Saints will be hard to beat
Martin’s march on to final
ST. MARTIN’S marched on to the Greenstar Under-20 hurling Division 1 championship final after a comprehensive 14-point win over Faythe Harriers in Páirc Charman on Wednesday.
After a competitive start to the game, the visitors showed all their class to run out easy winners.
Faythe Harriers made the brighter opening and it took them only six minutes to find the net when Conall Clancy raced through and buried his shot past Callum Quirke.
The Wexford town men were ahead by 1-3 to 0-4 after ten minutes but this was as good as it got for them, as St. Martin’s began to gain a foothold.
Excellent scores from Barry O’Connor and Michael Codd got them going, and when O’ Connor was fouled in the square, Kyle Firman stepped up to find the net and put St. Martin’s 1-8 to 1-3 ahead after 20 minutes.
Defences were on top for the remainder of the half, and when the interval whistle blew St. Martin’s were ahead by 1-9 to 1-3.
The second period began with St. Martin’s firmly on top. Conor Firman was starting most of their attacks from centre-back, and midway through the second-half they had extended their lead, thanks in the main to Kyle Firman who was accurate from placed balls and play.
If there was any doubt about the result it was put to bed with ten minutes remaining when Zac Firman caught a great ball, turned his marker and finished to the net to put St. Martin’s 2-16 to 1-5 ahead.
Two minutes later things got worse for Faythe Harriers when David Gouldson was sent-off after an off-the-ball incident.
The rest of the game petered out as St. Martin’s marched on to the final against Naomh Eanna, and on this showing it will take a very good performance from the Gorey lads to stop them in the Ferns Centre of Excellence tomorrow (Wednesday).
St. Martin’s: Callum Quirke; Cian Ryan, Philip Dempsey, Sam Audsley; Adam Cantwell, Conor Firman, Philip McDermott; Ben Maddock (0-1), Eoin O’Leary; Michael Codd (0-2), Barry O’Connor (0-3), Ben Stafford; Jack Devereux (0-2), Kyle Firman (1-9, 0-6 frees, 1-0 pen., 0-1 ‘65), Zac Firman (1-1). Subs. - Peter Barry for Codd (50), Conor Kelly for O’Leary (52), Paddy Gallagher for Maddock (57).
Faythe Harriers: James Henebery; Danny Walsh (0-1), Cathal Kirwan, Cillian Gahan; Seán Banville (0-1 free), Cormac Byrne, Conall O Crualaoich; Fiach O Crualaoich, Shane Hall; Conall Clancy (1-3), Jack O’Leary, Ryan Furlong; Conor Kehoe (0-1), David Gouldson (0-1), Chris Glover. Subs. - Emmett Nolan for Glover (HT), Paddy Glover for O’Leary (50), Jake Clancy for Hall (56), Cian O Finneadha for Furlong (59).
Referee: Dan Crosby (Kilmore).