Maturing Martin’s have brought their game to new level

MATURING ST. Martin’s are beginning to dictate the manner in which this Pettitt’s Senior hurling championship is being played out. It was inevitable that, given their injury concerns and players spending the summer in America, having emptied the benches through the group stages they would emerge as the game’s serious force.

On Saturday afternoon, despite still not having some key players, they showed a cutting edge and a maturity that the other sides will find difficult to manage.

Results speak for themselves. But having parked their problems (well, some of them), they were determined not to relinquish their title at the quarter-final stage.

A side inspired from the sideline by Tomás Codd, John O’Connor and former Kilkenny great, Charlie Carter, they have brought something extra to the table this year.

It had been said that it will be a lot harder for St. Martin’s to retain the Dr. Bowe Cup, particularly as they also have one eye on the Senior football trophy,since they enter into a mouth-watering semi-final clash with Kilanerin on Sunday.

But they have accumulated winning habits. Last year may have been their first time for a while, but many feel that it won’t be long at all until they put titles back to back. Many will say that Ferns malfunctioned in the second-half, having giving themselves an ideal opportunity of upsetting the reigning champions.

But the St. Martin’s attacking on the resumption was a constant and there was little the Ferns rearguard could do about it.

Ferns were snared often by the workrate of St. Martin’s, while the influential Jack O’Connor dictated the pattern of the game, with his cousin, Joe, getting the two goals, one in each half.

This year has been a bit different for St. Martin’s. They have matured as a group, and have secured the strength in depth, giving them an advantage that sides will find it hard to curb.

But the weekend games underlined a new beginning for Wexford club hurling. Both Oylegate-Glenbrien and Naomh Eanna have played their respective ways impressively through to the semi-final, where they will be joined by Enniscorthy Rapparees, making their second successive appearance at this stage of the title race, like the Gorey men.

It’s heartening to see two town sides in the semi-final as it brings an extra flavour to proceedings, and we will definitely have at least one new side on final day now.

The extraordinary rise of both Oylegate-Glenbrien and Naomh Eanna has brought a whole new appetite to the championship. The significance of the breakthrough of these two sides cannot be lost on Wexford hurling as it will bring massive colour to the semi-finals and should also ensure a huge attendance.

Speaking of attendances, the crowds so far have been disappointing but perhaps now that the semi-finalists are known, it will whet the appetite of supporters once again.

The popularity of hurling has been boosted by the arrival of Davy Fitzgerald. Those who attended the four quarter-finals over the weekend saw some intense battles, some great rivalries, and head-to-head duels, which will only help to popularise the game for the concluding stages.

There were some absorbing and titanic tussles which earned high kudos, and hopefully these can now be carried forward to the semi-final stage.

A real sense of pride hits a parish once the quarter-final stages are reached. The weekend was a good one for hurling, particularly when one witnessed the success of both Naomh Eanna and Oylegate-Glenbrien. That’s important for the game.

The only dampener to emerge from the weekend games was the news that Wexford’s outstanding young hurler, Rory O’Connor, now looks set to miss the remainder of the year.

Having recovered from a knee problem last year, he went on to injure the second knee having played out the inter-county season as he prepared with his club for the defence of their title.

Now it has been learned that he could need more surgery which would definitely rule him out of St. Martin’s remaining games.

It will be a huge loss to the club, but once again a test of their strength in depth which so far has been admirable.