Birr snatch dramatic injury time goal to send intermediate final to a replay

Molloy Environmental Systms Offaly Intermediate Hurling Final

DRUMCULLEN 0-16

BIRR 1-13

A DRAMATIC injury time goal from sub Cathal Kirwan rescued a draw for Birr in a closely fought Offaly Intermediate Hurling final played before a big crowd in Banagher on Sunday.

Drumcullen looked like they were on course to win the title for the first time in 15 years, and just second time in all, when they went three points up in the third minute of injury time but Birr had one last shot and when Darragh McNamara's high ball broke in a crowded goalmouth Cathal Kirwan pulled on the ball and found the net to level the game and send it to a replay.

It was tough luck on Drumcullen who led by five points on three occasions during the hour but credit must go to Birr, who never gave up and their battling efforts in the second half probably deserved a share of the spoils.

For much of the first half Drumcullen looked the stronger team. Their defence was on top and the Birr attack was struggling to make headway and they seemed to be able to create a little bit more space in attack themselves. They were five points up midway through the first half and were full measure for that and in a sense Birr were probably happy enough to be only three points down at the half time break.

When Birr cut that lead back to a single point early in the second half the momentum seemed to be switching their way but Drumcullen came back again with four unanswered points to lead by five again early in the final quarter. Birr got it back to a point again with four minutes left but couldn't get level and when Drumcullen went three clear again it looked like they had done enough until that last gasp equaliser rescued things for Birr.

Drumcullen will probably be wondering how they didn't win this game. They only trailed once, after the very first score of the game, and they led from the fourth minute until Birr levelled with that injury time goal. They certainly had the momentum in the first half and probably should have pressed home their advantage more as late points in the half got Birr back to within one score at half time.

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Birr certainly enjoyed more of the attacking opportunities in the second half but it looked like missed chances were going to cost them until that late equaliser. The biggest opportunity came with 10 minutes left when they were awarded a penalty but Killian Spain saved Cian Nolan's effort. Birr also hit the post and saw two balls go across the square with no one there to finish them off.

Drumcullen had their moments in the second half but only in patches and they never really threatened to raise a green flag. They worked very hard defensively to keep Birr out until those final seconds.

Birr also got a good response out of their substitutes. Ronan Bergin went to the edge of the square early in the second half and was a handful for the Drumcullen defence, winning the penalty and creating other chances. Cathal Kirwan hit three points from long range placed balls and was on hand to fire home the levelling goal in injury time.

Now the sides will have to go and do it all again. Both will seek to take positives out of this performance and carry that through to the replay but on this display it looks there is little to separate the sides and another close contest can be expected.

Barry O'Meara, Ciaran Guinan and John Cashin did a lot of good work in the Drumcullen defence while further upfield Stephen Hanrahan, Colm Gath and Eoin Gath all made good impressions.

For Birr Brian Watkins, Craig Pardy and Adriano Szoma put in a big effort, Ricky Fitzsimons had some good moments at midfield while in attack Cian Nolan and Darragh Tierney also did well.

Birr hit an early wide but did take the lead in the second minute when Cian Nolan pointed a free from the middle of the field. From the puck out Dylan Hollywood won the ball and passed to Joe McCarthy and he levelled. Colm Gath and Eoin Gath both pointed frees to push Drumcullen two up after seven minutes.

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Following the latter score Darragh Tierney made a great catch from the puck out, ran forward and slotted the ball over the bar. Eoin Gath and Colm Gath again found the target from frees before Cian Nolan pointed a '65' for Birr. Colm Gath availed of a poor Birr clearnace to pop over another point and Eoin Gath then hit two more, one from a free and the second a fine point from play from the left sideline to leave Drumcullen five ahead at the midway point of the half, 0-8 to 0-3.

Cian Nolan pointed a free from midfield and Patrick Lyons responded with a point for Drumcullen. Cian Nolan and Eoin Pilkington both found the target for Birr but they also dropped a couple of balls short into the goalmouth. Eoin Gath and Cian Nolan exchanged frees late in the half as Drumcullen headed for the dressing rooms with a three point advantage, 0-10 to 0-7.

Birr started the second half well. They had an early goal chance when Dylan Murphy sent a shot right across the face of the goals and there was no one there to get a touch. Cian Nolan did point two frees and the gap was down to a point after five minutes. Colm Gath steadied the ship for Drumcullen with their first point of the half but eight scoreless minutes followed after that. Birr went close again when Dylan Murphy doubled on a long high ball and it came back off the butt of the post.

Drumcullen hit three points in quick succession in the middle of the half from Eoin Gath (free), Padraig Guinan and Colm Gath and suddenly they were five points up again early in the final quarter. Ricky Fitzsimons pulled one back for Birr with a well taken point and then they got a great chance when awarded a penalty.

Cian Nolan's high ball into the goalmouth was won by Ronan Bergin and he was fouled. Cian Nolan stepped up to take it but his effort was straight at Killian Spain, who saved well and cleared. Despite that setback Birr kept pushing and Cathal Kirwan pointed two '65s' and a free to cut the gap to the minimum with four minutes left.

Colm Gath edged Drumcullen two clear again and when Eoin Gath pointed another from the left wing in injury time, they were three clear and it looked like the Michael Keary Cup was heading their way. But in one last throw of the dice, Darragh McNamara dropped a high ball into a packed goalmouth and from the melee Cathal Kirwan pulled the ball to the net to level it up. The referee allowed one one play from the puckout but when stalemate ensued in a midfield scrum, he blew the full time whistle and the game will go to a replay.

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MATCH ANALYSIS

THE TEAMS

DRUMCULLEN: Killian Spain; Donal Mahon, Barry O'Meara, Jack Ryan; Ciaran Guinan, John Cashin, Barry Kinsella; Stephen Hanrahan, Colm Gath; Ray Gath, Dermot Gath, Joe McCarthy; Patrick Lyons, Eoin Gath, Dylan Hollywood. Subs. Mark Kennedy Jnr (for Ray Gath, 34 mins), Padraig Guinan (for Joe McCarthy, 43 mins), Donal Guinan (for Dermot Gath, 60 mins), Kevin Fleury (for Dylan Hollywood, 62 mins), Conor Gath (for Patrick Lyons, 33 mins).

BIRR: Devon Beale; Ben Pardy, Brian Watkins, Adriano Szoma; Gavin Guilfoyle, Craig Pardy, Sam Smith; Ricky Fitzsimons, Craig Shortt; Darragh Tierney, Eoin Pilkington, Darragh McNamara; Dylan Murphy, Cian Nolan, Michael Dwane. Subs. Ronan Bergin (for Michael Dwane, 38 mins), Cathal Kirwan (for Gavin Guilfoyle, 43 mins).

REFEREE: Kyle Waters

MAN OF THE MATCH

In such a tight game scores from play were at a premium and the one player who scored most frequently from play was Drumcullen's Colm Gath who hit four of his six points from play. His colleague Eoin Gath, with two points from play, was the only other player to score more than once from play from either side over the hour. Colm Gath was centrally involved in a lot of Drumcullen's good play as well. John Cashin and Ciaran Guinan also deserve mention while on the Birr side Brian Watkins, Cian Nolan and Darragh Tierney did well and Cathal Kirwan made a significant contribution from the bench.

MOMENT OF THE MATCH

Cathal Kirwan's equalising goal in injury time was undoubtedly the most significant moment of the match as it rescued a draw for Birr and sent the final to a replay.

REFEREE WATCH

Kyle Waters was consistent and clear in his decision making throughout and overall did well. He let things go on both sides but nothing that would be considred of major significance. Both sets of supporters felt aggrieved at times but generally he got the decisions right and did a good job.

WHAT’S NEXT

The sides will have to do it all again in a replay to decide the destination of the Michael Keary Cup for 2025.

VENUE WATCH

After the rain over the previous few days, the Banagher pitch was in good condition for this final. With a very large crowd to witness this local derby, the St Rynagh's Club had plenty of stewards on duty both inside and outside the ground, looking after parking and directing traffic. There was a PA in operation and they hosted the game well.

STATISTICS

Wides; Drumcullen 6 (3 in first half) Birr 7 (3 in first half)

Yellow Cards: Drumcullen 1 (Jack Ryan) Birr 3 (Dylan Murphy, Darragh Tierney, Cathal Kirwan)

Black Cards: None

Red Cards: None

THE SCORERS

Drumcullen; Eoin Gath (0-7, 0-5 frees), Colm Gath (0-6, 0-2 frees), Joe McCarthy, Patrick Lyons, Padraig Guinan (0-1 each).

Birr; Cian Nolan (0-7, 0-5 frees, 0-1 '65'), Cathal Kirwan (1-3, 0-2 '65s'), Darragh Tierney, Eoin Pilkington, Ricky Fitzsimons (0-1 each).

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