Oulart edge classic decider
Wickham’s late point crushes Castletown after thriller
SOMETIMES, a game is so exciting that, as a neutral, you really don’t want it to end.
That’s how I felt during the last of the four-game Allianz Rackard League finals programme in Chadwicks Wexford Park on Friday, when two fantastic teams from Oulart and Castletown served up a game for the ages.
Full-forward Conor Wickham emerged as the late hero for the more established school at this level, shooting the winning point 85 seconds into additional time after earlier netting a double.
However, Oulart supporters were quick to acknowledge the huge contribution made to a truly absorbing contest by the first-time ‘A’ finalists, who drew their talented players from Castletown, Tara Hill and Coolgreany.
It was a shame that they didn’t manage to force extra-time at the very least, and it was certainly a cruel way for such a well-drilled group of youngsters to lose.
The Oulart and The Ballagh National School boys held a 3-5 to 1-3 interval lead, but the Castletown comeback was largely inspired by towering full-forward Rian Cullen, who accounted for all four of their goals including a second-half hat-trick.
Every time the sliotar arrived in his general vicinity, there was a buzz of anticipation from followers of the maroon-clad team, but one of trepidation from Oulart.
It was epic stuff in the last quarter in particular as the action moved swiftly from end to end and the sides traded score after score.
Castletown led by 4-8 to 4-7 after midfielder Patrick Fanning converted his sixth placed ball in the 49th of 50 minutes, but Oulart top scorer Michael Jordan held his nerve to equalise from a free before Conor Wickham struck the winner.
Castletown did force one last attack and Cian Lilley tried to cut in along the endline to the right of goal, but the ball went wide after a forceful tackle and Oulart were left to celebrate wildly seconds later.
The Gorey District side had the ideal start, as Rian Cullen added a handpassed goal to a point before Oulart top scorer Michael Jordan got them up and running via the post in the eighth minute.
The classy wing-forward ended with 2-4 to his name, and the first adult to sprint on to the pitch in jubilation after the game was his proud father, Benny, the Ferns St. Aidan’s stalwart of many years.
Michael’s mother, Caroline (née Murphy), was an honours-laden camogie player with Oulart-The Ballagh herself, and that parental pedigree was evident in the performance of this very promising player.
He hit the equalising goal that made it 1-2 each in the eleventh minute, after controlling captain Adam Redmond’s delivery from the right.
A fine point by corner-forward Tadhg O’Dea under heavy pressure in the 15th minute gave Oulart the lead for the first time, and they were further boosted when his delivery was lashed to the net by Conor Wickham with a one-handed pull.
Patrick Fanning ended 13 scoreless minutes for Castletown from a free, but Oulart produced a strong finish to the half as 1-2 without reply left them with that commanding 3-5 to 1-3 advantage.
The points from Adam Redmond (’45) and very influential substitute Tom Jackman arrived on either side of a spectacular goal from Michael Jordan.
He somehow managed to stretch his small frame to catch Conor Wickham’s high ball towards the left of the posts, and once he turned there was only going to be one outcome as he beat Callum Kavanagh-Byrne with an assured finish.
Castletown showed early promise on the restart when Patrick Fanning pointed two frees, before Tom Jackman responded with his second for the eventual winners (3-6 to 1-5).
It was time for Rian Cullen to take centre stage, and we really had a game on our hands after his two-goal burst in two minutes, with Jamie McNamara on hand to make sure the ball had crossed the line when it flew out after his second rocket beat netminder George O’Connor.
Patrick Fanning levelled from a ’45 (3-6 each), before two points of the highest quality drew gasps of admiration from the engrossed crowd.
Michael Jordan registered the first after an effortless turn, but Jamie Kinsella matched that with an equally memorable reply.
Rian Cullen caught Patrick Fanning’s probing ball in and rattled the net yet again to give Castletown a 4-7 to 3-7 advantage, with Callum Kavanagh-Byrne making a fine save to deny Michael Jordan before Conor Wickham added to an initial pull from Tom Jackman and levelled with a close-range finish.
It was real edge-of-the-seat stuff at this stage, with Fanning and Jordan swapping points from placed balls before Wickham struck the winner off his left side to decide one of the best Rackard League finals I can recall since reporting on my first in 1988.
Oulart: George O’Connor; Luke Mongan, Conor O’Sullivan, Andrew Kehoe; Darragh O’Connor, Conor Carroll, Julian Trembacz; Ben Reddy, Adam Redmond (capt., 0-1 ’45); Charlie Redmond, Jack Ormonde, Michael Jordan (2-4, 0-2 frees); Finn O’Kane, Conor Wickham (2-1), Tadhg O’Dea (0-1). Subs. (rolling) – Tom Jackman (0-2), Cillian Redmond, Ted Cussen, Thomas Hyland, Páidí Harris, Martin Fortune, Ryan Dowling, Viktor Dabrowski, Conor Breen, Archie Morton-Broom, Ajay Moran, Darren Kehoe, David Sinnott, Seán Galavan, Conor Merrigan, Cian Heffernan, Cormac O’Hanlon, Niall Rochford, Jason Cox, Cristian Valentine Pop.
Castletown: Callum Kavanagh-Byrne; Rossa Cullen, Ben Morris, Alex Brogan; Cian Horan, Finn O’Brien, Jim Kavanagh; Patrick Fanning (co-capt., 0-6, 4 frees, 2 ’45s), Stephen O’Flaherty; Will Gardiner (cocapt.), Charlie Kavanagh, D.J. Carroll; Jamie Kinsella (0-1), Rian Cullen (cocapt., 4-1), Jamie McNamara. Subs. (rolling) – Cian Lilley, Oisín White, Aidan Hempenstall, Daniel Goland, Adam Noctor, Jack Robbins, Fionn Sunderland-Hayes.
Referee: Eamonn Furlong (Rapparees).