Hurlers fade in ‘B’ replay in Armagh

ARMAGH 2-16 WICKLOW 1-14

THE loss of Don Hyland, Noel Goggin and Ger Murphy was keenly felt by the Wicklow Senior hurlers who were beaten by Armagh in Keady in the Senior ‘B’ hurling championship replay this week in 1990.

It took a last-minute point by Kiltegan’s Ned Cremin to secure the draw the previous weekend in Pearse’s Park (1-9 to 2-6) and despite welcoming Danny Curran back to the fold, the absence of the aforementioned trio and the fact that they only had a panel of 17 for the trip away proved fatal as the Orchard County hurlers pipped them in extra-time.

Wicklow enjoyed a very industrious start with the dominance of Curran and Cremin in the middle of the field laying a platform for their 1-5 to 0-1 lead after 15 minutes. The scoring slowed down for the visitors for the rest of the opening half but they still took a 1-7 to 0-2 lead into the dressing rooms.

But disaster was to strike for Wicklow.

Ned Cremin had picked up an injury prior to the end of the first half and failed to reappear and when Curran picked up a bad knock Armagh for the grips with the midfield area despite Curran bravely playing on despite the injury.

Amazingly, with Armagh closing to within a point and 10 minutes left in the game, Ned Cremin was reintroduced and promptly grabbed Wicklow’s opening score of the half.

The home side drew level but Cremin pushed Wicklow ahead with moments remaining.

‘In the dying seconds the roar of the home crowd could be heard above the boom of the drums in the loyalist parade which was going by on the road outside when centre-back Paul Doyle cut a line ball over the bar for the equaliser. Wicklow 1-9, Armagh 0-12,’ read the report in the Wicklow and Bray People newspapers the following week.

Armagh started the better in extra-time with Martin Lennon goaling but Danny Curran ensured the sides would be level at the break with accurate free-taking, 1-12 to 1-12.

However, it was from here on in that the tiny panel began suffering. Wicklow introduced their only remaining substitute, Annacurra’s Declan Byrne, who worked his socks off tired limbs and injuries allowed Armagh edge back in front.

The game was wide open until the very end when the home side got in for a late goal that finished the game as a contest.

Wicklow: John Mitchell; Vinnie Minroe, John Sunderland, Tom Byrne; MA O’Neill, Denis Kilbride, Ciaran O’Keeffe; Ned Cremin, Danny Curran; Nigel Byrne, Paddy Doyle, Pat Lee; Casey O’Brien, Sean Byrne, Tommy Munroe. Subs: Peadar Keogh for Cremin (inj), Declan Byrne for T Munroe.