Sars secure crown in replay
of the equaliser in the first game between the sides, to level with a crisply-struck ‘45. Dylan Furlong ensured that both Wexford Youths under-age goalkeepers were on the board with a nice score one minute later.
Jamie Doyle replied in the 21st minute after nice inter-play with Frank Roche inside the Sarsfields half. Three minutes before the break Andrew Harrington tapped over from the left of the posts while referee James Owens was playing an advantage for a foul on teammate Furlong.
Castle-Craan Gaels levelled 16 seconds after the resumption through James Smyth. They took their second and final lead five minutes later when Robbie Brooks tapped over from Shane Halpin’s crossfield ball.
At 0-4 to 0-3 ahead, the Gorey District side had a chance for a vital goal. Darragh Brooks fed Smyth on the run but the Craanford clubman’s shot was saved low by an alert Jake Clancy in the Sars goal.
It proved to be huge as three minutes later the Wexford town club hit the front. Having had no joy going long, they finally worked the ball well through the hands with Fiach O Crualaoich, Dylan Furlong and Seán Hopkins all involved in the build-up that released Adam Dempsey to coolly slot past Thomas Furlong.
The goal undoubtedly lifted Sarsfields. They started to win everything in the middle third and the points began to flow. Harrington kicked a couple of frees before Danny Walsh saw his shot tipped over the crossbar by Furlong (1-6 to 0-4).
Castle-Craan Gaels hit back with their only score of the spell when Darragh Brooks tapped over a free in the 48th minute. It only momentarily halted the victors who added scores from Cathal Kirwan, Seán Hopkins and Harrington to increase the advantage to seven (1-9 to 1-5).
Darragh Brooks gave his side a glimmer of hope, punching home his brother Robbie’s ball into the goalmouth. However, Sars replied with points from Harrington and Conal Ó Crualaoich to all but put the contest to bed.
Despite a couple of injury-time points from Darragh Brooks and Jamie Doyle, there was little Castle-Craan Gaels could do to deny Sarsfields a richly-deserved title after a fascinating game of football.