Birr vs Ballyhale Preview

[Lone Shark]

And so it comes to pass, a Birr and Ballyhale Leinster final in Portlaoise. One side enters the contest with a star studded line up and an impeccable pedigree, having dominated not just their county but the country in the previous fifteen years. Their opponents on the other hand have just won their first county title in a generation, backboned by gifted individuals who will undoubtedly go on to reap every reward the game has to offer.

Sound familiar? It should, this was exactly the build up to the 1991 Leinster final when a young and hungry Birr team came head to head with Ballyhale who at the time were sitting top of the tree with three All Ireland titles. Birr supporters of a nervous disposition should probably look away now, because if the comparison is to continue, it could all get a little bit ugly next Sunday and beyond. In 1991, Birr, having won their first Offaly title in twenty years, beat Ballyhale 2-14 to 0-3 with a performance that rubberstamped their arrival into the country’s elite tier of clubs. Ballyhale struggled to recover from that defeat, eventually getting relegated into intermediate five years later. Let’s hope for Birr’s sake this symmetry comes to an end sooner rather than later.

Looking forward to Sunday, it’s safe to say that not since that winter’s day fifteen years ago will Birr have entered a match as such big outsiders for a championship fixture. In a world where everybody likes to make bizarre claims that their team has been “written off” even in the most 50/50 of games, this is one match where such a claim is more than justified. With Ballyhale trading at around 2/5 to win Sunday’s encounter in normal time it’s pretty clear what the bookmaking community believe is the likely outcome. When one compares Ballyhale’s exquisite performance in the Kilkenny final with the way Birr eked past a dogged Coolderry team, it’s hard to find fault with that logic. All the same, for one to satisfy themselves with such a cursory glance at the bare facts would be unfair to a Birr panel that has earned our respect with plenty to spare over the past decade and more, so let’s dig a little deeper.

Looking at the two teams, it’s hard to get away from the conclusion that the clash between the Birr half back line and the Shamrocks half forwards will be utterly vital to the outcome of this game. Brian Whelahan, Rory Hanniffy and Niall Claffey have formed a nigh on impregnable unit over the past couple of seasons and it is on that foundation that Birr build most of their performances. While it goes without saying that Henry Shefflin, hurler of the year and unquestioned “MVP” of modern hurling will command a lot of attention assuming he continues to start at centre forward, he has been very ably assisted this year by Kilkenny under 21 TJ Reid who has contributed as many scores from play as his more vaunted team mate over the past three games. In addition to a proven ability to take a score, Reid is both aggressive in fighting for 50/50 ball and an absolute nuisance if you’re trying to clear your lines in his general vicinity. Beyond this line, Paddy Reid and Maurice Aylward are typical Kilkenny corner forwards with no shortage of eye for goal or the craft to convert one, but with this Ballyhale team, it’s the half forward line, ably assisted by Cha Fitzpatrick backing up from midfield that look after the bulk of the scoring. This area of the field is truly a class of the heavyweights and as such would be worth the entrance fee alone.

While it’s difficult to pick any weak links in the Shamrocks side from 8-15, Birr will need to exploit any chinks that appear from 1-7. To call any members of this Ballyhale team “weaknesses” is to do them a serious dis-service, however unlike their forward division, most of whom would be quite comfortable at county level, the back line has conceded some reasonable tallies this year, most notably 1-14 to Dunamaggin in the county semi final, notable due to the lack of any star forwards in Dunamaggin’s ranks. Aidan Cummins at centre back is the exception to this – he has dominated fine players included Andy Comerford and Paul Codd so far this year, and Gary Hanniffy will not have it easy. Rather than look to go through the big centre forward, Birr need to find ways to release their potential match winners, Michael Dwane and Sean Ryan in the corners. Full back Eamonn Walsh is not renowned for his mobility, while corners Paul Shefflin and Padraig Holden rely on hurling rather than pace to survive. Both Dwane and Ryan could cause problems if they are given the chance to get in behind their markers. Likewise if Dylan Hayden gets a run on Eamonn Walsh, he could potentially have a productive day.

Overall however this will be more of a test of the Birr defending than their attacking. Even in losing, Shamrocks very rarely score less than 20 points in 60 minutes of hurling and failing to keep a tight rein on their leading lights around the middle of the field could have disastrous consequences. This is where the lack of any real test for the Birr half backs to this point may prove to be a problem. Looking back fifteen years ago one last time, 2-14 to 0-3 is an extremely unlikely scoreline this Sunday. On the other hand, 2-24 to 0-13 is altogether more plausible and while one hopes that Birr can avoid such a heavy defeat, it’s difficult to see them pulling off what would be one of the greatest wins in their history next Sunday all the same.

[green&white]

excellent preview lone shark!
have a funny feeling we've seen the best of this Birr team.. and what a best it was! without doubt the greatest club team of all time we witnessed over the years.. Birr are completely written off for Sunday, a prospect which I would usually see go in Birr's favour, yet somehow i cannot see Birr beating this Ballyhale team. B Whelehan is struggling to play with a boken hand, he'll start alright which is testament to his committment and will to succeed which has epitomised this great Birr team, however, unless he is at his best Birr will struggle against a very distin guished midfield partnership in cha and m fennelly. R Hannify against Shefflin has me excited, the best centre back in Leinster vs the best centre forward... admission price should be justified on this alone!

[Kevin]

Thanks for the review thoughts guys.

Too removed to add anything useful.

Good luck to Birr.

As some say:

No chance of success, certain embarrassment...when do we get started.

Hoping the Offaly spirit gives the tired legs spring enough to keep it close.

[Plain of the Herbs]

R Hannify against Shefflin has me excited

Less of the Podge and Rodge stuff there, g&w !


Excellent preview, LS, I don't expect to read a more detailed analysis before Sunday. Maith thú.

Something doesn't add up about the Shamrocks. It's this- If they've such a star studded outfit (and I don't doubt Henry's place as the best hurler in the country at the moment) why haven't they been winning their own domestic championship every year before now?

I've but one quibble with your analysis. Forecast for Sunday is bad. More wind and rain Scoring won't be high. I'd be amazed if we had a total score of more than 2-17 or thereabouts. Low scoring will suit Birr. Certainly 2-24 is out of the question. Last week on another thread on this forum I had a guess at 1-8 to 0-9. I'm sticking with that.

[The Magpie]

Have to agree with POTH regarding the scoring...can it really be that high as we get deeper into the winter?

Excellent Preview.

[Lone Shark]

Granted I wasn't factoring excessively wintry conditions, but working off the basis of cold air and wet ground, I could still see a lot of scoring here - or to put it another way, I'd be amazed if Ballyhale didn't score much in the conditions, it didn't appear to have too much of an effect on them in the Kilkenny final.

Obviously things will change if it's bucketing from the heavens on the day itself, but on a relatively large pitch I'd be surprised if Birr can keep Ballyhale to under fifteen scores, I'd say twenty highly possibly. As to whether Birr can match that, well obviously I hope so, but still....

[Plain of the Herbs]

it didn't appear to have too much of an effect on them in the Kilkenny final.

Played in ideal conditions.

[ballymanabroad]

The reason they weren't winning the Kilkenny championship was James Stephens from the village in Kilkenny city. JS won the All Ireland club title (2?) years ago so there is no doubting their class.

[naasmanxrhode]

Birr and Rhode to double up for Offaly, woul'nt that be great. Best of luck to Birr on Sunday, we'll be there.

[Skippy]

Well sad as it is to say it, i think Loneshark can say "I told you so!". To my mind, Birr were competitive but wasteful up to half time, and then the wheels fell off the wagon after that. They hit far to many wides when they had the wind on their backs. Simon Whelahan looked seriously of the pace to me. In the second half Ballyhales youth and fitness, aided by a strong wind took over. Ballyhale to win the All-Ireland i think.

[borderfox]

unfortuantly didnt get to see the match but from what i heard skippy is right... i heard simon whelehen was totally unfit,he has been all year.
i cant comment further untill i see the game ne1 know when the match is reshown on tg4?

[Rynaghs Biffo]

Highlights on TG4 at 8:30 tonight, doubt if they'll show much of it.

[Johnno]

a game of two halves really, birr hit nine wides to ballyhale's one and they lived to regret it. If anything, half time was the worst thing that could have happened as birr were on top and got the last four to five scores of the half. Ballyhale statrted to play once 'cha' fitzpatrick got goin coz he never got a sniff in the first half. Some of their point taking was first class and i dont think they're goin to be stopped for the all-ireland.