Birr 4-22 ...... Ballyskenach 1-7
Ruth O’Brien
Birr romped to the top of the Group 1 table thanks to this annihilation of Ballyskenach in Clareen on Sunday evening.
Birr never got out of first gear, yet still managed a 24 point win over a Ballyskenach team missing the influential duo of Brendan Murphy and David Carney.
At half time Birr led by 15 points (2-12 to 0-3) and it could have been much worse for Ballyskenach, who only got their goal from a 21 yard free in the last minute of the game.
Birr seemed to knock points over the bar for fun and got started just 55 seconds in when Barry Whelahan struck from the middle of the park.
Ballyskenach only managed three points for the duration of the first period, they came on the 2nd, 12th and 19th minutes respectively.
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Birr's Rory Hanniffy in possession as he attempts to shake off Ballyskenach's Alan Middleton when the sides met in last Sunday's Aidan Bracken Building Design Offaly SHC match in Clareen |
After nine minutes Birr had racked up a 1-3 total thanks to further points from Gary Hanniffy and Stephen Brown, while their opening goal came from Sean Ryan.
Ballyskenach goalkeeper Tomás O’Toole managed to save Ryan’s initial shot but he made no mistake second time round when he fired to the net to leave the score at 1-3 to 0-1.
Just two minutes later they added a second goal courtesy Rory Hanniffy strike. Hanniffy ran 60 metres through the heart of the Ballyskenach defence before firing home to ensure a eight point advantage for Birr.
Eoghan Franks endeavoured to keep Ballyskenach in touch with a point on twelve minutes but it was all to no avail as Birr continued their scoring rampage.
Birr added eight more points before the end of the half, scored by Paul Molloy, Gary Hanniffy, Rory Hanniffy (3), Sean Ryan, Michael Dwane and Stephen Brown respectively.
Even the supporters in Clareen were bored by the one-sided affair and the biggest cheer of the evening came when Birr’s Stephen Brown wobbled to the ground unchallenged in the 23rd minute.
Leading 2-12 to 0-3 at the re-start, the second half saw more of the same from Birr.
However, it was Ballyskenach that struck first in the second period when David Franks powered through the Birr defence before striking over the bar. Indeed Franks could have shot for goal but seemed content with the point despite his side trailing by 15 points.
Birr ensured further heartbreak for their opponents when they grabbed goal number three just three minutes into the second half.
Simon Whelahan grabbed the goal after Sean Ryan’s initial shot was blocked by the Ballyskenach goalkeeper and Whelahan grabbed possession and fired into the unguarded net.
Ballyskenach did produce a moment of brilliance in the 38th minute when Eoghan Franks scored a sublime point from all of 90 metres out to leave the score at 3-12 to 0-5.
Birr then went 3-18 to 0-5 to the good with ten minutes remaining thanks to points from Michael Dwane (2), Gary Hanniffy and a pointed free from Simon Whelahan.
A wounded Ballyskenach managed only two more points, one from David Franks and a pointed free from Eoghan Franks, while Birr added four more points to bring their points tally to 22.
With only seven minutes remaining they embarrassed Ballyskenach further with yet another goal. This time it was the turn of Michael Dwane to find the back of the net.
Paul Molloy began the move with a pass to Sean Ryan, his shot was blocked and Dwane picked up the loose ball and struck to the net to leave the score at 4-20 to 0-7.
Ballyskenach got a consolation goal late in the day when Eoghan Franks delivered from a 21 yard free but it certainly didn’t matter at that stage.
Scorers: Birr - Simon Whelahan 1-5 (3f), Michael Dwane 1-4, 1, Rory Hanniffy 1-3, Sean Ryan 1-1, Stephen Brown 0-4, Gary Hanniffy 0-3, Barry Whelahan 0-1, Paul Molloy 0-1. [Note: Different scorers recorded in the Offaly Express report]
Ballyskenach: Eoghan Franks 1-4 (1f), David Franks 0-2, Aidan Franks 0-1.
Birr: Brian Mullins; Neil Rogers, Paul Cleary, John Paul O’Meara; Brian Whelahan, Joe Errity, Niall Claffey; Paul Molloy, Barry Whelahan; Rory Hanniffy, Gary Hanniffy, Stephen Brown; Sean Ryan, Simon Whelahan, Michael Dwane. Subs: Donal Franks replaced Brian Whelahan 34 mins, Liam Power replaced N. Claffey 51 mins.
Ballyskenach: Tomás O’Toole; Tony O’Riordan, Cathal Murphy, Brendan Franks; Timmy Hennessy, Mark Kirwin, David Franks; Alan Middleton, David McLoughlin; Alan Franks, Noel Murphy, Michael O’Hara; Aidan Franks, John Dooley, Eoghan Franks. Subs: Padraic Kennedy replaced D. McLoughlin 46 mins, Morgan Lalor replaced Alan Franks 49 mins.
Referee: Tony Carroll.