Birchall’s minors get campaign off to winning start

WICKOW ROSCOMMON 4-8 2-5

JIMMY BIRCHALL’S Wicklow Minor hurlers got off to a winning start in their All-Ireland Minor B hurling championship campaign when they toppled Roscommon in Tullamore this week in 2000.

The game was part of a double header with the Wicklow Seniors facing the same opposition in the later game where a one-point defeat was recorded.

Pat Byrne of the Rocks cancelled out an early Roscommon point before a Leighton Glynn point and a goal from Carnew’s Jody Byrne after good work by Thomas ‘Tucker’ Keogh and Eugene Jordan sent Wicklow into a very healthy lead.

Wicklow’s second goal was set up by John Sinnott and finished by Paul Murphy of St. Pat’s and it sent Birchall’s side into the dressing rooms with a half-time lead of 2-3 to 0-3.

Roscommon were all but buried in the opening stages of the second half. Leighton Glynn landed a long-range free in the square and Carnew’s Ted Kennedy doubled on it for a spectacular goal. Points from Glynn and Jody Byrne stretched the lead even further.

Roscommon struck back with a goal but the writing was on the wall when Avondale’s Roy Byrne lashed home a long-range goal on the stroke of the hour.

‘From goalie Keith Barnes to corner-forward Jody Byrne, everyone on this team played their part,’ wrote Peter Keogh in that week’s Wicklow People. ‘Corner-back and number four Pat Hennessy was most people’s man of the match but not much in front of Willie Collins, while Eoin O’Neill made up a very sound full-back line.

‘’Tucker’ Keogh, Padraic Farrell and Nick Skelton made up a good half-backline. Leighton Glynn and Anthony furlong were on top in midfield, but after picking up a second injury the unlucky Furlong was replaced by Roy Byrne.

‘Paul Murphy was a strong and busting leader of the attack with two fast wingers in Eugene Jordan and Pat Byrne.

‘Ted Kennedy used his height and strength well at full-forward; Jody Byrne proved himself a good finisher while John Sinnott worked hard in the other corner and set up a number of scores.

‘A word of warning however,’ added Peter, ‘Roscommon were not great and without any doubt the winners of the Carlow/Kildare/ Meath group will be a different kettle of fish,’ he said.

Wicklow would go on to face Meath in the All-Ireland Minor B hurling championship semi-final but would fall to the Royals by 2-15 to 3-9 in a tight and hard-hitting encounter.

Wicklow: Keith Barnes (ARP); Eoin O’Neill (Stratford), Willie Collins and Pat Hennessy (Carnew Emmets); Thomas Keogh (St. Pat’s), Padraic Farrell (Kiltegan), Nick Skelton (Carnew Emmets); Leighton Glynn (Glenealy) (0-5), Anthony Furlong (Kiltegan); Pat Byrne (ARP) (0-1), Paul Murphy (St. Patrick’s) (1-0), Eugene Jordan (Carnew Emmets) (0-1); John Sinnott, Ted Kennedy (1-0), Jody Byrne (1-1) (all Carnew). Subs: Roy Byrne (1-0) (Avondale) for Furlong (inj), TJ Byrne (ARP) for Keogh, Fergal Marah for Kennedy, Stephen Barnes for P Byrne.