Championship intensity returned to the fore in Tullamore last night.
The Offaly Senior Hurling Championship got underway last night.
Ballinamere and Birr played out an entertaining draw in Tullamore.
Brian Duignan and Mike O'Brien netted a quickfire double for Ballinamere to give them apparent control of the game.
However late error in their backline gifted Birr and Ailbe Watkins a reprieve that they took full advantage of to close the gap at the break to just one point.
The second half was an end to end, scrappy affair, with no more than two points between the sides at any one stage.
The final score in O'Connor Park was Ballinamere 2-17 Birr 1-20.
Birr's manager Gary Cahill tells Midlands 103's David Hollywood it was a good contest and his side produced a mixed-bag:
Niall Rigney says his Ballinamere players aren't delighted with how they played:
Our coverage of the Offaly Senior Hurling Championship is with thanks to Leahy Midlands Auctioneers.
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