The dominant force in club hurling in recent years, Birr looked to be on course to retain their provincial championship when they led by 0-7 to 0-4 at the interval. However, the normally reliable Offaly outfit capitulated in a strangely one-sided second half.
With Simon Whelahan, Paul Molloy and Liam Power all missing through injury, and with Barry Whelahan only barely fit enough to make an appearance coming up to halftime, Birr were a pale shadow of the team that had once ruled the land.
Rory Hanniffy had been highly impressive during that opening period with some accurate free-taking and strong running, while Johnny Pilkington added two points, but O’Loughlin Gaels were much more focused after the changeover and they hit the champions with 8 unanswered points to secure the club’s first ever provincial crown.
Nigel Skehan began to find the range and finished with 0-8, including seven frees and one 65, and Andy Comerford stormed into the contest from center-back. Critically, Jimmy Comerford was also moved back to police the threat of Hanniffy and Birr were only able to manage two scores during the half.
“These players have done great things for Leinster hurling,” reflected Birr manager Pad Joe Whelahan, “but they were the stronger team. On that second-half performance they should be able to win an All-Ireland title.”
Their aim at that target will be blocked next February by Newtownshandrum of Cork who took the Munster championship in fine style with a 2-18 to 2-9 win over Limerick’s Patrickswell at Semple Stadium. Not so remarkable that this was the north Cork club’s first title. However, it was more remarkable that this was the first time the county had got its name on the cup for 16 years.
For a tiny parish of just 200 houses, this was a special achievement as the performances of brothers Ben and Jerry O’Connor in attack, allied with the craft of Pat Mulcahy at center-back, outwitted Patrickswell. In addition, James Bowles, who has just come out of the minor ranks, managed 2-4, while Jerry O’Connor and J.P. King had 0-3 and 0-4, respectively.
Declan O’Grady had both the losers? goals and the Limerick side, for whom veterans Gary Kirby and Ciaran Carey found it hard to stay the pace, could have no complaints as their Cork rivals outscored them by 1-9 to 0-4 in the second half.
Meanwhile, with a county player in every line, it wasn’t too much of a surprise that An Ghaeltacht of Kerry claimed a first-ever Munster club football title when they edged out the Clare champions, St. Senan’s, Kilkee, in last Sunday’s final at the Gaelic Grounds. It finished 1-8 to 1-6. However, St. Senan’s were left to regret a missed opportunity by Michael O’Shea, who somehow failed to find the target when he found himself in a one-on-one situation with An Ghaeltacht goalkeeper Pat Healy in the closing minutes.
Conal Crowley’s fierce shot from an acute angle early in the second half provided the winner’s vital goal in response to a similar effort coming up to the break from Ger Keane for St. Senan’s, and while the Clare side tried everything they knew to snatch the result in the dying minutes, An Ghaeltacht, who now meet British champions Tara in the quarterfinal, were able to hold out.
There was another first in Connacht when Caltra of Galway got the better of Sligo champions Curry by 1-6 to 0-6 at Pearse Stadium. In the end, it was appropriate Micheal Meehan’s magnificent goal just before the break proved to the difference between the teams.
However, Curry will have their regrets in the wake of a game they know they could have won. Garry Maye blazed a second-half penalty over the bar and, in addition, they kicked a total of 12 wides. Led in inspirational style by captain Noel Meehan, Caltra now go on to meet Ulster champions The Loup in February’s semifinal.
As for The Loup, a minute county Derry hamlet with a population of fewer than 300, they had a fairytale Ulster final victory over St. Gall’s of Antrim at Clones. With Joseph O’Kane and Johnny McBride providing the impetus throughout, they took the title by 0-11 to 1-5 with Ronan Rocks and Shane McFlynn each scoring 3 points.