1993 Offaly U-21 Hurling Final
It is a scenario that Paddy Kirwan would have rather avoided but despite his ties with Ballyskenach he insists he will be a St Brendan's man for this game at least. This is his sixth season at the helm over the Birr parish side and considering he is likely to step down next Sunday he would like to end on a winning note.
St Brendan's who were prevented from collecting a hattrick of titles when they were defeated by KilcormaclKilloughey in the 1992 County final are mighty anxious to return to the top but even they will concede that Ballyskenach will not give up without a rare old battle.
Interestingly Conor McGlone will be appearing in his fifth County decider for St Brendan while Robert Shiels, Brian Hogan, Oisin O'Neill and John Kirwan have also featured prominently in a few of their most recent successes.
Yet despite Birr's great success at underage level this team hasn't won any title and this will make them all the hungrier for success. St Brendan's toppled the 1992 title-holders and championship favourites Kilcormac/Killoughey in the opening round even though K/K were missing just Niall Hand from the previous year.
Their opponents Ballyskenach have been used to winning at underage ranks and this encounter will hold no fears for them. Three years ago they won the Offaly Minor Hurling 'B' title and a year later they clinched the 'A' crown in the same competition by defeating a fancied Ferbane/Belmont outfit. It would be sheer lunacy to dismiss Ballyskenach who deserve great credit for qualifying for their first Offaly U21 'A' Hurling final.
At the beginning of the year Ballyskenach felt they might be better operating in the 'B' series but when the Offaly County Board turned down their request it actually proved to be a blessing in disguise.
They entered their first round clash with Kinnitty in more hope than confidence and also had difficulty fielding a team yet to their surprise they had six points to spare at the finish. Their fairy tale rise continued against the reputable St Rynagh's who they defeated by two points.
In the semi-final against Drumcullen they had only the bare minimum to spare on a 2-6 to 1-8 scoreline yet they showed great courage and spirit to fight back after they found themselves trailing by 1-4 to 01 at the end of the first quarter.
Any team which accounts for these three teams can't be taken too lightly. St Brendan's blew hot and cold during their semi-final win over Clareen. They will be looking to players like Oisin O'Neill, Brian Hogan, Conor McGlone, John Carroll and Liam Power to inspire them to victory.
Ballyskenach are very strong down the middle where Keith Russell, Cathal Murphy, Noel Murphy, Tomas O'Toole and Denis Egan will be expected to make their presence felt. They haven't any injury problems at the moment and if Donal Golden who missed their semifinal victory can line-out he would provide a huge boost to the side.
Ballvskenach custodian Bill Lalor is just fifteen while Aidan Franks and Liam Flynn are both sixteen. Donal Golden and Ger Mullally are the only two players who will be overage next season.
Although Ballyskenach are limited in terms of resources they make up for this with true grit and determination. And with former Offaly hurler Brendan Keeshan training the side Ballyskenach will not lack skills or hurling expertise.
Ballyskenach were defeated by St Brendan's in the 1991 decider when they teamed up with Shinrone to form St Mary's and it is nothing short or remarkable that they achieved the same feat on their own. Ballyskenach selector Denis Mullally feels all the team must play well on Sunday. If all the team plays well it could be close enough in the finish. Some of our good players didn't really play to their potential gainst Drurncullen. It is a great achievement for us to get to a final and we are very happy with that obviously a win would be a huge bonus.
'St Brendan's got off a good start against Clareen and that made all the difference. They didn't produce their best that day and I think they could actually play even better in a final. I suppose it is fair to say St Brendan's would have more talent than us we have just the bare eighteen,' he admitted.
St Brendan's manager Paddy Kirwan knows Ballyskenach too well to dismiss them lightly. I suppose I would be hoping to meet some other team but I will be a Birr man next Sunday. It vas disappointing to lose the 1992 County final to Kilcormac/Killoughey and I was more disappointed at the way the team performed than the result. I suppose we were expecting too much from the big names and we suffered as a result.
'I would dearly love to win his final. These lads haven't won a title as a team in underage ranks and because of this they have been subjected to a lot of criticism. They have a point to prove against their critics next Sunday.
'Ballyskenach will be very hard to beat. They can take their scores well and they stay with teams right to the finish. We will be taken nothing for granted. St Brendan's have six lads with Leinster Club Senior Hurling medals and we will be hoping they can show they deserved them next Sunday,' he said.
Although St Brendan's will enter a slight favourites this is a game which could go either way. Once the ball is throw in here is no such thing as favourites as the last two champions Kilcorrnac/Killoughey and St Brendan's have found to their cost. St Brendan's get the vote but in the words of Paddy Kirwan 'either way a Ballyskenach man will come out on top next Sunday.'