BIRR WAITING ON WHELAHAN.

Byline: By PAT NOLAN 

BRIAN WHELAHAN will be given every chance to play in this Sunday's Leinster club hurling final for Birr against Ballyhale Shamrocks.

The 37-year-old star missed the semi-final win over St Martin's having limped out of the previous encounter against Ballyboden St Enda's with a knee injury.

"He's touch and go at the minute," said Birr secretary Eamon O'Meara yesterday. "We're always hopeful but his chances are slim.

"He has made a good bit of progress over the last fortnight but whether that's enough to play on Sunday is another thing."

Whelahan holds a record seven Leinster club medals and the St Martin's game was the first he had ever missed at Leinster or All-Ireland club level since Birr returned to provincial fare after a 20-year absence in 1991.

His father and team manager Pat Joe Whelahan has no other injury worries ahead of the game as Birr bid to replicate their 1-13 to 1-10 win over the then All-Ireland champions in last year's semi-final at Nowlan Park in Kilkenny.

Ballyhale were missing star players Henry Shefflin and James 'Cha' Fitzpatrick for that defeat but have a clean bill of health this time around and are expected to name the same 15 that easily accounted for Westmeath outfit Raharney in the semi-final.

CAPTION(S):

DOUBT Brian Whelahan