Corrigan gets the key scores
District title for Blackwater
BLACKWATER CAN thank the accuracy of corner-forward Kevin Corrigan for this eventual fourpoint victory over St. Anne’s in their Wexford District Under-21 hurling Roinn 1 championship final in Coolcotts on Tuesday.
Corrigan struck six second-half points which gave his side a decided advantage, particularly in the closing quarter following a nerve-wracking period which saw their opponents hit back with two goals on 48 and 49 minutes to reduce the deficit to the minimum (0-14 to 2-7).
It was then that Corrigan came to his side’s rescue with some excellent scores to clinch their passage through to the county semi-final and a meeting with the New Ross District winners.
St. Anne’s played with little composure through the opening quarter, at the end of which they trailed by 0-5 to 0-1. Blackwater showed the greater penetration in attack, with points from Corrigan (free and ’65) along with efforts from Dean Whelan (two) and Darren Byrne, while Vincent Carroll managed his side’s opening point after seven minutes.
Blackwater were on top in this spell, going on to exchange points through Brendan Redmond and Philip Rawson.
Further points from Dean Whelan and Darren Byrne left them with an 0-8 to 0-6 interval lead, as St. Anne’s managed to close out the half with scores from Philip Rawson (two) and Brian Kavanagh.
Blackwater had a brace of early second-half points through Brendan Redmond and Kevin Corrigan as they went on to lead by 0-14 to 0-7 by the end of the third quarter, looking quite comfortable.
After 38 minutes Shane Mythen cut through the defence for the game’s opening goal, and when Roy Nunn added a second goal one minute later, just a point separated the sides (0-14 to 2-7).
But it was Blackwater and Corrigan who regained control in the closing ten minutes to run out deserving four-point winners.
Blackwater: Aaron Nobbs; Mikey Byrne, Eanna Carroll, Mark Donoghue; Shane Wright, Richard Blake, Eoin O’Neill; Dillon Dixon, Dean Whelan (04); Conor Sutton, Darren Byrne (capt., 0-2), Darragh Doyle (0-1); Brendan Redmond (0-3), Cathal Fortune, Kevin Corrigan (0-7, 5 frees, 1 line ball, 1 ’65).
St. Anne’s: Dylan Kavanagh; Michael Roche, Graham Holmes, Brian Kavanagh (0-1); Jack Moore, Ben Moore, Kevin Redmond; Vincent Carroll (0-1), Andy Kennedy (0-1); Paddy White, Tony McDonnell, Jack Cloney; Roy Nunn (1-0), Philip Rawson (0-4, 2 frees), Shane Mythen (1-0). Subs. - Michael Roche for White, Karim Byrne for Holmes.
Referee: (Clonard). Barry Redmond