Gorey and Rapps should take heart from strong runs
With Alan Aherne
IF ONE hundred local hurling followers had been given a tenner last January for the purpose of betting on the likely pairing for the Pettitt’s Senior championship final, I reckon that 90% or perhaps even more would have opted for the clash that came to pass after Sunday’s encounters.
It’s hardly a surprise that the three-in-a-row seeking Oulart-The Ballagh have advanced to face a St. Martin’s side brimming with promising young talent, and I believe that the outcome will be a lot closer than their two most recent clashes on the big day in 2010 and 2015.
The Wexford District side simply didn’t show up seven years ago when the red and blacks coasted home on a 1-14 to 0-6 scoreline, while the margin was eight points in the last decider (2-15 to 0-13).
Their latest final clash - a sixth since the first in 1994 - will be looked at in greater detail next week, but what about the championship in general thus far?
While Naomh Eanna and Rapparees will be bitterly disappointed with their defeats, it was encouraging for the neutrals to see two new teams emerge.
More importantly, they weren’t mere cannon fodder for the fancied sides, as they were both well in contention midway through the second-half of the respective games.
Both encounters were reasonably entertaining without ever threatening to be classics, although semi-finals rarely rise to that standard as they’re simply all about getting over the line.
Naomh Eanna have taken one more step after bowing out at the quarter-final stage last season, and they are young enough to suggest that they can now establish themselves as a strong force.
As for Rapparees, they weren’t on the radar in terms of reaching the last four at the start of the campaign, but they’re also blessed with some exciting young players so future prospects are bright too.
Both clubs should consider the history of Oulart-The Ballagh from the mid-1970s to the current day. While they may be kingpins at present with an admirable record since 1994, they had to endure a string of heartbreaking defeats in big games beforehand.
The point I’m making is that it takes time to make an impact in Senior hurling, so the two town teams shouldn’t be disheartened as a number of positives may be gleaned from their displays on Sunday.
Then again, a semi-final appearance is no guarantee of lasting riches either. Just consider the fate of Cloughbawn who were looking forward to the decider this time twelve months ago but are now planning a strategy to escape from the Intermediate ranks.
On that topic, St. Anne’s are certainly going about it in the correct manner as they advanced to the final with greater ease than I anticipated at HWH-Bunclody’s expense on Saturday.
Diarmuid O’Keeffe was Wexford’s most consistent player by a country mile in my opinion this year, and his class is shining like a beacon on the club scene.
I would expect Crossabeg-Ballymurn to overcome Monageer-Boolavogue next weekend to set up an all-Wexford District decider, and congratulations to them on their winning debut in the AIB Leinster Club football championship against Ballon.
It’s back to football for the main fare in Innovate Wexford Park next Sunday, with Kilanerin slightly fancied to overcome HWH-Bunclody in the Amber Springs/Ashdown Park Hotels Intermediate championship final.
Both clubs have graced the top flight with distinction in the not too distant past, but everyone knows and appreciates how tough it is to return to that level after relegation.
The Intermediate grade in both codes is a very difficult one to win, and that’s why I believe that this game will go right down to the wire. Opportunities to contest a final don’t come around too often, and HWH-Bunclody will appreciate that slightly more than Kilanerin as their stay in the second tier has been longer.
As for the Senior football replay, did Shelmaliers leave their best chance of beating St. Martin’s behind them? Only time will tell, but the men in maroon have a lot more mileage on the clock in terms of tough games recently. I still expect them to get the job done. THE PAIN of twelve months earlier was well and truly erased in Innovate Wexford Park on Saturday when Fethard survived a spirited rally from 14-man Duffry Rovers to finally clinch the Top Oil Intermediate ‘A’ hurling championship crown after a number of near misses in recent years.
They really had to earn this victory, and that made it all the sweeter for the seasiders who had been haunted by their failure to put neighbours St. James’ away in the drawn decider of 2016.
And although they were well beaten in the replay, nothing less than outright success this time around would have sufficed for Fethard who had also lost successive semi-finals to Monageer-Boolavogue in 2014 and 2015 respectively.
As for Duffry Rovers, if they follow the same path as the opposition on Saturday, then the title may well be theirs at the next time of asking.
After relegation from Intermediate ranks in 2015, they lost a replayed semi-final to eventual victors St. James’ last year before taking a further step this time around.
Their comeback, although ending in defeat, had to be admired as it was achieved after the game’s pivotal moment when they were reduced to 14 men in the 35th minute.
John Tubritt went down off the ball around midfield and required attention, and referee Gearóid McGrath dismissed Johnny Flynn-O’Connor on a straight red card after consulting with a linesman.
The Duffry trailed by 1-9 to 0-5 at that stage and, although they had wind advantage into the town end, it seemed like a very tall order to get themselves back into contention.
However, they managed it alright, so much so that the margin was down to the minimum (1-11 to 0-13) by the 59th minute after substitute Gavin Watchorn shot an inspiring point from tight to the sideline under the stand.
Indeed, that really should have been the leveller for the Enniscorthy District side because, while Cathal Clince’s free-taking was generally very good, he did miss a handy one five minutes earlier when just a goal separated the sides.
Fethard had deployed full-back Rúairí Tubrid as their extra man and will no doubt point out that the end justified the means as they denied their rivals a game-altering goal.
However, the problem for the Ross District side was that they were struggling to win the individual battles in the middle third of the field, and the momentum actually shifted towards the Duffry after the dismissal.
A draw looked a genuine possibility as the game moved into added time, but those bitter memories from 2016 no doubt spurred Fethard on as they hit two late points to get over the line.
The first was an excellent effort, as man of the match Mark Wallace sprayed a crossfield ball into space on the right for Ciarán Dwyer who arrowed it between the posts.
And when a Duffry line ball was cut out, Daire Barden’s subsequent delivery down the left wing found Mikie Dwyer who was fouled as he hared towards goal.
Wallace had been on his game both in general play and from most of his frees, and he made no mistake to leave St. Mogue’s within touching distance of their biggest hurling success since capturing the Intermediate title of 1994, going on to contest a Senior semi-final four years later.
Nearly two more minutes had to be endured by their anxious followers, but the Duffry couldn’t create another chance and a wide from Fethard captain Garrett Foley was followed by the final whistle.
Given the earlier pattern of the play, it was a surprise in some respects that the reds stumbled before coming good at the end, although the Duffry deserve credit for refusing to lie down when the odds weren’t in their favour.
The Enniscorthy District side won the toss and opted to play into the wind first, but they were completely outplayed in the first quarter.
Fethard attacked the opposition puckout with relish, and the only concern for them was that they weren’t more than 1-3 to nil ahead by the 15th minute.
Mark Wallace got them off the mark from a fourth-minute free after missing an earlier placed ball close to the left sideline.
And he was unfortunate to see his ’65 strike the post and go wide on their next attack when a long Rúairí Tubrid broke into the path of Ciarán Dwyer whose pull forced Stephen Watchorn into a vital save.
Richard Waters was strong at right half-back throughout that opening half for Fethard, and the free he earned was made all the easier for Wallace to convert when it was brought forward for dissent in the seventh minute.
Waters and Graham O’Grady were involved in the lead-up to the game’s first point from play, again finished by Wallace, and the goal that would ultimate make all the difference arrived in the twelfth minute.
Daire Barden won a Duffry puck-out and handpassed to county footballer John Tubritt who was on his right shoulder.
The ground opened up for the midfielder as he raced inside the 20-metre line without any opponent managing a challenge before crashing an unstoppable shot past Stephen Watchorn.
That made it 1-3 to nil and the Duffry were in danger of being cast aside.
Their mood wasn’t helped when Cian Fitzhenry missed a s advantage was play well placed to create a neat Donie O’Con
They did finally g Cathal Clince conve the 16th minute, on to reply with his sec Daire Barden pass.
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A Clince free in the last Duffry score befo went on to trail by 1after points from midf and John Tubritt, the initially sent a dange goalmouth following
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