The 2000 Offaly SHC final will finally take place at St. Brendanís Park on Sunday, March 4 next with reigning champions Birr meeting their great rivals of recent years, Seir Kieran. These two teams have dominated the SHC since 1994, garnering three titles each. Birr will be seeking their 15th Sean Robbins Cup success while the Clareen men are chasing their fifth. Seir Kieran go into the final unbeaten, having drawn with Kilcormac/Killoughey, St. Rynagh's and Birr, and defeated Lusmagh, Ballyshenach and Kilcormac/Killoughey (semi-final). Birr's campign didn't commence until September - they were earlier embroiled in boardroom battles which saw them dismissed and then reinstated to the championship. They drew with Seir Kieran, defeated Ballyskenach, lost to Lusmagh and defeated St. Rynagh's and Kilcormac/Killoughey to qualify for a semi-final place, where they overwhelmed St. Rynaghís by 11 points. Both teams report clean bills of health and should line out as follows:- Birr: Brian Mullins; Gary Cahill, Joe Erritty, Donal Franks; JP O'Meara, Brian Whelahan, Niall Claffey; Johnny Pilkington Barry Whelahan; Liam Power, Conor McGlone, Declan Pilkington; Rory Hanniffy, Gary Hanniffy, Simon Whelahan. Seir Kieran: Liam Coughlan; Paul Scully, Kevin Kinahan, Paddy Connors; Damien Murphy, Kieran Dooley, Joe Guinan; Joe Dooley, Finbar O'Neill; Billy Dooley, Mick Coughlan, Johnny Dooley; Damien Coffey, Seamus Dooley, MJ Corrigan. Tweet

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