WEXFORD HURLING FINAL - St Martin's 1-13 Oulart-the-Ballagh 1-8:ST MARTIN'S showed the hunger of a side without a title win in nine years when they devastated holders Oulart-the-Ballagh with a stunning display in this excellent Wexford senior hurling final at Wexford Park yesterday.
Going into the game St Martin's hadn't won a senior title since 1999, which was their solitary senior success, but against the reigning champions they showed colossal appetite for the battle and simply outplayed Oulart-the-Ballagh with a devastating display, even when their backs were to the wall during a tense a second-half period.
St Martin's enjoyed the ideal start and led 1-3 to 0-2 at the end of the opening quarter, a lead that could have been greater but for some wayward shooting.
Their crucial goal came when Eoin Quigley won possession in midfield, shook off several tackles, before placing a long ball into the path of corner forward Philip Murphy, who made 20 metres before flashing the ball to the net from close range. They led by 1-7 to 0-2 at half-time.
ST MARTIN'S:P O'Connor; D Sane, K Furlong, D Hayes; W Devereux, R McCarthy, J Coleman (0-1); E Quigley (0-2), D Lyng (0-8, 0-4 frees, 0-2, 65s); P Kelly, T Waters, J Boggan; P Murphy (1-0), R Quigley, B Lambert (0-1). Subs: C Lyng (0-1) for Boggan; R Wilson for Murphy.
OULART-THE-BALLAGH:P Dempsey; J Roche, P Roche, B Kehoe; M Jacob (0-1), D Stamp, D Morton; L Dunne, D Redmond; S Doyle, K Rossiter, R Jacob (1-1, 1-0 free); N Kirwan (0-6, 0-2 frees, 0-1, 65), A O'Leary, D Mythen. Subs: E Moore for Dunne; B O'Connor for Redmond.
Referee:J Kelly (Naomh Eanna).
