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.
If you're thinking of buying or selling a property in Laois, Offaly or Westmeath, John Leahy auctioneers are the experts - leahyauctioneers.ie
Full Interview: Portarlington Footballer Ronan Coffey
Full Interview: The Down's Manager Dermot Power
St Brigid's And St Joseph's Aiming To Reach Leinster Semi-Finals
Ballinagar And Milltown To Meet In Leinster Intermediate Quarter-Final
Ronan Coffey Praises Portarlington’s Young Guns Ahead Of Leinster Quarter-Final
Mauricio Pochettino Set To Be Appointed Manchester United Manager
Darragh Murray Named In Irish Squad For Fiji Clash
Portlaoise Panthers Aiming To Bounce Back In Division One
Portarlington On The Road In Leinster
The Down's Building Towards Leinster Football Quarter-Final
Laois Provisional League Fixtures Revealed
The Harps Manager Praises His Sides Efforts In Leinster
Buccaneers Claim Back To Back AIL Wins
Kilcormac Killoughey Captain Full Of Praise For Goalkeeper
Lough Lene Gaels Suffer Late Heartbreak In Leinster Quarter-Final
Crookedwood Win Leinster Junior Camogie Title
Conor Slevin Wins Dramatic Leinster Quarter-Final For Kilcormac Killoughey
Ireland Secure Comfortable Win Over Argentina
Kilcormac Killoughey Seal Win But Heartbreak For Lough Lene Gaels And The Harps