Martin’s to prevail
Amazing Anne’s run to be thwarted
ST. MARTIN’S have been in this position before, warm favourites to capture the Pettitt’s Senior hurling championship title, but they only need to look back twelve months to be reminded that the best-laid plans are often torn to shreds on the big occasion.
Naomh Eanna upset the formbook last year, and it’s safe to say that a victory for St. Anne’s in next Sunday’s showdown (3 p.m.) would come as an even bigger shock to the system.
Regardless of what happens in this intriguing first-ever meeting of the Wexford District neighbours on the domestic calendar’s biggest day, the achievement of the Rathangan men in even being there in the first place is truly remarkable.
And if that has been the main storyline since the semi-finals on Saturday week, surely it should be looked upon as a plus for St. Martin’s that most of the comment has been focused on their opponents.
If anything, they ought to take it as a compliment, because it’s almost accepted at this stage that it’s not big news for the men in maroon to reach a final.
After all, this is their third on the trot, so there would be even more to talk about if they weren’t there in the first place.
And while securing their third crown after the breakthrough in 1999 two years ago put them on a pedestal, they will be looking to regain that position after a final defeat last season that many didn’t anticipate.
The journey that both teams have been on is summed up by the fact that St. Anne’s were also crowned in 2017, but it was in the Intermediate grade when they pipped Crossabeg-Ballymurn to make an immediate return to the top flight.
And it’s amazing to see them in this Senior decider after a very average group campaign that saw them lose their first two games and their last one, and only garner three precious points in between via a draw with Faythe Harriers and a win over Fethard.
They just made it into the knockout stages by the skin of their teeth, but something has happened in recent weeks to really transform the Anne’s.
Perhaps the hurt of losing their Senior football status has been one key motivating factor in driving them on in the other code, because they are proud men down Rathangan way and that would have come as a bitter blow.
The one thing in their favour is their ability to make the most of sometimes limited playing resources, and they have made it this far by using a mere 21 players, including two who weren’t listed on their paltry semi-final squad of 19 in Finn O’Driscoll and Cian McGovern.
In contrast, St. Martin’s tend to bring on all five substitutes in their games and still have capable players left idle on the sideline.
Their superior strength in depth cannot be questioned, and it will have to be deployed to the full if Rory O’Connor isn’t successful in having his suspension lifted.
With the dependable Paudie Kelly set to miss out once again through injury, it undoubtedly reduces the options for Charlie Carter, Tomás Codd, John O’Connor and their fellow mentors.
It’s worth noting that the side wasn’t heavily reliant on Rory for scores en route to the final, although it must be added too that a player of his calibre often saves his best for the biggest days.
One obvious area for St. Anne’s to address will be to focus heavily on their discipline, because big Joe Coleman is lethal from frees for their rivals and will punish every indiscretion.
After giving Liam Ryan plenty to occupy him in the semi-final, veteran Redmond Barry will be planning on doing the same to Joe O’Connor who did very well on Paul Morris earlier that same afternoon.
That will be one of the most interesting battles, while St. Martin’s will have to work hard on curbing the dynamism around midfield of Aidan Rochford who was in superb form against the Rapps.
As for Diarmuid O’Keeffe, for workrate alone his contribution to his team’s march to a first decider since the 2014 loss to Shelmaliers after a replay has been immense.
He was all over the field in their last two outings after missing the first two group games in April owing to injury, covering in defence and also driving forward at the other end and grabbing some vital scores from frees and play.
They will require his county colleague, Liam Óg McGovern, to be just as influential on this occasion to spring what would be the biggest surprise of all, while the Furlongs and Fogartys, along with captain Liam Rochford, need to lay down markers in their sectors of the field.
In an unusual occurrence, a Westmeath man will feature in both Wexford Senior finals this year, with Anne’s centre-back Aaron Craig set to follow in the footsteps of Shane Flynn, the ex-St. Loman’s man who assisted Gusserane in the football decider.
His likely battle with Jack O’Connor will be the toughest the one-time St. Oliver Plunkett’s (Mullingar) player will have faced yet, and he will need plenty of assistance from those on his flanks, most likely Kevin Whelan and Mikey Fogarty.
The unsung area of the field for St. Anne’s is their back four of netminder Paul Brennan and the trio in front of him, Páraic O’Keeffe, Tomás Cullen and Kenny Cloney.
They could have their work cut out to deal with Ciarán Lyng and Mikey Coleman, while it will be interesting to see who St. Martin’s will replace Rory O’Connor with if they are forced down this route.
Darren Codd is probably the front-runner after his goalscoring cameo in the semi-final, and his presence would ensure no loss of potency in a forward line where Jake Firman also stepped up to claim a fine goal versus Ferns.
Aaron Maddock and Harry O’Connor will need to hit top form to deal with Diarmuid O’Keeffe and Aidan Rochford, while captain Willie Devereux will be hoping to get on as much ball as he handled on Saturday week.
The aerial influence of Daithí Waters and Patrick O’Connor will be vital in a sector where St. Anne’s will target the ball-winning capabilities of Mark Furlong and Jonathan Fogarty.
And with county player Conor Firman and the always steady Mark Maloney partnering Joe O’Connor in the full-back line in front of netminder Luke White, St. Martin’s look to have a solid defensive set-up on the whole.
Finals can take on a life of their own, and often something unexpected will completely alter the course of the game.
However, on all known form, St. Martin’s must be rated as strong favourites, but expect St. Anne’s to battle to the bitter end because it’s a quality that’s ingrained in their psyche.