St Martin’s storm to title

THE modern giants of Wexford hurling were dethroned in emphatic fashion as St Martin’s turned in a storming closing 20 minutes to win by a comfortable tenpoint margin at Innovate Wexford Park. St Martin’s were out to avenge the final defeat of two years ago but had to survive a tetchy opening 15 minutes when they trailed 1-3 to 0-2, Garrett Sinnott having fired the champions in front after just five minutes, capitalising on a breaking ball to the right of goal to fire low into the left-hand corner. Oulart put the loss of star forward Dessie Mythen behind them and capitalised with Nicky Kirwan’s pointed frees. Oulart led 1-5 to 0-3 after 22 minutes, but the next two minutes were key. St Martin’s first goal arrived in unusual circumstances. Rory O’Connor stepped up to a free 25 metre in front of goal, played a short ball across to the unmarked Ciaran Lyng who blasted an unstoppable shot to the roof of the net, and the challengers led 1-7 to 1-5 at the interval. Nicky Kirwan hit two pointed frees within minutes of the restart to bring the sides level, but Rory O’Connor now began to dominate, aided by eventual man of the match Daithi Waters, as St Martin’s built a 1-12 to 1-8 lead. Joe O’Connor’s goal closed out a dramatic and deserved victory on 60 minutes.

ST MARTIN’S: L White; W Devereux, P O’Connor, C Firman; D Waters, A Maddock, P Kelly; H O’Connor (B O’Connor 55), M Maloney (M Coleman 52); J Firman (M Codd 55), Joe O’Connor (E O’Leary 60), Jack O’Connor; C Lyng, R O’Connor, D Codd (J Coleman 18).

Scorers: C Lyng 1-2, R O’Connor 0-5 (4f), Joe O’Connor 1-1, J Coleman 0-3, J Firman 0-2, D Waters P Kelly, Jack O’Connor 0-1.

OULART-THE BALLAGH: C O’Leary; A Roche (M Jacob 58), K Rositer, B Kehoe; D Morton, S Murphy, K Sheridan; D Redmond, E Moore; R Jacob, M Óg Storey (B Dunne 37), P Murphy (P Sutton 49); T Storey (D Mythen 48), G Sinnott, N Kirwan. Scorers: N Kirwan 0-6 (6f), G Sinnott 1-0, K Sheridan, D Redmond, R Jacob 0-1.

Referee: J Owens (Askamore/Kilrush).