Birr maintain 100% record with victory over Tullamore

BIRR 3-16

TULLAMORE 1-14

BIRR maintained their good start to the Offaly Senior Hurling Championship when they had eight points to spare over Tullamore in their second round encounter played in Banagher on Friday evening.

Despite conceding an early goal, Birr quickly regained the advantage and a good finish to the first half helped them to a five point lead at the break, 1-10 to 1-5.

A goal early in the second half put real daylight between the sides and Birr stretched further ahead as the half progressed before Tullamore finished with the last three points of the halfgame to leave eight between them at the final whistle.

Following their victory over Kinnitty in the opening round Birr now have one foot in the knock out stages ahead to the two tougher games in the group against St Rynagh's and Kilcormac/Killoughey. They will be pleased with the way they have started the campaign, particularly as they have been forced to line out without the injured Eoghan Cahill in the opening two rounds, and they will hope that the momentum they have built up from their opening two games will carry through in their remaining games.

In contrast Tullamore have lost their opening two games and with Kilcormac/Killoughey next up in two weeks time, it is likely to come down to their final game against Kinnitty to see who will end up in the relegation play off.

After rain during the day, underfoot conditions were slippy and conditions were difficult but both sides provided a good contest. Tullamore battled all the way but Birr were that bit sharper and had a more of a scoring threat with a greater spread of scorers than their opponents. Shane Dooley provided 10 of Tullamore's points, all from placed balls, and that is an indication of the problems they faced. Mike Fox with 1-2 was their only player to score more than once from play.

Birr carried on the good form they showed in their opening game against Kinnitty and moved the ball well. Two goals in the third quarter really put the game beyond the reach of Tullamore and overall Birr will be pleased with their all round display and the way they moved the ball around well.

Tullamore got the ideal start when in their first real attack corner forward Mike Fox hit the net in the third minute to give an early shock to Birr. They replied with a point from Emmet Nolan but Jack Dooley restored Tullamore's one goal lead.

Birr were settling more into the game and Lochlann Quinn lofted over a point from a sideline cut and then in the ninth minute from another sideline cut, his effort ended up in the Tullamore net, although Tullamore argued it had gone wide. That put Birr into the lead for the first time. The teams traded scores with Mike Fox and Shane Dooley on target for Tullamore with Emmet Nolan and Lochlann Quinn replying for Birr.

Points from Brendan Murphy and Morgan Watkins stretched the Birr lead to three points but two Shane Dooley frees brought the gap down to one again. However Birr finished the half the stronger and points from Brendan Murphy, Sean Ryan and two Lochlann Quinn frees helped them to a 1-10 to 1-5 half time lead.

Birr continued in that vein after the break with another free from Lochlann Quinn before Colm Mulrooney intercepted a Tullamore puck out and went on to find the Tullamore net and suddenly the gap was out to nine points.

Birr had hit 1-5 without reply either side of half time to take control of the contest and after a long spell without a score, Shane Dooley pointed three frees, with one in reply from Lochlann Quinn, to leave seven in it.

Birr then put the contest well and truly out of their reach. Luke Nolan added a point before Morgan Watkins picked out sub Niall Lyons and he fired home Birr's third goal. Colm Mulrooney added a free before Shane Dooley replied with two for Tullamore. A Colm Mulrooney point from play left Birr 11 points clear early in the final quarter.

James Houlihan pulled one back for Tullamore and Cormac Egan had a chance of a goal but Sean Thompson pulled off an excellent save. Colm Mulrooney pointed another for Birr but the final three scores fell to Tullamore with Shane Dooley adding two more to his tally and Mike Fox also hitting the target but Birr had eight points to spare at the final whistle.

Scorers

Birr: Lochlann Quinn (1-6, 1-1 sideline cuts, 0-5 frees), Colm Mulrooney (1-3, 0-1 free), Niall Lyons (1-0), Emmet Nolan, Brendan Murphy (0-2 each), Morgan Watkins, Sean Ryan, Luke Nolan (0-1 each).

Tullamore: Shane Dooley (0-10, 0-9 frees, 0-1 '65'), Mike Fox (1-2), Jack Dooley, James Houlihan (0-1 each).

Teams

BIRR: Sean Thompson; Eoin Hayes, Oisin Murphy, Campbell Boyd; Brian Watkins, Barry Harding, Rory Carty; Joe Ryan, Brendan Murphy; Luke Nolan, Emmet Nolan, Morgan Watkins; Colm Mulrooney, Lochlann Quinn, Sean Ryan. Subs: Niall Lyons (for Lochlann Quinn, 41 mins), Jimmy Irwin (for Campbell Boyd, 43 mins), Padraic Watkins (for Brian Watkins, 49 mins),

TULLAMORE: Paul Kelly; Kevin Waters, Niall Houlihan, Dylan Hensey; Brian Hogan, Cormac Martin, Niall Furlong; James Houlihan, Jack Dooley; Jack Daly, Diarmuid Egan, Shane Dooley; Dan Fox, Cormac Egan, Mike Fox. Subs: Cillian Martin (for Jack Daly, 33 mins), Aaron Leavy (for Diarmuid Egan, 40 mins), Colm Woodlock (for Cormac Egan, inj. 50 mins), Diarmuid Egan (for Jack Dooley, inj. 57 mins).

REFEREE: David McLoughlin (Shinrone).