Offaly SHC Final/ Birr 0-15 Kilcormac/Killoughey 0-10: Birr came of age yesterday when they claimed their 21st senior title by defeating Kilcormac/Killoughey by an unflattering five-point margin in O'Connor Park.
With St Brendan's Park in Birr undergoing upgrading yesterday's final was the first to be staged in Tullamore since Coolderry defeated Rahan in the 1953 decider.
It proved to be a particularly happy occasion for Brian Whelahan. Competing in his 14th senior county final he captained Birr to a deserved victory, emulating a similar distinction 16 years earlier and thus becoming the first Birr player to be presented with the Sean Robbins cup on two occasions. To cap it all he collected the man of the match award, having scored 10 of the winners' points in addition to turning in a fine defensive performance.
A youthful Kilcormac/Killoughey side battled bravely throughout the hour. They shaded the first-half honours and would have turned over more than 0-6 to 0-4 in front had they made better use of their scoring chances when favoured by the breeze. As it was, they registered seven wides which proved costly in the end.
Contesting the final for only the second time - they were defeated by Birr also in 2002 - and seeking their first title as a parish entity - the challengers continued to hold their own after the break before fading in the final quarter in which they were outscored by six points to one.
Birr's greater experience proved a decisive factor, as their defence kept a stranglehold on their opponents' attack in a game that lacked both goals and outstanding features apart from the accurate free-taking of Whelahan.
But Birr stayed on course to complete a third-in-a-row and an eighth title win in the last nine years.
BIRR: B Mullins; JP O'Meara, P Cleary, M Verney; R Hanniffy, Brian Whelahan (0-10, eight frees), N Claffey; Barry Whelahan, N Rogers; P Molloy, S Whelahan, M Dwane; G Hanniffy (0-2), D Hayden, S Browne (0-1). Subs: P O'Meara (0-1)for Molloy and B Watkins for Rogers (both 24 mins), S Ryan (0-1)for Dwane (41 mins), D Molloy for Browne (62 mins).
KILCORMAC/KILLOUGHEY: D Kilmartin; J Grogan, G Healion B Leonard; K Rigney (0-2, one free), K Grogan, C Cassidy (0-2, two frees); E Lee (0-1), C Mahon; J Gorman (0-1), P Healion, M Murray; D Gleeson (0-2), C Slevin (0-2, one free), M Leonard. Sub: P Leonard for Murray (half-time).
Referee: T Carroll(Kinnitty).
