Oisín has real Pep in his step
Enniscorthy boys take honours in all-Wexford decider
ST. MARY’S C.B.S. 4-9 GOREY C.S. 1-4
AN OISIN Pepper-inspired St. Mary’s C.B.S. (Enniscorthy) proved a little too good for Gorey Community School in the Top Oil South Leinster Junior hurling ‘B’ championship final in the Ferns Centre of Excellence on Thursday.
The north county school will feel they didn’t do themselves justice in this game, and in truth there wasn’t as big a gulf between the sides as the score suggests, but when someone as dynamic as Pepper is in top form, there’s very little room for error.
In a difficult crosswind it was tough for both sides to get into a rhythm. Enniscorthy were missing several starters because of transition year work placements and that didn’t help their flow, as Gorey had the better of it in the first quarter without getting the scores to match their effort.
Pepper scored the first three points for his side and it was enough for a two-point advantage at the end of the opening quarter.
Gorey had just a J.J. Twamley point on the scoresheet in the first 15 minutes, but things soon took a turn for the better.
Naomh Eanna’s Twamley was involved again, racing through and forcing Euan Pender into a sharp save. There was nothing the C.B.S. stopper could do about the rebound as Tom Wheatley arrived on cue to pull home.
Another Pepper point meant the game was level after 25 minutes, but the last few C.B.S. attacks in the opening half did huge damage to their opponents. Pepper scored a penalty after Darragh Furlong was fouled to start the run.
Fionn Walsh collected Corey Byrne-Dunbar’s long ball and pulled to the net, and the powerful Kian Murphy added another major right on half-time as his St. Mary’s side hit the interval 3-5 to 1-1 ahead.
The goal blitz sucked the life out of Gorey as, even though Seamie O’Hagan scored a couple of frees in the third quarter, a Brian Smith point and Pepper’s second goal eased Enniscorthy even further ahead.
Gorey kept battling away and whizzed a few shots wide, but Pepper and Darragh Kehoe finished the scoring for Enniscorthy as they set up a provincial decider against the North Leinster champions in the coming weeks.
St. Mary’s C.B.S.: Euan Pender; Bill Peare, James Doyle, Billy Redmond; Andrew Fitzhenry, Cameron Clake, Eugene Clarke; Corey Byrne-Dunbar, Darragh Kehoe (0-1); Kian Murphy (1-0), Oisín Pepper (capt., 2-7, 0-4 frees, 1-0 pen.), Tommy McVeigh; Darragh Furlong, Fionn Walsh (1-0), Brian Smith (0-1). Subs. (rolling) - James Murray, Adam Shiggins, Jonathan Furlong.
Gorey Community School: Michael Bolger; Lee Doyle, Rian Fitzpatrick, Darragh Fitzpatrick; Farrell Doyle, Tomás Whelan, Conor Jones; Jack Higgins, Cian Hughes; Seamie O’Hagan (0-2 frees), Scott Murphy, Luke Darley; J.J. Twamley (0-2, 1 free), Shane Flood, Thomas Wheatley (1-0). Subs. (rolling) - Conor Kelly, Odhran Kelly, Tiarnan Black, Seán Og Doyle, Cian Waters, Rúairí Sheil, Jamie Kinch, Ted Kenny, Mylie Connors, John Kenny, Gavin McNulty.
Referee: Lester Ryan (Kilkenny).