St Martin’s 1-15

St Anne’s 1-13

St Martin's ended the St Anne's fairytale with a hard-earned victory in the Wexford SHC final at Innovate Wexford Park.

St Anne's were the surprise packets of this year's championship, taking out Rapparees in the semi-final, but they failed to take advantage of Rory O'Connor's suspension as their much-fancied neighbours made amends for their defeat to Naomh Éanna in last year's final to claim their fourth title.

With Joe Coleman in fine scoring form, St Martin's had opened up a three-point lead before Jake Firman scored a controversial goal to send them into the break with a 1-10 to 0-7 advantage.

Diarmuid O’Keeffe posted 0-6 (0-5 from frees) in the first half for the Rathangan men and he converted two more placed balls after the restart to reduce the gap before points from Joe and Mikey Coleman restored the winners' six-point lead.

The margin was still the same with 20 minutes remaining, but St Anne's refused to throw in the towel and halved the deficit with two more O'Keeffe points and from one from hurler-cum-jockey Mikey Fogarty. 

St Anne's missed the chance the regain parity in the 48th minute when Mark Furlong hit the upright from a penalty. Following that let-off, Joe Coleman put St Martin's four up, but they were left hanging on for the win afer Darragh Furlong grabbed a late goal for the underdogs.

St Martin's - L White; C Firman, Joe O’Connor, M Maloney; D Waters, W Devereux, P O’Connor; A Maddock, H O’Connor; J Coleman (0-6, 5f), Jack O’Connor (0-2), J Firman (1-2); D Codd (0-2), C Lyng, M Coleman (0-3). Subs: M Codd for M Maloney, K Firman for D Codd, E O’Leary for P O’Connor, B Maddock for M Coleman, J Devereux for J Firman.

St Anne's - P Brennan; P O’Keeffe, T Cullen, K Clooney; K Whelan, A Craig, M Fogarty (0-1); D O’Keeffe (0-11, 7f, 2'65), A Rochford; L Rochford, M Furlong, L Og McGovern; D Furlong (1-1), R Barry, J Fogarty. Subs: Diarmuid O’Connor for L Og McGovern, D O’Connor for J Fogarty.

Referee - D Crosby.

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