Bunclody end Minor three in a row bid
Martin’s three-in-a-row bid foiled as 15-year gap bridged
HWH-BUNCLODY 2-9 ST. MARTIN’S 1-10
A HWH-BUNCLODY side operating with limited resources but with an abundance of spirit and no shortage of skill and drive bridged a 15-year gap under the Taghmon floodlights on Friday when they denied St. Martin’s the three-ina-row of Wexford People Minor football Premier championship crowns with two points to spare.
It was a momentuous achievement from the Carlow border crew, made all the more significant by the fact that this grade won’t be played again after a decision taken at County Board level just three nights earlier.
The Minor grade has been in operation in Wexford since 1927 when Clann Loinsigh from Enniscorthy won the first-ever title, but it will be replaced by Under-17 next year as another long-standing competition is consigned to the history books.
The victors were operating from a small squad of 21 and didn’t deploy any substitutes, but they got the maximum effort possible from a well-drilled 15 as the club claimed a ninth Minor Premier title to leave them third overall on the roll of honour behind Starlights (eleven) and Sarsfields (ten).
HWH-Bunclody won their first championship at this level in 1981, and there was a direct link between the teams as current selector Noel Ryan was the chief mentor 36 years ago.
A double followed in 1984 and 1985, with title number four coming in 1990 before the club claimed a marvellous four titles on the trot from 1999 to 2002.
St. Martin’s were chasing a Minor Premier double for the third year running, but they were rocked by the concession of a second goal in the 41st minute and that proved to be the key score.
The sides were level on three occasions in the first quarter, before the better-balanced HWH-Bunclody made a decisive push by hitting 1-3 without reply midway through the half and were never headed thereafter.
Ben Maddock picked out Jack Devereux for the first Martin’s point after just 36 seconds, but Darren Doyle underlined the quality of his dead-ball kicking off the ground to equalise in the sixth minute.
He was unfortunate to strike the next one wide via a post, but Jamie Kavanagh claimed a mark from the kick-out before finding county Minor Peadair Cowman, and he set up John McCormack to give HWH-Bunclody the lead.
Ben Maddock levelled at the end of a move featuring Jack Devereux and Ben Stafford, a score that was correctly awarded after referee Anthony Tobin sought confirmation from linesman Lar Doyle.
Free-takers Kyle Firman and Darren Doyle then swapped points, but that latter effort was the beginning of a fruitful purple patch for the challengers.
Edward Dunbar had looked threatening in his club’s recent Intermediate final loss to Kilanerin, and the only thing missing from his overall game was a score or two.
However, his eye was in this time around, as his brace of well-taken points in the 18th and 19th minutes paved the way for the first HWH-Bunclody goal.
Darren Doyle won the kick-out after Dunbar’s second point and fed Cathal Doyle who embarked on a strong solo run before popping the ball to his left for Dan Farrell to finish high into the net (1-5 to 0-3).
That goal gave HWH-Bunclody a huge lift, although St. Martin’s still couldn’t be discounted at half-time after managing to shave the margin between the teams from five points to four (1-7 to 0-6).
Free-taker Kyle Firman (two) and Adam Cantwell hit the target, but the two replies from the leaders were inspiring scores from Peadair Cowman and Edward Dunbar respectively.
The St. Martin’s team fielded three players with Senior championship experience in full-back Philip Dempsey plus midfielders Ben Maddock and Michael Codd, and it was evident that this trio would need to lead the charge if the tables were to be turned.
Little did HWH-Bunclody realise that Darren Doyle’s third pointed free after just 41 seconds on the re-start would be one of only three scores from the new champions after the break.
Ben Maddock and Diarmuid Barry responded for St. Martin’s, but the titleholders were dealt a severe blow as the game moved into its 41st minute.
A patient HWH-Bunclody attack seemed to lack penetration, with the ball going around in circles and eventually dropped on to the greasy surface as the fog started to build at one end of the field.
However, a toe-poke found its way to centre-forward Cathal Doyle who had ghosted into a great position inside the defensive line, and he coolly slotted a low shot past Matthew Duffy to push HWH-Bunclody 2-8 to 0-8 clear.
St. Martin’s almost replied immediately in what was without doubt a huge moment in the game.
Centre-back Eoin O’Leary drove forward, playing a one-two with Michael Codd before finding Adam Cantwell who crashed the ball off the crossbar, with Ben Stafford hooking the rebound to the left and wide.
It was a huge let-off for HWH-Bunclody, and they managed to hold out despite scoring just once after that goal, a full 18 minutes afterwards.
St. Martin’s claimed an unanswered 1-2 in that spell despite losing defender Rory Cullen to a black card, with a David Cantwell point followed by a long barren period which saw HWH-Bunclody’s Jack Regan save smartly at his near post at one stage, smothering a Diarmuid Barry shot.
The holders’ big chance to hit back arrived in the 56th minute when Tadgh Kelly was booked for a foul on Jack Devereux, and Ben Maddock goaled from the penalty with a low shot to the right corner (2-8 to 1-9).
Captain Adam McLoughlin won the kick-out and teed up Kyle Firman to make it a one-point game, but there was a precious respite for HWH-Bunclody from the re-start.
Darren Doyle played a major role on two fronts, first of all claiming a mark before calmly slotting over his fourth free after a foul on the rampaging Ciarán Kavanagh.
Doyle later hit the post from another placed ball, but St. Martin’s couldn’t create any openings for the goal they needed as HWH-Bunclody deservedly held on for a fully-merited victory.
After their unfortunate Intermediate final loss to Kilanerin, this victory was the perfect tonic and a significant morale-booster. HWH-Bunclody: Jack Regan; Lee Levingston, Adam Hogan, Tadgh Kelly; Jamie Kavanagh, Byron Byrne, Ciarán Kavanagh; Stephen Kavanagh (capt.), Peadair Cowman (0-1); Darren Doyle (0-4 frees), Cathal Doyle (1-0), Edward Dunbar (0-3); Ciarán Regan, John McCormack (0-1), Dan Farrell (1-0). Subs. (unused) - William Dunne, Ryan McDonald, Cathal Dunbar, Aidan Mahon, Michael Furlong, Alan Carton.
St. Martin’s: Matthew Duffy; Rory Cullen, Philip Dempsey, Sam Audsley; Paddy Gallagher, Eoin O’Leary, Adam McLoughlin (capt.); Ben Maddock (1-2, 1-0 pen.), Michael Codd; Adam Cantwell (0-1), Kyle Firman (0-4, 3 frees), Ben Stafford; Diarmuid Barry (0-1), Jack Devereux (0-1), Simon Curran. Subs. - David Cantwell (0-1) for Curran (27), Shane Walsh for Cullen, black card (50), Zac Firman for Stafford (60+1), also Callum Quirke, Liam O Lionáin, Arron Clancy, James Mernagh, Conor Devereux, Jordan Hayes, Conor Kelly, David Codd, Adam Feery.
Referee: Anthony Tobin (Geraldine O’Hanrahans).