunloy finished the half well, with good points by Martin Curry, a mammoth free from Damian McMullan and one by Colm McGuckian leaving them 1-7 to 1-3 ahead at half-time. They edged another point in front courtesy of Conor Cunning at the start of the new half.
But true to form, Birr refused to be perturbed and they got a lucky break a minute later. Stephen Brown's poorly-struck shot was deflected to the net by Dunloy defender Frankie McMullan.
The score ignited a previously listless Birr side. A 39th-minute point from Simon Whelahan, whose injured knee was heavily strapped, put them up 2-6 to 1-8.
Dunloy levelled with a 65 from Damian McMullan. But three points in succession from Birr, two from Simon Whelahan and another from stylish half back Niall Claffey, gave the Offaly club a 2-9 to 1-9 advantage.
Then came the highlight of the hour - Mullins' save. Gary O'Kane pumped a high delivery into his brother Gregory, introduced as a 38th minute replacement for Curry. He set up the unmarked Paddy Richmond, who was prevented from finding the twine by the vigilant Mullins.
Points from Cunning and Alistair Elliott brought Dunloy to within a point, 1-11 to 2-9. Birr then found an extra gear, as the Whelahan brothers, Brian and Simon, along with impressive sub Paul Molloy landed points to secure their place in the final for the fourth time since 1992.
BIRR: B Mullins; G Cahill, J Errity, JP O'Meara; D Franks, Brian Whelahan (0-1, 65), N Claffey (0-1); J Pilkington, R Hanniffy (0-1); L Power, Barry Whelahan (0-1), D Pilkington; G Hanniffy (0-2), S Whelahan (1-4, two points frees), S Brown (1-0). Sub: P Molloy (0-2) for L Power, (34 mins).
DUNLOY: G McGhee; S McIlhatton, S Mullan, D McMullan (0-3, two frees, 65); M Molloy, Gary O'Kane, F McMullan; N Elliott, C Cunning (0-2); P McMullan (1-0), C McGuckian (0-1), L Richmond (0-1); P Richmond, A Elliott (0-3, two frees), M Curry (0-1). Subs: Gregory O'Kane for M Curry (38 mins); P Martin for S McIlhatton, (47 mins).
Referee: S Roche, Tipperary
