Results of the Rackard League finals played in Wexford Park this week
Allianz Roinn C Camogie Ballindaggin 5-5 Castletown 0-0
Allianz Hurling Roinn A Piercestown 5-9 Gorey CBS 1-3
Allianz Hurling Roinn B Taghmon 3-6 Rathangan 2-4
Allianz Hurling Roinn C Oylegate 3-4 Crossabeg 1-4
Allianz Rackard League Roinn C Hurling Final
Oylegate 3-4 Crossabeg 1-4
Oylegate put several near misses over the last few years behind them to capture the Allianz Roinn C title in this pulsating derby match against near neighbours Crossabeg on Tuesday evening last in the county grounds.
The game started at a frenetic pace with both teams letting the ball fly in the early stages. It was the boys in blue who struck first when Pierce Murphy whipped the ball to the net following good work from Liam Stamp and Cormac Quirke inside the opening minute. Crossabeg, who claimed the football C title earlier this year, responded immediately when Lorcan Murphy broke through the Oylegate defence and his low shot found the back of the net to level the scores with two minutes gone. A pointed free from the skilful Damien Reck restored the Oylegate lead only to be cancelled out by a terrific long range effort by the hard working Crossabeg midfielder Conor Barlow. Barlow edged Crossabeg into the lead for the first time with a pointed free with twelve minutes gone 1-2 to 1-1. This score signalled a period of dominance for Oylegate however they found it difficult to translate this into scores as time and again David Kehoe and Ronan Devereux blocked, hooked and cleared many Oylegate attacks. However, as half time approached Tommy O’Rourke broke free from a ruck of players to crack a piledriver to the roof of the Crossabeg net to send them in leading 2-1 to 1-2 at half time.
Lee Kehoe opened the scoring in the second half when he fired over a fine point from the open stand side to edge Oylegate further ahead. Both defences were on top at this displaying all the skills of blocking , hassling and hooking and closing down any space for the forwards. The Oylegate half back line of Peter Rowley, Damien Reck and Joe Foley in particular gave a masterclass in defensive play as Oylegate continued to dominate exchanges. They were rewarded when Liam Stamp was quickest to the rebound, after a good save by Luke Redmond from a Pierce Murphy shot, and he fired to the net to make it 3-2 to 1-2 with twenty minutes gone. Crossabeg displaying plenty of character responded with a pointed free after Luke Redmond, who moved out of goal to full forward, was fouled. Lee Kehoe steadied Oylegate nerves with a kicked minor with only minutes remaining. Crossabeg keep attacking and were unlucky to see Luke Redmond’s stinging free deflected over the bar. However it was only fitting that a Damien Reck pointed free should seal a famous victory for the Oylegate boys with the final stroke of the game.
Afterwards a delighted Liam Stamp accepted the Allianz Rackard Cup from John Brennan of the Rackard League.
Oylegate: Ryan Burke, Jack Reck, Adam Shanahan, Niall Parker, Peter Rowley, Damien Reck, Joe Foley, Mike Kelly, Conor Nolan, Tommy O’Rourke, Evan Kelly, Lee Kehoe, Cormac Quirke, Liam Stamp, Pierce Murphy. Eoghan O’Brien, Tomas Cosgrave, Kevin Cosgrave, Richard Murphy, Richard Kelly, Seán Kenny, David Mulligan, Ryhan Fitzpatrick, Mikey Nolan.
Crossabeg: Luke Redmond, Alex Sludds Bradshaw, David Kehoe, Cathal Devereux, Lorcan Cummins, Ronan Devereux, Tommy Ring, Conor Barlow, Lorcan Murphy, Evan Kinlough, Oran Maddock, Jack Fortune, James White, Robert Cullen, Robert Murphy. Robert Scallan, Niall O’Connor, Fergal Grannell, Tommy O’Connor, Shane Boylan, Fionn Griffin, Tony Laffan.
Referee Ger O’Reilly.
Allianz Rackard League Hurling B Final
Taghmon 3-6 Rathangan 2-4
Taghmon edged out Rathangan on Wednesday evening to complete a hard fought victory in the Allianz Rackard League B hurling championship. It was a momentous day for Taghmon as it was only last year that they had won the C championship. Both teams were undefeated in earlier rounds of the League and on paper little seemed to separate the teams. As it turned out little would separate these teams with Taghmon’s sharper forward line the only difference on the day.
Early exchanges between the teams showed that no quarter would be given by either side. 50/50 challenges were contested as keenly as a senior championship final with both teams’ defences remaining tight and on top. Brian Kavanagh opened the scoring with a twenty yard pile driver that gave the Taghmon goalkeeper no chance. Dylan O’Brien quickly added a point as Rathangan threatened to run amok. Luke Sinnott, playing as a roving forward for Taghmon, opened his team’s scoring with a point from an acute angle before Brian Kavanagh added his second point for Rathangan. Minutes later following a scramble, Sinnott blasted Taghmon’s opening goal. Ben Moore scored a fine individual point for Rathangan as the encounter became more tense and exciting with each minute. The later part of the first half though was dominated by Taghmon as their defence negated Rathangan’s forwards. Stephen O’Keefe in goal was especially alert when he saved a certain Rathangan goal. Taghmon’s captain (Shane Doyle) narrowed the difference with a well hit free before Luke Sinnott blasted home his second goal with a twenty yard free. When Seamus Whelan blew up for half time Taghmon led 2-2 to 1-3.
The second half burst into life when Brian Carroll scored a fine individual goal for Rathangan. Two minutes later though Pete Murphy followed up a good save by the Rathangan goalie (David Murray) to add Taghmons third goal. Rathangan responded by putting Taghmon under huge pressure but Taghmon’s full back line held firm. Seán O’Keeffe added another point for Taghmon before Dylan O’Brien responded with what turned out to be Rathangan’s last score. Shane Doyle added another fine free to leave a goal between the teams. Stephen O’Keeffe then pulled of a fantastic save as Rathangan pushed for an equaliser. Alex Gondard added a well worked point for Taghmon before Shane Doyle added one last free as Taghmon recorded a historic victory.
Following the game Shane Doyle received the Allianz Rackard League trophy on behalf of Taghmon. He thanked all his team, the teachers from Taghmon and Caroreigh and the huge crowd present from both schools.
Taghmon: S.O’Keefe, D.O’Keefe, D.Hayden, D.Winters, S.Lacey, S.Doyle, J.Banville, J.Murphy, S.O’Keefe, A.Gondard, A. Roche, O. McLoughlin, P.Murphy, L.Sinnott, C.Doyle, D.Winters, T.Banville, J.Hanley, J.Banville, N.Banville, A. Doyle, A.Hanley, R.Gaynor, J.Murphy
Rathangan: D.Murray, K.Kennedy, V.Carroll, A.Moore, B.Stone, F.O’Driscoll, P.Rawson, B Moore, B Ryan, A Kennedy, A.Walsh, B. Kavanagh, D.O’Brien, I. Bennett, B.Carroll, S.Staples, D.Kavanagh, B.Roche, C. Ryan, E.Cleary, F.Ronan, B.Byrne, R.Farrell, E.Daly, D.Byrne, D.Kent.
Allianz Rackard League Hurling A Final
Piercestown 5-9 Gorey C.B.S 1-4
On Wednesday evening Wexford park played host to the Rackard League hurling finals. Piercestown defeated Gorey C.B.S in the Allianz sponsored Rackard League A final. In doing so they completed 3 in a row A titles. They also gained revenge over Gorey who defeated them in the football decider played earlier in the season. Both teams had topped their respective divisions earlier in the league part of the campaign and seasoned observers would claim there was little to separate them before the game.
Piercestown won the toss and played with a stiff wind behind them in the first half. In early exchanges Piercestown soon set the tempo which they would control for most of the game. Central to their control was the midfield partnership of Conor Firman and Barry O’Connor. Firman indeed soon opened the scoring with a well struck free from an acute angle. Worse was to follow when Jack Devereux shook loose his marker and fired home an unstoppable goal. Firman kept the scoreboard ticking over with another point before Rory O’Connor rifled home a fantastic goal. Firman then pointed to leave Piercestown 2-3 ahead after fifteen minutes. Tiernan Doyle then gave Gorey hope with their opening score following good defensive work by Seamus O’Donnell. Rory O’Connor soon added his second goal following a great pass from Shane Parle. Cian Ryan, Barry O’Connor, Michael Codd and Shane Parle then added four more points as Piercestown threatened to run away with the game before Seamus Whelan blew up the first half to leave Piercestown leading 4-6 to 0-1.
Barry O’Connor opened the second half with a fantastic point for Piercestown from way out on the sideline. Gorey, to their credit, refused to drop their heads and soon began to make an impact on the game. They were helped greatly when Tiernan Doyle drove home a twenty yard free to give Gorey their opening goal. Piercestown refused to panic though and Firman responded with another point. Gorey continued to press and Callum Quirke the Piercestown goalie pulled off two splendid saves within minutes of each other to deny Gorey two certain goals. Piercestown continued to look dangerous though with Firman adding another point to his tally with a well struck free. Maurice Cousins replied with a pointed free from a huge distance before Stephen Doyle added Piercestown’s fifth goal following excellent team work. In the dying seconds Cousins drove over another point but it was too little too late for Gorey.
Conor Firman and Barry O’Connor the joint captains received the trophy to great acclaim from the Pierectown and Murrintown crowds.
Piercestown: C.Quirke, B.Maddock, P. Dempsey, P. Walsh, E. O’Leary, C. Ryan, K. Firman, C. Firman, B.O’Connor, A. Cantwell, P.Barry, S. Parle, S. Doyle, M.Codd, J.Devereuax, R. O’Connor, C.Dunne, A.McLaughlin, S.Audsley, C.Kelly, J. Roche.
Gorey C.BS: J.Cullen, T.Cleary, S.O’Donnell, B.O’Connor, J.Cushe, E.Molloy, M.Cousins, C.Donohoe, E.kennedy, O.Doyle, N.Sinnot, C.McGuckin, T.Doyle, E.O’Bien-Murphy, E.O’Dywer, T.S. Hempentall, S.Delaney, P.Carton, M.Molloy, C,Travers, B.O’Doherty, D.Connolly, M.Duke, A.Byrne
Reports by Andy Hanrahan and submitted by Seamus Kavanagh PRO Rackard League.