There was no fairytale ending for Ballysknenach in their first ever county senior hurling final as All Ireland champions Birr made it five in a row of county titles at rainswept St. Brendan's Park.
Despite the weather, there was great support for Ballyskenach as they bid to bring a county senior title to Roscrea parish for the first time since 1980 when Roscrea beat Kilruane in the Tipperary final. But alas, victory was to elude them on the historic occasion. Birr, like Toomevara, can play within themselves, winning matches without being impressive, and able to move up a gear as the need arises.
So it was on Sunday. Ballyskenach gave of their best; but they didn’t have the all round class and experience of Birr. playing with the wind in the first half ,they needed to have some sort of lead at least at the interval. But they trailed by two points, and crucially, they failed to score from play in the half. When Johnny Pilkington goaled midway through the second half to open up an eight point gap, it seemed all over. But Ballyskenach recovered well from the blow, and Brendan Murphy's goal with nine minutes left brought them right back into contention. Birr are not All Ireland champions for nothing and pulled away again in the closing minutes.
Dylan Hayden pointed Birr into the lead after five minutes, following good work by Declan and Johnny Pilkington. Rory Hanniffy added a point, before Eoghan Franks opened the Ballyskenach account with a point from a free after seven minutes, and Mick O'Hara brought the sides level with a sueorbly taken long range free. Rory Hanniffy got Birr back in front, but Mick O'Hara levelled from a long range free in the tenth minute. As Birr pressed Tom O'Toole did well to stop a Rory Hanniffy effort.
Simon Whelehan pointed Birr back in front, but again Ballyskenach drew level as Eoghan Franks sent over a free. Rory Hanniffy, establishing himself as a major threat to the Ballyskenach defence, sent over two points, one from a free, with Eoghan Franks replying with a point from a free. Hanniffy and Franks exchanged points from frees, before Rory Hanniffy and Barry Whelehan combined to set up Gary Hanniffy for a point that gave Birr an 0-8 to 0-6 lead at the interval.
On the resumption John Dooley had Ballyskenach's first point from play after two minutes, but Birr hit back for points from Gary Hanniffy and Brian Whelehan (free). Eoghan Franks pointed a free for Ballyskenach in the ninth minute, but Birr were moving smoothly and points came from Brian Whelehan, Gary Hanniffy and Johnny Pilkington before the latter put them in a commanding position with a goal coming up to the quarter hour, 1-13 to 0-8 ahead.
Ballyskenach rallied, and Eoghan Franks (free) and Aidan Franks pointed before Rory Haniffy pointed for Birr after twenty minutes.A minute later Ballyskenach were thrown a lifeline, as Mark Kirwan's clearance found Brendan Murphy and he shot to th net. But Birr hit back swiftly for a point from Barry Whelehan, and though Eoghan Franks pointed a free, Birr swept majestically on in the closing minutes with points from Rory Hanniffy, Gary Hanniffy and Brian Whelehan to make it five in a row of county titles.
Birr - B. Mullins, G. Cahill, J. Errity, J.P. O'Meara; P. Molloy, Brian Whelehan (0-3), N. Claffey; S. Brown, Barry Whelehan (0-1); R. Hannify (0-6), G. Hanniffy (0-5), D. Hayden (0-1); D. Pilkington, J. Pilkington (1-1), S. Whelehan (0-1). Sub: L. Power for S. Whelehan
Ballyskenach - T. O'Toole, E. Hannon, C. Murphy, B. Franks; B. Keeshan, M.O'Hara
(0-2), M. Kirwan; D. Franks, A. Middleton; A. Franks (0-1), N. Murphy, D.Carney;
J. Dooley (0-1), B. Murphy (1-0) E. Franks (0-7) Sub: D. Middleton for A. Middleton.
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