Doubts over final score

Referee declares a draw

(Referee scored as 0-14 to 0-14) CONFUSION reigned supreme in Group ‘A’ of the Permanent TSB Junior Hurling Championship in Bree on Sunday as Horeswood were awarded an extremely valuable draw as score-keeping was once again brought into question in Wexford refereeing.

On this occasion, it appeared that referee Brendan Holohan may have forgotten to write down a Rapparees point, sometime at the beginning of the second half, meaning that the game ended as a tie rather than a win for the Enniscorthy side.

While there is clear uncertainty around the end result, what is undeniable is the quality of Holohan’s performance, excluding this isolated incident.

Referees are, of course, human and mistakes are certainly possible.

What needs to be addressed is why the most crucial detail of score-taking is the responsibility of just one person, especially when the demands of refereeing are already so high.

The game itself was as tight as you will see, with the sides finding themselves level on no less than nine occasions.

Early braces from Michael O’Hanlon and Anthony Murphy had the sides tied at two apiece before Anthony and John Murphy were on target to help the Rapps’ into a two-point lead.

This advantage was short-lived, and the game was level again by the break (0-6 to 0-6). Two apiece from O’Hanlon and Sean Nolan were answered by one minor each by the Murphy’s.

Both sides were on target twice more at the beginning of the second half before Horeswood pushed on and found themselves with a four-point lead (0-12 to 0-8), with O’Hanlon and Nolan once again scoring doubles.

Yet, the table-toppers answered back with five of their own consecutive points, two coming from Declan Ruth, as they took a single point lead with five to go.

O’Hanlon scored two more minimums before Lee Murphy levelled and John Murphy scored what should have been the winning free in injury time.

RAPPAREES: Jim O’Connor; Declan Courtney, Eoin Quigley (0-1), John Barron (capt.); Nathan O’Connor, Declan Ruth (0-2, 2 free), Anthony Peare; Cathal Ryan, Peter O’Sullivan; Lee Murphy (0-1), John Ryan, John Murphy (0-3, 3 frees); Mikey Dempsey, Jack Redmond, Anthony Murphy (0-7, 4 frees). Subs: Lee Tracey for Ryan (39), Neil McCrea (0-1) for Dempsey (39), Dee Cullen for Redmond (57).

HORESWOOD: Wayne Power; Mossy Kent, Shane O’Hanlon, Damien Byrne; Danny Byrne, Eamonn O’Sullivan, David Murphy; Sean Stafford, Jamie Myler; Eddie Breen, Gavin Murphy, Sean Nolan (0-4); John Bradley, Michael O’Hanlon (0-10, 8 frees, capt.), Eoin Murphy. Subs: Declan Murphy for E. Murphy (32), Dylan Whitty for Hearne (52).

REFEREE: Brendan Holohan (Rathnure)