Ballyhale Shamrocks boss Maurice Alyward expressed satisfaction at his side's victory over Birr in the Leinster club hurling final. The Kilkenny champions eased into a 2-8 to 0-4 half-time lead, but were left hanging on somewhat at the finish after Birr staged a second half comeback. Alyward said: "We always knew Birr would come back at us. "They are proud and very experienced. They were not going to come here and lose by 10 or 12 points. We won a Leinster final by five points. Anyone would be happy with that." Alyward vented his frustration at the final being played so late in the year, adding: "Of course a win three weeks before Christmas is nice, but this is the type of game that should be played in May or June. "You could imagine if you played during the summer, if you got the Shamrocks and Birrs and the Portumnas and Toomevaras, you'd get crowds flocking to it if was sold right." Tweet

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