Oulart served well by experience in the second period
LAST WEEKEND was G.A.A. from start to finish as I set off to Cork on Friday evening to meet up with my colleagues from 1996 for our 20-year reunion. The bond that develops from team sport is without equal, and from the minute we entered the hotel it felt like we had never been away. An added bonus for me was that it was remarked on more than once by the partners present that I had probably aged more favourably than many of the panel, with little or no change in my appearance over the two decades.
A quick dash to Kilkenny followed on Sunday morning to deliver my hockey-playing wife to her game destination, and then it was off to Wexford Park to oversee the county Senior hurling final from the press box.
It was an enjoyable day’s hurling despite the dour and low-scoring nature of the exchanges. Oulart struggled to contain the fierce challenge presented by the men in green over the first 30 minutes but their overall experience (and possibly greater belief) served them well after the re-start and was enough to secure a deserved 13th title.
As a Buffers Alley man I attempted to exit the ground discreetly and eventually saw the Clonard road after almost being choked by my great friend Anne Keane (or should I say Earle) in her efforts to put a black and red scarf around my neck.
I found sanctuary in Declan and Mary Roche’s Sycamore Inn and had the honour of meeting the Cloughbawn mascot whom I had mistakenly assumed had been assassinated at the county final of 1987. All I can say is the Cloughbawn following are second to none when it comes to colour and humour, and this allied to their splendid young hurlers brought a breath of fresh air.
Back to the game and P.J. Dempsey’s men were causing plenty of problems in the first-half. The exchanges were very tight and the usual fluidity of the Oulart movement was noticeably absent.
The workrate of the Cloughbawn defence was extraordinary with M.J. and Mossy Furlong smothering the Garrett Sinnott-Dessie Mythen threat almost completely. Colm Kehoe was hurling a storm and further up the field Connal Flood, Harry Kehoe and Bob Whitty were causing problems.
Oulart for their part were struggling, with only Nicky Kirwan proving a consistent threat. When Justin Heffernan, who had an excellent game, tooted his half-time whistle there was a hushed atmosphere amongst the large crowd, with many beginning to believe that the pre-ordained script predicted by many was about to be torn up. Nicky Kirwan’s absence for the start of the second-half further hit Flannery’s men who now faced into a stiffish breeze one point down.
When your back is to the wall leaders are vital, and Keith Rossiter, Eoin Moore and the influential Shaun Murphy in the more familiar number six role all stepped up to the plate. Garrett Sinnott when moved outfield started to win a lot of possession, and David Redmond was beginning to motor around the middle.
The influence of the aforementioned Colm Kehoe was depreciating slightly as Oulart were more conscious of finding ways other than through the centre, and suddenly the momentum was very much in the red and black men’s favour.
They turned the final quarter into a procession of scores and by the time Martin Kehoe had rattled Conor O’Leary’s net, they had the cushion of a six-point lead.
Sometimes the best is left to last and I mention young Anthony Roche on the corner as a player who was outstanding all through this side’s good and bad periods. Worth a look Davy?
On the eve of the last day of championship 2016 it can be best summed up as the same order restored, but there is no doubt that the gap is closing and this can only be good for club hurling moving forward.
Every club is now back in the mix (including Oylegate and congratulations to them), so a lot of what happens is down to who wants it most. Because in sport, nothing lasts forever.