Martin’s retain title
Fifth win in six seasons in local derby
ST. MARTIN’S 1-19
FAYTHE HARRIERS 1-12
IT WAS a fifth title at this level in six seasons for St. Martin’s as they powered to glory in the Greenstar Under-20 hurling Premier championship final in Hollymount on Saturday.
On the back of a third quarter in which they outscored opponents Faythe Harriers by 1-6 to nil, the Piercestown-based club built much-needed separation and were able to manage the final quarter on their way to more silverware.
The first-half hadn’t given any indication of what was to come. It was nip and tuck throughout, and only a brave soul would have thrown a prediction out there with the Páirc Charman side leading by 1-8 to 0-10 after 30 competitive minutes.
It’s tough for young teams to keep that level going throughout the game, and a slightly more experienced St. Martin’s outfit were able to pounce when they upped the tempo just a fraction at the same time as the Harriers dipped, right at the start of the second period.
What most people would agree on, should they avoid each other in the draw, is that it’s highly likely that these clubs will come face to face in the final of this competition again in the coming years, given they also met in this season’s Wexford People Premier Minor final (nine started both games, seven of them Harriers players).
While this St. Martin’s side doesn’t have the flair of the team which won the Under-21 title in 2017, they aren’t lacking in grit. They had to knuckle down to take this against a spirited opponent, and their will was certainly tested.
A brace from Conor Kehoe and a Glen Murphy-Butler point had the Harriers 0-3 to nil up before Kyle Firman got the first of his 13 in response for St. Martin’s.
David Cantwell got his name on the scoresheet as his side drew level at the end of the opening quarter (0-4 each).
The teams traded points for a while. Jack Devereux and Firman scored for St. Martin’s, only for Murphy-Butler and Josh Shiel to counter.
It was 0-7 each after an excellent David Codd point was matched by Richie Lawlor.
Firman’s fifth white flag gave St. Martin’s the lead momentarily, but when Conor Kehoe got away on the right and flipped across the face of goal for Murphy-Butler to whip to the net, Faythe Harriers had a real foothold.
From there they went in up by one at the interval (1-8 to 0-10), but didn’t score until the clock clicked on to 45 after the resumption.
Meanwhile, St. Martin’s built a lead they were never really going to let slip, and it started with David Cantwell’s second minor.
Devereux pointed and Kyle Firman scored three more before the latter’s shot was superbly saved by James Henebery, only for Zac Firman to pull home the rebound. When Kyle Firman added his eleventh point, St. Martin’s led by 1-16 to 1-8.
Points by Conall Clancy and Henebery halted the slide, but any hopes of changing the momentum ended when two brawls broke up play for five minutes and ended with just four players, two from each side, being shown a yellow card.
The game went through the motions with the fizz gone in the last few moments. Firman got a couple more, the first after a tireless effort by Conor Devereux to block Henebery.
Jack Devereux flighted his side’s final score in additional time as St. Martin’s took the crown by seven.
St. Martin’s: Callum Quirke; Shane Walsh, Philip Dempsey (capt.), Eoin O’Leary; David Codd (0-1), Michael Codd, Adam Cantwell; Ben Maddock, Ben Stafford; Conor Kelly, Jack Devereux (0-3), Conor Devereux; Zac Firman (1-0), Kyle Firman (0-13, 8 frees), David Cantwell (0-2). Subs. - Sam Audsley for A. Cantwell, inj. (24), Luke Kavanagh for Z. Firman (59), also Rory Walsh, Ben Morris, Joe Barrett, Oisín Waters, Conor Stafford, James Mernagh, Brandon Dodd, Liam Ó Lionáin, Jamie Berry, Jordan Hayes, David O’Boyle, Conor Keane, Cillian Corkery.
Faythe Harriers: James Henebery (0-2 frees); Seán Byrne, Cathal Kirwan, Liam Cassin; Kyle Scallan, Conall Ó Crualaoich, Emmett Nolan; Eoin Kavanagh, David Gouldson; Josh Shiel (0-1), Richie Lawlor (0-1), Conor Kehoe (0-2); Ben Hynes, Conall Clancy (0-1), Glen Murphy-Butler (1-5, 0-5 frees). Subs. - Ryan Furlong for Hynes (36), Jack O’Leary for Lawlor, inj. (59), also Mark Henebery, Josh Walsh, Dáire Reville, Cillian Gahan, Chris Glover, Cillian Boggan, Jake Clancy, Billy Hillis, Seán Banville (capt.).
Referee: Joe Kelly (Naomh Eanna).