Intermediate honours followed in delayed derby final of 1976

THE IMPACT made by Askamore was reflected in the make-up of the Wexford team which lost the first round of the Leinster Intermediate hurling championship to Wicklow by 2-17 to 2-7 in Gorey on June 14, 1970.

It featured Michael Murphy at left fullback, John Tobin at midfield, and John Kinsella (0-1) at full-forward, while Martin Byrne came on for Eamonn Murphy, one of his St. Fintan’s rivals six months earlier.

Byrne also made an appearance off the bench for the Wexford Under-21 hurlers in their heavy All-Ireland final replay defeat to Cork in 1970 (5-17 to 0-8).

As for Tobin, he also featured in the Leinster Intermediate campaigns of 1971 and 1972 and, on February 24, 1974, he became the first Askamore clubman to represent the county in Senior hurling when he replaced John Quigley in a National League loss to Galway in Ballinasloe (2-13 to 2-9).

He came on for Christy Keogh in the same competition in Tulla eight months later, losing to Clare by 3-9 to 1-2, and his sole start was at centre-back in a 6-9 to 2-10 Oireachtas semi-final win over Cork in Wexford Park on June 11, 1978.

Tobin had earned a recall as a result of his exploits in guiding Askamore to Senior ranks for the first time ever in early 1977.

The club had lost county Intermediate semi-finals to Shamrocks on their first attempt in 1970 (4-12 to 3-13), and to Ballyhogue in 1972 (1-13 to 1-2).

That championship reverted to the Districts in 1973, with Askamore bowing out at the quarter-final stage to St. Patrick’s (6-6 to 3-9).

They were hammered by Naomh Eanna in the 1974 Gorey final (6-13 to 0-5) and, although they lost the ’75 decider to St. Brendan’s (Craanford) by 1-7 to 0-5, they were subsequently awarded the title after lodging an objection.

Defeat followed in the county semi-final to Oylegate-Glenbrien (3-6 to 2-4), but the big breakthrough to the top flight was close at hand.

The year 1976 saw Askamore beat Liam Mellows by 2-12 to 2-7 in the Gorey District final on August 8, but delays elsewhere meant they had to wait until November 21 before pipping Crossabeg-Ballymurn (2-7 to 2-6) in the penultimate round.

Another long wait followed, but it was worth it as neighbours HWH-Bunclody were beaten in the county final in Wexford Park on March 6, 1977, by 1-10 to 0-8 to achieve Senior status for the first time.

Peter Murphy trained that team, and the selectors were Matt Boggan, John Tobin, Paddy Fox and Eamonn O’Neill.

Askamore: Davy Donohoe; Pat Donohoe, Michael Murphy, Tom Rath; Tom Kenny, Jimmy Ruth, Martin Moore; Jim Kennedy (0-3), Pat Boggan; John Tobin, Mogue Hendrick (0-4), Paddy Nolan (0-1); Peter Carroll, John Kinsella (1-1), Mossy Fitzpatrick (0-1).