Most referees up to mark in a busy hurling schedule
IMADE my way to my allotted number of games - some eight in total - over the space of seven days. I came away by no means disappointed at the hurling served up as the clubs seemed pumped up for the challenges facing them.
My games included Under-21 Division 1 and Premier, as well as Junior, Intermediate and Senior hurling, so I had real variety. For all the newness, following months of inter-county activity, it whetted the appetite which was very much required as a result of the disappointments of the previous weekend in Semple Stadium.
One thing is for certain that having covered so many games and looked at so many clubs and players, hurling is on the move in the county. After all the recent momentum generated by the Wexford Senior and Minor teams, it was heartening to see such an appetite for club fare, particularly the outstanding contributions given by so many of the up and coming young players.
The victory of St. Anne’s over Shelmaliers gave them their first along with an opportunity to salvage their Senior status. There are some huge games to be played out in this group before the quarter-finalists are known, let alone those destined for a relegation battle.
Many clubs deployed several exciting prospects as the younger players took centre stage last weekend. The duel involving Naomh Eanna’s Conor McDonald and Rapparees man Liam Ryan was worth paying the €10 admission fee for.
It was a wonderful contest between two of the finest young hurlers in the game. Many more like that would bring in the crowds once again over the coming weekends.
Twenty-four hours earlier one witnessed Buffers Alley haul in Cloughbawn for a dramatic late victory, while St. Martin’s showed they can still be considered a force after impressively seeing off Glynn-Barntown.
But the hits were not confined to the Senior grade, they just kept on coming, Oylegate-Glenbrien scored 1-2 in the three minutes of additional time to shock Craanford in their Intermediate hurling clash, in possibly one of the most drama-filled games of the weekend.
There are a lot of people who regard Taghmon-Camross as just a small club but they elevated their status on Tuesday evening with a stunning three-point victory over Rapparees in their Under-21 hurling Premier championship.
Playing in the top flight is an achievement in itself for the club, but to take the scalp of one of the championship favourites should be a major boost to the game of hurling in the area. Let’s hope the parish comes out in support at their home venue tonight (Tuesday) for their quarter-final clash with Faythe Harriers.
With the club activity now back, the men in black will always come in for scrutiny but overall it was quite a good week for referees.
Looking at the games I covered, referee Gearóid McGrath set the standard with his excellent handling of the Rapparees v. Naomh Eanna Senior hurling game. Now the leading referee in the county, McGrath’s decisions were spot on through the 60 minutes, while his linesman duties in other games was also impeccable, giving him a five out of five marking. Incidentally, McGrath also impeccably handled the Ferns v. Rathnure Senior hurling game.
Damien Donovan kept a tight grip on the St. Anne’s v. Shels clash, leaving him with three out of five. Naomh Eanna’s Joe Kelly kept the Oulart-The Ballagh v. Adamstown Intermediate game flowing for another three out of five, while David O’Leary excellently handled the Oylegate-Glenbrien v. Craanford Intermediate clash and gets a four out of five marking.
David Owens’ handling of St. Mary’s v. Faythe Harriers in Junior hurling was competent with three out of five, while Derek Murphy capably controlled the Shelmaliers v. Horeswood Junior clash with the hard calls correct, giving him four out of five. Referee Brendan Martin had a comfortable run in the Rathnure v. Monageer-Boolavogue Under-21 with his handling deserving four out of five.
The only black mark on an otherwise good week for the men in black was Jack Stafford’s controversial handling of Taghmon-Camross v. Rappareers in that Under-21 Premier tie. After many controversial decisions and the game marred by after-match scenes, with players no doubt frustrated with the decisions over the previous 60 minutes, it was a dreadful evening for Stafford with a marking of one out of five in my view.