Rathnure, winners of the title on 16 previous occasions, regained the Wexford senior hurling championship at O'Kennedy Park, New Ross, yesterday when they came from behind to pip Enniscorthy Rapparees by the minimum margin.
The 1996 champions owed their success to a powerful second half performance which saw them wipe out a four points interval deficit (0-9 to 0-5) and then hold a late rally by their rivals.
Rapparees, whose last success was 20 years ago, had a great chance of bringing the game to a replay, but Ollie O'Connor's 65 was pushed wide of the right post.
Michael O'Leary shot an inspirational point from a line-ball in the first minute and he was to add another from play before his side went four points clear.
Tomas Mahon opened Rapparees' account in the eighth minute and the Enniscorthy side drew level in the 15th minute when Brian Kehoe, a son of Padge of All-Ireland fame, shot over the bar. They forged ahead six minutes later and ended the half with a four-point lead.
However, Rathnure dominated from the restart and two great points by Austin Codd in the space of a minute reduced arrears to the minimum. The sides were level for the third time when Paul Codd sent over a midfield free.
Jimmy Houlihan (41) signalled his entry into the fray by forcing a free which was pointed by Paul Codd. Michael O'Leary added another point in the 19th minute and Martin Byrne did well to put three points between the sides. Rapparees live wire forward, Ollie O'Connor, left only a point between them again, but he should have secured the equaliser with the last puck of the game.
RATHNURE: J Morrissey, S Somers, J Conran, D Guiney, R Guiney, M O'Leary (0-4), J Mooney, M Byrne (0-1), M Redmond, P Codd (0-3), A Codd (0-2), R Codd, M Morrissey (0-2), C Byrne, B [ RO] O'Leary (0-1). Subs: D O'Leary for Somers, J Houlihan for C Byrne.
RAPPAREES: B Ivers, J Mackey, M Foley, N Sunderland, D Ivers, G Kavanagh, L Ronan, A Fenlon, R Quigley (0-1), T Mahon (0-1), D Mahon, O O'Connor (0-5), B Kehoe (0-2), J Kelly (0-1), M Walsh (0-2). Subs: R Furlong for Kelly, P Courtney for D Mahon.
Referee: J Synnott (Cloughbawn).
