The Bray Emmets hurlers celebrate after victory over Carnew Emmet in the Wicklow SHC Final.
Lightning Protection Ireland Wicklow SHC Final
Bray Emmets 0-23 Carnew Emmets 4-8
By Brendan Lawrence at Echelon Park, Aughrim
“In the end, they grinded it out,” was Bray Emmets join manager John Henderson’s immediate reaction having watched his side create more hurling history in Wicklow by winning their sixth O’Donoghue Cup in a row thanks to a 0-23 to 4-8 victory over Carnew Emmets in Echelon Park Aughrim on Sunday afternoon.
“They had lots of obstacles, ourselves mostly, most of it self-inflicted, but we kept keeping the game alive,” added the former Kilkenny great. “But character is character, and I have so much admiration for them. And I have known most of them for such a long time, but to see them perform today and to do what wasn’t done before, I’m very, very proud of every one of them,” he said.
Bray Emmets had to work incredibly hard for this title, pushed all the way by a Carnew Emmets side who led by a point at the break but will probably reflect on a period in the second half where discipline let them down and the outstanding Christy Moorehouse was on hand to punish severely.
The impressive Jack Doyle caused havoc in the Bray full-back line for a time, rifling home two goals in the opening half, but yet another powerful display from the Bray Emmets half-back line and superb displays from Diarmuid Masterson, Eoin McCormack, Marc Lennon and Ronan McMahon helped the defending champions gain a foothold in the game where it looked in danger of slipping away.
Doyle’s first goal, a wicked shot to the roof of Conor McNally’s net, made it 1-1 to 0-3 in favour of Eamonn Scallan’s men, Justin House with their point while Bray Emmets had white flags from Masterson, Ronan McMahon and Masterson again.
Carnew made it 1-3 to 0-3 and then 2-3 to 0-5, Doyle’s second goal putting some daylight between the sides with 15 gone but Bray Emmets have this innate ability to claw their way back on the scoreboard, and they did this through points from Masterson (free), Andrew Conway, Moorehouse (two frees) and Eoin McCormack to leave it 2-5 to 0-10 at the break in favour of the challengers.
Bray Emmets have become known for a scoring spree in the third quarter of games so there was no surprise in Echelon Park Aughrim when they turned around to play with the wind and register five points on the bounce from Moorehouse (three, two frees), Eoin McCormack and Marc Lennon who booted the ball inches over Bob Fitzgerald’s crossbar.
But Carnew struck back with a hefty blow when Eoin Kavanagh got on the end of a breaking ball in the Bray square to finish home past Conor McNally and to cut the lead to one, Kavanagh levelling matters moments later from a free, 12 gone second half.
But Bray Emmets steadied the ship, bringing Brian Nesbitt and Arran Murphy off the bench, the former would finish with two excellent points from play, and Christy Moorehouse would fire over the next four scores (frees) won by both him and Eoin McCormack who was huge in the second half.
Nesbitt’s brace and two more from Moorehouse (one free) were mixed in with a Pádraig Doran point from a free and a fine effort from Carnew substitute Fionn D’Arcy who looked at home when introduced, and although goalkeeper Bob Fitzgerald lashed home a late free to the back of the Bray net, time ran out for Eamonn Scallan’s men and Bray were crowned Wicklow Senior hurling champions for a sixth year running.
John Henderson Snr paid tribute to the Carnew Emmets team, saying he knew the challenge they were going to bring to the table.
“We knew they would (put up a serious battle), I’m not just saying it just for something to say, but the respect I have for them (is huge), because I know what tradition is, and I know what it means to the people down there. I know what we were up against. We were up against the parish, and you have to come good.
“And we are a parish, too. We might be a big place, but we are a parish when it comes to hurling,” he said.
Bray Emmets: Conor McNally; Cian Lohan, Karl Lacey, Seanie Maloney; Luke Maloney, John Henderson, Daire Henderson; Pádraig Doyle, Diarmuid Masterson (0-4, 1f); Ronan McMahon (0-1), Christy Moorehouse (0-12, 10f), Marc Lennon (0-1); Eoin McCormack (0-2), Andy Conway (0-1), Davy Maloney. Subs: Brian Nesbitt (0-2) for A. Conway (41), Arran Murphy for P. Doyle (43), Shane Lohan for C. Lohan (59), Conor Broderick for D Maloney (60+1), Daire Lohan for D Henderson (60+2).
Carnew Emmets: Bob Fitzgerald (1-0, f); Cormac Redmond, Conall McCrea, Martin O’Brien; Tommy Collins, Ruairi O’Brien, Aaron Kinsella; Justin House (0-1), Pádraig Doran (0-2, 1f); Kenneth Cullen, Eoin Kavanagh (1-4, 4f), Wayne Kinsella; Dan Redmond, Jack Doyle (2-0), John Doyle Jnr. Subs: Adrian Myers for K Cullen (41), Fionn D’Arcy (0-1) for E Kavanagh (51), Damien Aylward for J House (56).
Referee: John Keenan (Aughrim)
