Tables are turned
Ballymurn bridge seven-year gap
THE OUTCOME of the clubs’ last final meeting was completely reversed in Blackwater on Friday when Crossabeg-Ballymurn came in from the cold to capture the Permanent TSB Wexford District Junior ‘B’ hurling championship title with a commanding victory over St. Martin’s.
Four years ago the men in maroon had prevailed by nine points and went on to claim outright county honours, so the Over The Water crew will be hoping that history repeats itself as they were the ones to lay claim to the threegoal advantage this time around.
They were bridging a seven-year gap in the process, as the last of Crossabeg-Ballymurn’s six District crowns in the grade before Friday was claimed in 2010.
The fare was less than compelling in the first-half, with the teams striking more wides than points.
Eight misses apiece were chalked up, and they were level on three occasions before an Eoghan ‘Snowy’ Kehoe point from play in the 30th minute eased Crossabeg-Ballymurn 6-5 clear at the break.
Kehoe and Micheál Lyng had converted a free and a ’65 each before the winners’ midfielder, Cormac O’Rourke, struck the first of his four fine points from play near the end of the first quarter.
All-Ireland veteran Rory McCarthy sent a low drive across goal and wide for the saints before the accurate O’Rourke doubled his tally, but the gap was down to one by half-time after Eoghan Kehoe points from a free and play were bettered by Phelim Crotty, Micheál Lyng (free) and wing-back Richard Doyle at the other end.
Daylight started to appear between the teams from the 40th minute onwards as three points without reply from free-taker Kehoe, O’Rourke and Kehoe again pushed Crossabeg-Ballymurn into a 12-7 advantage.
Lyng replied from a placed ball, but a resolute winners’ defence excellently marshalled by Declan Byrne was in no mood to give away any more goal chances after Rory McCarthy was denied by a superb Noel Scallan stop just after half-time.
Mark Campbell had gone close for Crossabeg-Ballymurn beforehand, but they made sure of the silverware with a run of six unanswered points between the 47th and 61st minutes courtesy of James White, Eoghan Kehoe (free), Paul Larrissy, Cormac O’Rourke, Rob Byrne and Kehoe from play.
A hard, low free from St. Martin’s centre-back James Boggan was saved and, although substitute David Reade and corner-back Aaron Whitty hit neat consolation points, Crossabeg-Ballymurn had the last word as Josh Whitehead was denied a goal before top scorer Kehoe nailed his eighth free to leave that gap of nine at the finish.
St. Martin’s still top the District roll of honour in this grade with eight titles since the competition began in 1977.
However, it was the turn of Crossabeg-Ballymurn joint captains Daithí Redmond and Michael A. Doyle to accept the Jim Walsh Memorial Cup from Thos. Ryan (Chairman) this time around.
Crossabeg-Ballymurn: Noel Scallan; Daithí Redmond (joint capt.), David Scallan, Michael A. Doyle (joint capt.); Conor Barlow, Declan Byrne, Rob Byrne (0-1); Seamus Carroll, Cormac O’Rourke (0-4); Paul Larrissy (0-1), Eoghan Kehoe (0-11, 8 frees, 1 ’65), James White (0-2); Mark Campbell, James Grannell, Evan Kinlough. Subs. - Josh Whitehead for Kinlough, inj. (HT), Seán Kehoe for Campbell (44), Shane Conroy for Grannell (56), Shane Whelan for D. Scallan (58).
St. Martin’s: Callum Quirke; Derek Burrell, Rúairí Quigley, Aaron Whitty (0-1); Darren Scallan, James Boggan, Richard Doyle (0-1); Darren Jordan (capt.), Mick Carroll; Paddy Curran, Phelim Crotty (0-1), Darragh Waters; Rory McCarthy, Philip Waters, Micheál Lyng (0-6, 5 frees, 1 ’65). Subs. - Martin Whelan for Carroll (43), Paddy Gallagher for Crotty (43), Brendan Roche for D. Waters (49), Philip Coleman for Lyng (55), David Reade (0-1) for McCarthy (58).
Referee: Pádraig McMahon (Shelmaliers).