As Shinrone and St Brendan’s get ready to take on each other in tomorrows Molloy Environmental U21 Hurling Final in Coolderry at 4pm, here’s a look back at their only previous final meeting, the final of 1991
12TH April 1992 at Rath
St Brendan’s 3-12 St Mary’s 1-8
The combination of Offaly reaching the intercounty U21 All-Ireland, and Birr’s run in the All-Ireland club championship, meant the 1991 Final was delayed until April of the following year. Taking place a fortnight after Birr had been defeated by Kiltormer in the Club All-Ireland Final, St Brendan’s had rebuilt momentum with a 1-7 to 0-6 semi-final win over Coolderry the Sunday before.
A gale force wind blew down from the mountains and the Birr Parish side used those elements to early advantage. Oisín O’Neill opened their account with a pointed ’65 before Alan Hennessy added a goal with just two minutes elapsed. O’Neill’s accuracy was a feature of the first half, at the end of which St Brendan’s, who featured eleven Birr Senior panellists, led 1-10 to 0-1.
The Shinrone/Ballyskenagh union could manage just 0-4 during the third quarter, of which just one point came from play. Noel Hogan and Alan Hennessy both goaled during the last ten minutes, before Dónal Golden’s late goal and the late points added by Declan Maher and Colm Bourke were mere consolation.
St Brendan’s: Robbie Shiels; Brian Guilfoyle, Neil Tierney, John Kirwan; Conor Hanniffy, Johnny Pilkington, John Carroll; Conor McGlone, Frankie Pilkington; Oisín O’Neill (0-7); Noel Hogan (capt, 1-2), Brian Hogan (0-1); Arnold Rosney (0-1) Brian Whelahan (0-1), Alan Hennessy (2-0).
St Mary’s: Damien Franks; Keith Russell, Flannan Cleary, Dónal Franks; Eugene Ryan, John Maher, Denis Doughan; Liam O’Toole, John Dooley; Colm Bourke (0-7), Dónal Golden (1-0), Declan Maher (0-1); Tomás O’Toole, Liam Clear, Padraig McLoughlin.
Referee: Dan Lawless (Kilcormac-Killoughey)
By Offaly PRO Fri 16th Sep
