A general view of Chadwicks Wexford Park. Photo by Tyler Miller/Sportsfile
Wexford SFC Final
Castletown 0-9 Gusserane O'Rahillys 0-6
By Ronan Fagan at Chadwicks Wexford Park
Castletown annexed their second Wexford SFC title in three years despite losing Jonathan Bealin to a red-card in first-half injury-time in Sunday’s rain-lashed decider at Chadwicks Wexford Park.
Bealin had just edged the eventual winners into a 0-4 to 0-3 lead before being red-carded for an off the ball offence on the brink of half-time.
The deplorable conditions did them no harm though as they defiantly held out to make amends for last year’s final defeat to Shelmaliers and book a Leinster Club quarter-final on November 10th against either Dunshaughlin (Meath) or St. Loman’s (Westmeath).
But they are also chasing a domestic double next Sunday, when they challenge Monageer-Boolavogue for Wexford Intermediate ‘A’ hurling glory.
Gusserane availed of first advantage of the wind amid heavy rain as free-taker Mark Rossiter and Jamie Sheehan eased them out of the traps.
And while Castletown centre-back Colin Kennedy pegged it back to 0-2 to 0-1, opposing full-back Mark O’Neill quickly regained a two point advantage after 13 minutes.
Cautious Castletown then emerged from their defensive shell to pose serious questions, and Rory Heffernan forced a ’45 which ‘keeper Darragh Brooks pointed, before Conor Carty levelled (0-3 apiece).
Gusserane had ample opportunities to transform matters, but broke a point adrift after Bealin added to the Castletown scoring before he was sent off for a punching offence.
Free-taker Mark Rossiter had Gusserane back on terms shortly after the restart, but Castletown quickly regained the upper-hand as Joe Gardiner, Brendan Halpin (free) and Jack Higgins forged a 0-7 to 0-4 advantage after 43 minutes.
Eoin Ryan and Rossiter (free) kept 2016 champions Gusserane in the hunt as they closed to within 0-7 to 0-6 after 54 minutes.
But Castletown snuffed out further danger before Brendan Halpin (free) and Gavin Kelly helped guide them to the spoils.
Scorers for Castletown: Brendan Halpin 0-2 (2fs), Colin Kennedy, Darragh Brooks (’45), Conor Carty, Jonathan Bealin, Joe Gardiner, Jack Higgins, Gavin Kelly 0-1 each.
Scorers for Gusserane: Mark Rossiter 0-3 (3fs), Jamie Sheehan, Mark O’Neill, Eoin Ryan 0-1 each.
Castletown: Darragh Brooks; Joe Ahern, Danny Gardiner, Ross Cody; Frank Roche, Colin Kennedy, Killian Pierce; Rory Heffernan, Joe Gardiner; Jack Higgins, Conor Carty, Donnacha Holmes; Jonathan Bealin, Robbie Brooks, Brendan Halpin.
Subs: Gavin McNulty for J. Gardiner (49), Gavin Kelly for O’Shaughnessy (53), Marcus Wallace for Cody (60).
Gusserane: Mark Flynn; Adrian Redmond, Mark O’Neill, Jack O’Connor; Jamie Sheehan, Gavin Sheehan, Jack Burford; John Roche (joint-capt.), Ciarán Conway; Eoin Ryan, Adrian Flynn, Cillian Kehoe; Seán Ryan (joint-capt.), Páraic Conway, Mark Rossiter.
Subs: Kenneth Cahill for C. Conway (40), Cormac Kiely for J. Sheehan (40), Evan Kiely for O’Connor (46), Graeme Cullen for Flynn (51), Aaron Whelan for O’Neill (56). Sin-bin: Aaron Whelan (60+3).
Referee: Fintan O’Reilly (Kilmore).
