OFFALY SHC: Tullamore 1-17 Birr 2-12:TULLAMORE recorded a stunning upset when they shocked the reigning champions, Birr, in an enthralling Offaly senior hurling championship semi-final on Saturday evening.
Birr, 1 to 50 on in the bookies and going for their 10th championship in 11 years, were red-hot favourites and they couldn’t believe their eyes as events unfolded.
Playing against a strong wind in the first half, Tullamore really carried the game to their famous opponents.
Attacking purposefully at every opportunity, their intensity clearly caught Birr by surprise and they were full value for their 0-11 to 1-4 interval lead.
Shane Dooley was in scintillating form for Tullamore and with Francis Kerrigan weighing in with three fine points beside him, they scored freely after Darragh Molloy got an early Birr goal.
Apart from that, only Simon Whelahan posed a real threat, scoring three points and one would imagine that the Birr manager, Pat Joe Whelahan, had some choice words to say at the half-time break.
An Edwin Finnerty goal 11 minutes into the second half gave Tullamore a 1-14 to 1-8 lead and provided the wake-up call Birr needed. A Stephen Brown goal levelled it up at 2-12 to 1-15 with just seven minutes left and it seemed Birr would get out of jail.
Tullamore, however, were reading from a different script and late points from Shane Dooley and Shaun Martin gave them a richly deserved win.
TULLAMORE:D Fox; A Martin, C Bane, S Egan; N Mannion, B Dagg, H Treacy; E Finnerty (1-0), J Duffy, G Treacy (0-1); S Dooley (0-11, eight frees), K Martin (0-1), F Kerrigan (0-3). Subs: S Martin (0-1) for H Treacy (49 mins), P Kelly for E Finnerty (58 mins).
BIRR:B Mullins; JP O'Meara, N Claffey, M Verney; B Harding (0-3, two frees), P Cleary, P Molloy; R Hanniffy, Barry Whelahan; D Hayden (0-1), S Whelahan (0-5, two frees), G Hanniffy (0-3); S Ryan, P O'Meara, D Molloy (1-0). Subs: S Browne (1-0) for S Ryan (35 mins), Brian Whelahan for P O'Meara (37 mins), B Lonergan for G Hanniffy (49 mins).
Referee:C Groome.
