David Codd, St Martin's, and Aidan Rochford, St Anne's, in Wexford SHC Final action. Photo by Piaras Ó Mídheach/Sportsfile
Wexford SHC Final
St Martin's 1-22 St Anne's, Rathangan 0-19
By Ronan Fagan at Chadwicks Wexford Park
St. Martin’s are Wexford SHC champions for the fifth time after Barry O’Connor pounced for a 46th minute goal in Sunday’s decider against neighbours St. Anne’s at Chadwicks Wexford Park
A productive spell either side of half-time saw St. Martin’s, chasing their first title since 2019, soar into a 0-12 to 0-6 advantage.
But St. Anne’s roused themselves to within 0-15 to 0-13 when recent Australian Rules player O’Connor scrambled home the key blow after his cousin and namesake, inter-county ace Rory, had put pressure on the ‘keeper.
And Daithí Hayes’ charges saw out the deal to atone for their 2022 final defeat to Ferns St. Aidan’s, and earn a Leinster Club quarter-final trip to Kildare powerhouse Naas on November 17th.
Rory O’Connor and Darren Codd snapped St. Martin’s into 0-2 to 0-0 lead before Diarmuid O’Keeffe stifled them while inspiring St. Anne’s to transform matters by 0-4 to 0-2 after fifteen minutes.
Captain Justin Moran sparked the transformation with a seventh minute score, and after Cillian Byrne produced a ninth minute equaliser, Kyle Kennedy pinged a couple of frees.
St. Martin’s addressed some poor finishing to regain parity on 0-5 apiece after 24 minutes with the aid of a trio of frees from Rory O’Connor.
An exchange of points was followed by the eventual winners surging into a 0-10 to 0-6 interval divide as Jake Firman snapped them back in front before Darren Codd shot his second and third points either side of Jack O’Connor firing over a free from distance.
The gap extended to double-scores after Kyle Firman and Rory O’Connor (’65) struck shortly after the resumption.
But typically tenacious St. Anne’s dominated the remainder of the third quarter to close to within 0-15 to 0-13 midway through the half.
Liam Rochford, Liam Óg McGovern and free-taker Kennedy all struck braces in that spell as sub Darragh Furlong also found the range for the Rathangan men.
But they were then dealt that major blow with Barry O’Connor’s somewhat fortuitous goal, and while St. Anne’s never gave up the ghost, four closing Rory O’Connor points helped safeguard St. Martin’s return to the Wexford throne a week after having suffered defeat in the county Intermediate football final.
Scorers for St. Martin’s: Rory O’Connor 0-11 (7 frees, 1 ’65), Darren Codd 0-3, Barry O’Connor 1-0, Joe Barrett, Jake Firman, Jack O’Connor 0-2 each, Kyle Firman, Ben Maddock 0-1 each
Scorers for St. Anne’s: Kyle Kennedy 0-7 (7fs), Mark Furlong 0-4 (3fs), Liam Rochford 0-3, Liam Óg McGovern 0-2, Justin Moran, Cillian Byrne, Darragh Furlong 0-1 each
St. Martin’s: Dylan Byrne; Paddy O’Connor, Conor Firman (capt.), Philip Dempsey; Eoin O’Leary. Joe Barrett, Daithí Waters; David Codd, Jake Firman; Darren Codd, Jack O’Connor, Rory O’Connor; Jack Devereux, Barry O’Connor, Kyle Firman.
Subs: Sam Audsley for Firman, temp. (10-12), Conor Coleman for Devereux (39), Ben Maddock for K. Firman (50), Joe O’Connor for J. Firman (64), Audsley for O’Leary (65).
St. Anne’s: Andrew Kennedy; Liam Schokman, Tomás Cullen, Finn Ryan; Eoin Ryan, Kevin Breen, Páidí Doyle; Aidan Rochford, Diarmuid O’Keeffe; Justin Moran (capt.), Liam Óg McGovern, Cillian Byrne; Liam Rochford, Kyle Kennedy, Andrew Moran.
Subs: Darragh Furlong for Schokman (HT), Mark Furlong for K. Kennedy (50), Michael Fogarty for Byrne (54).
Referee: Justin Heffernan (Blackwater).
