Birr ... 2-5 Young Irelands ... 1-2: This was horror stuff. The road to O'Moore Park, along which the drenched and wind-buffeted crowds made their way, was strewn with the mangled remains of even the sturdiest umbrellas.Seán Moran reports fromPortlaoise
"The rain might cool down the oul' wind a bit," suggested one optimist. Rather than cancelling each other out, the elements combined to brew up the worst conditions imaginable for a top-class hurling match.
Yesterday's AIB Leinster hurling final at Portlaoise was on paper as attractive a pairing as there's been in recent years.
Featuring the All-Ireland holders against much talked-about Kilkenny champions, the final had the individual appeal of bringing together DJ Carey at the end of a tremendous year and Brian Whelahan - two of the best players of the past decade.
But this was hardly a canvas fit for their talents. Icy rain strafed the players throughout the match and a furious wind howled in the direction of the town.
By the end, Birr had outclassed their opponents. More surprisingly for a team chasing an unprecedented fourth All-Ireland, they were as hungry and committed as any success-starved outfit.
Their defence was magnificent, with Joe Errity and Brian Whelahan maintaining the quality of their long-running central presence and Gary Cahill also excellent.
Birr's superior touch stood to them in the dire conditions and they controlled play far more efficiently than the Kilkenny side.
Despite an early goal conceded against the run of play - Carey and Charlie Carter setting up Dick Carroll for a seventh-minute finish - the champions' grip on the final never relaxed.
The outstanding Rory Hanniffy scored a goal just before half-time, part of a total that equalled the opposition's. It included a Pele-style over-run of the ball, a double back and solo followed by a shot that went straight underneath Martin Carey, who up to that point had been confident and composed in the Gowran goal.
It was hard to see how Young Irelands were going to retrieve the situation. The presence of DJ Carey meant that an improbable comeback couldn't be entirely ruled out and one cameo in the 18th minute saw him pluck the ball from one of the frequent scrums and hare off through the cover, past Joe Errity and drive in a shot that was just about scrambled to safety.
Yet, even with wind, there would be no renaissance in the second half. Young Irelands, having managed just one score in the first half, could muster only two more points and Simon Whelahan's late goal gave the scoreline an appropriately emphatic gloss.
Dickie Murphy was busy with a number of mud-wrestling bouts breaking out, but with his usual economy, managed to restrict sanctions to three yellow cards.
"Great second-half performance by Birr," said one of the veterans Johnny Pilkington afterwards.
"There was a very strong wind out there, but we showed a bit more determination than Gowran in the end. When Offaly play Kilkenny we're up for it anyway - well, bar the county scene.
"But this was a big challenge for us - Gowran coming out with DJ and Charlie and a few of them. Offaly hasn't been going through a great spell against Kilkenny and we were determined to get one over them this time."
The county's poor recent record against Kilkenny became something of a theme when victorious manager Pad Joe Whelahan gave his reaction to the game.
Asked was he surprised by his team's hunger he replied: "No. We had our homework done and knew we would beat them. There's only one way you'll beat Kilkenny: ground hurling and hit them hard.
"That's what the county hasn't been doing. That's why I'm disgusted with the Offaly County Board and what they've done this week. It's a disgrace. This is probably the greatest club team of all time - even if we don't win another All-Ireland in Croke Park.
"What did DJ Carey get from play? What did Carter get? A crowd of ordinary hurlers beat them. Am I surprised? No way. We prepared perfect for today. We did our homework and did it well.
"At the meeting last night, DJ Carey didn't get a single mention, we weren't worried about him. We worried about no one from Kilkenny. If you play ground hurling and hit them hard with man-to-man marking, they're not half as good."
The interview was being conducted on a variety of frequencies with his latest failure to get the Offaly manager's job rousing him to an intensity unusual even by his post-match standards.
"I'm disgusted with the county board. Look at our performance. See what it takes to beat Kilkenny because they (the county board) can't do it. I'm sorry I'm a bit emotional. These lads have been on the go for six years non-stop.
"It's not that I want the job but if they want to keep Offaly hurling alive they should have appointed me to the job.
"What's going to happen now? You'll see it in nine months' time. You won't see Brian Whelahan there the next time or Joe Errity. They'll be gone."
This alarming bulletin for new Offaly manager Mike McNamara broadcast, Pad Joe was drawn away by well-wishers.
Birr will take some beating.
BIRR: B Mullins; G Cahill, J Errity, JP O'Meara; D Franks, Brian Whelahan, N Claffey; J Pilkington, Barry Whelahan (0-1); R Hanniffy (1-2), G Hanniffy (capt), D Pilkington; P Molloy, S Browne, S Whelahan (1-2, points from free). Sub: L Power for Browne (42 mins).
YOUNG IRELANDS: M Carey (capt); C Carroll, E Farrell, C Fitzgerald; S Byrne, T Drennan, C Phelan; O Carter, J McDermott; J Fitzgerald, J Carey, C Carter (0-1); D Carroll (1-0), DJ Carey (0-1, a free), D Carter. Sub: P O'Neill for D Carter (39 mins).
Referee: D Murphy (Wexford).
