Jack is the lad in Martin’s win
ST. MARTIN’S FAYTHE HARRIERS 2-19 0-20
JACK O’CONNOR provided the inspiration for his depleted forces as he guided St. Martin’s to an emphatic five-point victory over relegation-troubled Faythe Harriers in this interesting Pettitt’s Senior hurling championship Group A game in Innovate Wexford Park on Wednesday.
The reigning county champions, short of so many of their title-winning side, needed some of their more experienced players to spark, particularly given the number of new faces in their side.
And it was O’Connor who led the way from his centre-forward role, finishing the game with a personal tally of 1-8.
His first-half goal was particularly crucial, as it provided the platform for his side to launch their victory effort.
Patrick O’Connor and Aaron Maddock provided a strong central defence, along with corner-back Eoin O’Leary, while Darren Codd and Mark Maloney gave them the edge in the midfield exchanges.
And with veteran Ciarán Lyng, Mikey Coleman and substitute Barry O’Connor offering plenty of support in attack, in the end it proved all too much for their opponents.
Faythe Harriers, now point-less after three games, find themselves in a relegation dogfight, not for the first time in recent seasons.
While they showed some improvement on recent outings, it still fell short despite the accuarate free-taking of Lee Chin, although he was kept somewhat quiet in general play, while Colm Heffernan, Wayne Mallon, Michael Hanrahan and Conall Clancy did their best to spark a winning effort.
St. Martin’s now remain in a strong position, with their quarter-final place secured, and they started the game into the slight breeze with a Jack O’Connor pointed free.
Lee Chin responded with two points, one from a free, but at the opposite end Mikey Coleman spurned a great goal chance, shooting wide from close range.
When Chin extended his side’s lead from a free, one thought the town team were up for the battle, but the reigning champions remained in contention, trailing by 0-5 to 0-3 when Jack O’Connor beat ‘keeper James Henebery at his near post with a rocket of a shot having been set up by Mikey Coleman after 13 minutes.
Having blasted their way back into the game, St. Martin’s now upped the tempo, with Ciarán Lyng, Maloney and O’Connor firing over points.
Wayne Mallon, Chin and David Mooney kept the town side in the game, although St. Martin’s still led by 1-9 to 0-11 at the interval.
On the resumption, Chin fired over three successive pointed frees without reply, and when Wayne Mallon tagged on a further fine point, the Harriers had stretched into a 0-15 to 1-9 lead, and looked set to provide a winning burst.
But St. Martin’s set about rectifying the situation, introducing Barry O’Connor for the closing 20 minutes.
Although only back from America some five hours, he responded immediately with an excellent point, a score that led to successive points from Jack O’Connor from two long-range frees, Ciarán Lyng with an excellent effort off the sideline, and Conor Coleman, to regain the lead (1-14 to 0-15) at the end of the third quarter.
Having had their shortlived lead taken from them, Chin bounced back with a pointed ‘65, but the Martin’s struck for a crucial score twelve minutes from the end.
Conor Coleman saw his effort rebound from the crosbar but Mark Maloney was on hand to fire the loose ball to the net, extending his side into a 2-14 to 0-16 lead.
Although the Harriers exerted lots of pressure in the closing minutes, St. Martin’s ‘keeper Luke White dealt confidently with a couple of goal attempts.
In additional time he dramatically dived to clear a goalbound ball off the line, keeping his goal intact in what was an excellent victory for the reigning champions in trying circumstances.
St. Martin’s: Luke White; Eoin O’Leary, Patrick O’Connor, Conor Firman; Daithí Waters, Aaron Maddock, Paudie Kelly; Mark Maloney (1-1), Darren Codd; Ben Maddock (0-1), Jack O’Connor (1-8, 0-5 frees), Jack Devereux; Mikey Coleman (01), Ciarán Lyng (0-5, 3 frees), Conor Coleman (0-1). Subs. - Barry O’Connor (0-2) for Devereux (37), Devereux for Maloney (58).
Faythe Harriers: James Henebery; Danny Walsh, Colm Heffernan, Brendan Mulligan; Daniel Lynch, Richie Kehoe, Wayne Mallon (0-2); Jim Berry, David Mooney (0-1); Michael Hanrahan (0-1), Lee Chin (0-14, 10 frees, 1 ‘65), Eoin Roche; Conall Clancy (0-2), Stephen Kearney, John Bridges. Subs. - Ciarán Kirwan for Lynch (45), Ross Lynch for Walsh (51).
Referee: Dan Crosby (Kilmore).