Late Seir Kieran rally sees them advance to semi-final

When Cathal Kirwan put Birr three points ahead, 1-18 to 1-15 in the 48th minute, it looked as though he had secured his side a place in the Offaly Intermediate Hurling Championship semi-final. However Seir Kieran, playing against a strong wind, turned the game on its head in the remaining 2 minutes plus 3 minutes of additional time, as they outscored their great rivals 1-4 to 0-0, to book their place in the semi-final.

Molloy Environmental Systems Intermediate Hurling Championship Quarter-Final

Seir Kieran 2-19

Birr 1-18

There was a sizeable crowd in Coolderry on Friday evening and they were treated to a highly entertaining game by two committed sides. The first quarter was evenly contested after which Seir Kieran led 0-4 to 0-3, with Joe Bergin accounting for three of the Clareen men’s scores. The first major of the game came in the 15th minute when Declan Purcell rifled an unstoppable shot past Aaron Whelahan in the Birr goal. Seir Kieran piled on the pressure at this stage and in the next ten minutes added five points to their total, courtesy of Joe Bergin (3) and Tom Carroll (2), while Birr responded with points from McNamara, Pilkington and Kirwan to leave it 1-9 to 0-6.

Birr were thrown a lifeline in the 26th minute when Kevin Pardy kicked the Sliotar to the Seir Kieran net after Darragh McNamara’s initial effort was well saved by Matthew Connors. Dermot Mooney and Joe Bergin (f) finished the first half scoring to leave it 1-11 to 1-6, in Seir Kieran’s favour, as the teams headed for the dressing rooms.

On the resumption, with the wind in their favour, Birr came out all guns blazing and two Brian Watkins points and one each from Craig Shortt and Cathal Kirwan (f), had the margin down to the minimum after just six minutes. Joe Bergin (f) steadied the ship for Seir Kieran, before points from Fennessey and a Kirwan free had the side’s level for the first time since the 12th minute at 1-12 each.

Scores were then swapped at regular intervals and the sides were again deadlocked at 1-15 each, with just 11 minutes left on the clock. Three unanswered Birr points followed from Cathal Kirwan (2) and Craig Shortt to leave Birr 1-18 to 1-15 in front with just two minutes of normal time left to play. When the usually accurate Bergin was wide from a free, it looked as though last year’s beaten finalist were going to progress. However, Seir Kieran dug deep. Bergin pointed two frees and in the 1st minute of additional time the same player, levelled proceedings from play. As both teams went in search of the winner James Scully popped one over for Seir Kieran and then in the 63rd minute a Joe Bergin flighted free from his own half, was connected to by Aidan Scully past Whelahan in the Birr goal, and Seir Kieran were on their way to a semi-final.

Seir Kieran were best served by Donal Coughlan, Sean Coughlan and Christopher Connors in defence, Dermot Mooney in mid-field, while up front the experience Joe Bergin brought to the game was crucial, especially in the closing minutes, he was ably assisted by Tom Carroll and Stephen Hynes.

For Birr, in defence Adriano Szoma, Sam Smith and Brian Watkins, who had a titanic battle with Joe Bergin, were best. Craig Shortt played well in mid-field, while up front Cathal Kirwan, Darragh McNamara and Eoin Pilkington, until going off injured were best.

THE SCORERS

Seir Kieran: Joe Bergin 0-12 (0-8f), Declan Purcell 1-0, Aidan Scully 1-0, Dermot Mooney 0-2, Tom Carroll 0-2 Sean Coughlan 0-1, Joe Gilligan 0-1, James Scully 0-1,

Birr: Cathal Kirwan 0-8 (0-6f), Kevin Pardy 1-0, Brian Watkins 0-2, Craig Shortt 0-2, Darragh McNamara 0-2, Eoin Pilkington 0-1, Sam Smith 0-1, Gavin Guilfoyle 0-1, Cillian Fennessey 0-1.

THE TEAMS

Seir Kieran: Matthew Connors, Conor Walsh, Donal Coughlan (Capt), Packie Mulrooney, Sean Coughlan, Christopher Connors, Kevin Murray, Brian Dunne, Dermot Mooney, Kyle Dooner, Joe Bergin, Stephen Hynes, Joe Gilligan, Tom Carroll, Declan Purcell Subs: James Scully for Packie Mulrooney, Aidan Scully for Purcell, Colm Coughlan for Kevin Murray

Birr: Aaron Whelahan, Adriano Szoma, Sam Smith, Sean Turley, Gavin Guilfoyle, Brian Watkins, Craig Pardy, Cian Ryan, Craig Shortt, Cathal Kirwan, Eoin Pilkington (Capt), Cillian Fennessey, Darragh McNamara, Kevin Pardy, Paddy Mullins. Subs: Ricky Fitzsimons for Mullins, Tom Bolger for Kevin Pardy, Charlie Loughnane for Eoin Pilkington (inj)

Ref: David McLoughlin (Shinrone)