With two late goals
Rntown finally beaten after two defeats
nt in defence along an Neville. aced balls from J.J. d one ’65) between minutes ensured that or St. Martin’s to rest to 0-10). hange between the ew free-taker, Seán again, Glynn-Barnpressure even more. ance was turned into ill after a neat shimmy d a short free to Cian icked out J.J. Doyle, de it 1-12 to 0-13 with lowed before a Nevnside and it looked ance, only for Philip r in a flash and deal s had passed without ore Ed O’Byrne reghird point from play, se from a free meant wn victory still couldn’t inning of the end for s arrived in the last me when St. Martin’s ound a defender who se to his own goal. Kelly had only one hen he availed of the mendous power bek shot to beat Tommy Kehoe (2-13 to 0-14).
Glynn-Barntown almost replied immediately when Cormac Rowe, who had moved to full-forward, swung at a Shane Doyle cross, only to see the ball fly over rather than under the bar.
And the conditions undoubtedly played a part in the clinching third Martin’s major in added time as a defender slipped while charging out to meet the ball.
John Coleman bore down on goal, brushing off a crude attempt to stop him in his tracks with a laugh after surviving the challenge and blasting the ball into an empty net.
That’s the second title in September for St. Martin’s after their Under-21 Premier triumph, and their Junior footballers will be trying to make it a treble against Rathgarogue-Cushinstown in Innovate Wexford Park next Saturday with many of the same personnel involved.
And with both of their Senior teams in the last four of their respective competitions, October will be every bit as busy and will carry even more potential.
Finally, after a weekend when the performance of referees was very much in the spotlight, I feel that Martin Armstrong deserves a lot of praise for competently handling his first-ever adult final.
The former HWH-Bunclody man, now with Rapparees, never made a fuss and simply got on with the job in a fair and even-handed manner without drawing attention to himself.
Hopefully it will lead to bigger appointments for this relatively new man in black in the years to come.
St. Martin’s: Dylan Byrne; Pádraig Rossiter, Tony Kelly, Philip Dempsey; Adrian Ryan (capt., 0-1), James Boggan, Ryan Murphy; Ben Maddock (0-2), Ed O’Byrne (0-3); Conor Coleman (0-3, 2 frees), John Coleman (1-3, 0-1 free), Adam Cantwell; Seán Stafford (0-2 frees), Kyle Firman (1-0), David Cuthbert. Subs. - Donal Kelly (1-0) for Cuthbert (47), Johnny Hamilton for C. Coleman (52), Kevin Price for Firman, inj. (56), also Callum Quirke, Nicky Greene, Paddy Curran, Eoghan Rackard, Diarmuid Byrne, Darragh Kenny, Richard Devereux, Martin Whelan.
Glynn-Barntown: Tommy Kehoe; Paschal Carley, David Roche, Cian Neville; Nigel Usher, P.J. Carley, Kevin Mahoney (0-1); Cormac Rowe (0-1), Gavin Walsh (0-1); J.J. Doyle (capt., 0-9, 7 frees, 1 ’65), Aaron Kehoe (0-1), Mark Flood; Ben O’Shea (0-1), Shane Carley, Jack Brazzill (0-1). Subs. - Ian Moran for Walsh, inj. (23), Dylan Lyne for Flood (38), Matthew Banville for A. Kehoe (40), Shane Doyle for S. Carley (59), also Pierce Donoghue, Jamie O’Shea, Gary Sutton, Daniel O’Regan, Bill Joyce, Conor Clarke, John Lacey, Ciarán Joyce.
Referee: Martin Armstrong (Rapparees).