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The standard reaction after games like this is to pick on the quality of the opposition, or to take the management line of how “they’ll really have to work on certain areas of their game” in order to get past the next round where much bigger challenges await. The truth is that this game was exactly what the scoreline suggests – a complete and utter mismatch between two sides that are on completely different levels. Lusmagh put in a steady campaign this year, topping group 3 and winning four championship matches. Birr are setting their sights on the county, the province and no doubt the All Ireland, and while you’d never like to make too many sweeping statements based on a game like this, it’s a very good team that’ll stop them at any level.

This was an efficient and clinical performance, where you still couldn’t say they were going for the throat as it were. On a couple of occasions, Birr could have gone for goals, but perhaps sensing that there’s nothing to be gained in enraging teams and players who will be crossing your path many times in the years to come, they merely took their points at all times, all nine midfielders and forwards who took part chipping in, along with corner back Neil Rogers for good measure.

To go into the game in detail is an exercise in futility, since with a quarter of an hour gone it was nine points to four, 0-16 to 0-5 at half time, and anything from then on was like a training exercise. Sid was withdrawn with a quarter of the game left due to a blood injury, and was not brought back on since risking any wound for a game like this would have been pointless. There was a brief spurt between 36 and 41 minutes, where Lusmagh scored 1-4, the goal a great 20 metre finish from a hitherto very quiet Aidan Hanrahan after Adrian Lynch laid it off into his path. However Birr just answered that by quietly going back into third gear from second, and chipped over the next six points in sequence.

They will face much greater challenges than this in the future, but they can still only beat what’s put in front of them – and on Saturday they did that with aplomb.

For the record, it’s hard to see the county team not being backboned by Birr players again next year. From the back, Paul Cleary, Barry Whelahan, and Stephen Brown were all on top form, and looked like county players and more. The Hanniffys, Niall Claffey, John Paul O’Meara, and Paul Molloy were all quietly efficient and certainly wouldn’t have done their causes any harm, while only Breeder really let himself down. He couldn’t have done anything about the goal, but he looked very dodgy on a couple of occasions, and could have cost his team other scores. This could be lack of concentration, but it certainly would not be good enough at county level. However he’ll have bigger tests in the future. When you factor in the imminent return of Dylan Hayden, we could be back to the days of seven or eight Birr starters very easily next year.


Teams:

Birr: Brian Mullins; Neil Rogers (0-1), Paul Cleary, JP O’Meara; Sid Whelahan (0-2, 0-1 free, 0-1 ‘65), Rory Hanniffy, Niall Claffey; Paul Molloy (0-2), Barry Whelahan (0-3); Stephen Brown (0-6), Gary Hanniffy (0-1), Declan Pilkington (0-2); Seán Ryan (0-1), Simon Whelahan (0-3, 0-2 frees), Michael Dwane (0-3).

Subs: Liam Power (0-2) for Declan Pilkington, Michael Verney for Sid Whelahan (inj.).


Lusmagh: Eoin Kelly; Brian Bermingham, Adrian Kelly, David Moran; Kevin Bermingham, Pat Temple (0-1), Ger Gardiner; Brendan Temple, John Kelly (0-1); Paul Hogan (0-1), Austin Lynch (0-1), John Troy (0-5, 0-4 frees); Aidan Hanrahan (1-1), Adrian Lynch (0-1), Brian Troy.

Subs: Fintan Kelly for Brendan Temple, Shane Kinsella for Brian Troy, Brian Larkin for John Kelly, Tom Dooley for Kevin Bermingham, Gary Kelly for Pat Temple.


Referee: Tony Carroll

Nothin much to add to the above, only to say that Birr will give Leinster a good crack again this winter, with a possible all-ireland semi final against the Connacht champions in February.

Lusmagh have a long way to come, and it was a huge step-up in class of opposition coming from the weak group. Having finished in third place in the strong group for the last 4 years or so, this was the year not to be in the weak group with the group-toppers in the quarters this year.

Backs hurled well under constant pressure, but forwards were beaten for strength (despite getting plenty of supply) and were unable to hold up the ball, with it going staight back down the field again. Hanrahan should have been utilised on the HF line where he could contest the ball, and even when marked by John Paul o'Meara, his ability in the air wasn't used.

Mullins looked alright to me!

I was very impressed with several of the Lusmagh backs actually. Gardiner did well with the ball, though Brown scoring so much reflects badly on him. Temple played like the warrior he is is, and David Moran was very good in the left corner. He was taking on the least natural hurler in the Birr line up in Seán Ryan, but he still looked very good I thought.

Hanrahan should have been moved out, no question. Fintan Kelly was trying to block the flow of ball back down, but none of the others were getting any timber on ball at all.

There were a couple of Mullins incidents that worried me - he could easily have cost them a goal in the first half and it ended up being a point when he lost the ball out of his goals. I'd normally be able to be more specific, but I'm away from my notes now, so.....

Don't mean to by picky, but David Moran started and played full back throughout.
Backs lined out- Adrian Kelly, David Moran, Brian Birmingham; Temple, Gardiner, Kevin Birmingham.
The two Birmingham cousins switched on about the 25 minute mark.