Given Offaly hurling's love of underdog status, the county champions Birr must have hardly been able to believe their luck. A clutch of classy hurlers and two All-Irelands under the belt already, the club found itself being doubted against Galway rookies Clarinbridge.

To say that Birr manager Pad Joe Whelahan was crowing after the club's third All-Ireland might be to exaggerate but he certainly seemed to feel vindicated.

"They were talking about the young legs, fast hurlers. It's all about the secret training we do down in Offaly. We were a fit team today, we'd done a lot of homework and the team was picked accordingly. Putting Johnny Pilkington in full forward and getting the goal - that sealed it."

Nor did he admit to any doubts about the outcome. "We were always going to win. Once we held them in the first half, I knew we were going to win."

In the corridors outside the dressingrooms in Semple Stadium there was a moment of synchronicity. Man of the Match Brian Whelahan and Clarinbridge manager John McIntyre were giving separate interviews. No sooner had McIntyre made the point that "the early goal rocked us back on our heels," than Whelahan, a couple of metres away, echoed, "when we got the first goal it really set us up".

That Declan Pilkington goal after 30 seconds set the tone for an afternoon during which Birr seldom felt threatened. The memorable victory was achieved with captain Simon Whelahan carrying a stubborn knee injury.

"I was struggling big time," he said, "and I think I lost two or three yards of my pace. I was basically on the field to take the frees. It's the first time I ever captained any winning team. I didn't win any under-age medals and any time I captain a team, they usually lose." For McIntyre whose team did lose, the next challenge isn't far away. "It's gone, it's past history and life moves on. We've to try and pick up these fellas to retain the Galway title. It's the last thing on their minds at the moment but ultimately Clarinbridge's fortunes over the next couple of seasons will be defined by their reaction to this defeat. "