Birr brothers Brian and Simon Whelahan are both injury doubts ahead of next Sunday's Leinster club hurling semi-final against Wexford champions St. Martin's. 'Millennium Man' Brian was forced to retire with a knee injury, while younger brother Simon received 15 stitches to a serious head wound after Saturday's surprisingly comfortable win over Ballyboden St. Enda's. Reflecting on the victory, Birr boss Padjoe Whelahan said: "We hurled well and took the game to them. "We put Gary Hanniffy at full forward, though he was picked at left half forward, and I think that took Ballyboden by surprise. We did our homework well, we trained hard, and we finished well against the breeze. We have a very young half back line, this is Bryan Lonergan's (left corner forward) first year, and we had Brian (Whelahan) in very good order." Coolderry native and Ballyboden manager Liam Hogan said: "Today, we got a hurling lesson from Birr. But we had tired bodies and tired minds out there after playing the (Dublin) championship games one week after the other." Tweet

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