Naomh Éanna 2-18 Oylegate-Glenbrien 2-12
Oylegate-Glenbrien made a fight of it but were overwhelmed by the sheer power and hurling elan of the Gorey side at Wexford Park on Sunday afternoon.
When the underdogs appearing in their first decider in 60 years made a bolt for home early in the second half and went a goal up, there was a moment when it looked like they were capable of causing a mighty shock.
Naomh Éeanna then showed why they had been champions recently and faced with the challenge, they now only accepted it but blew it away by taking control and outsourcing their opponents by eight points to ease to victory by game’s end.
Early green flags in either half gave Oylegate-Glenbrien great confidence but fresh from remembering a loss three years ago to Shelmaliers, the Saints made sure they would not be the bridesmaids on this occasion.
A fine crowd of almost 7,000 attended a very lively encounter and got full value for their money with Podge Doran’s goal giving the underdogs an early 1-2 to 0--0 lead.
A good sign of champions-elect is an ability to deal with setbacks and by the eighth minute, the winners were motoring thanks to a fine goal from Pádraig Doyle with Charlie McGuckin immediately tacking on a point.
The game went one way and then the other over the rest of the half and by the break it was even Steven at 1-8 apiece. Doran’s second major on the resumption suggested more of the same but the Gorey outfit then tightened the screw and gave their opponents little or no riggle room for the rest of the contest.
A flurry of points from McGuckian (three) and Conor McDonald put them on the front foot before county man McDonald sealed the issue after grabbing a high delivery to crash the ball home after 46 minutes.
Naomh Éanna: J Cushe; B Travers, E Molloy, T Stafford; C McGuckin (0-4), C Molloy, C Ó Tuama; S Doyle, J Doran; C Browne (0-1), Cl Dunbar (0-2), J Cullen (0-5, 0-4f); A Doyle, C McDonald (1-4), P Doyle (1-2, 0-1f) Subs: E Conroy for S. Doyle, temp. (26-27), S Óg Whelan for Doran (65), E Conroy for Travers (58),
Oylegate-Glenbrien: A Duggan; T Cosgrave, C Hourihane, S Reck; M Kelly, D Reck, P Casey; P Cullen, J Reck (0-2); F Hourihane, S Casey (1-7, 0-5f, 0-2 ‘65s), J Dunne; C Heffernan (0-1), P Doran (1-2, 0-2 l-bs), P Rowley Subs: J Reck for Hourihane (43), E Kelly for Heffernan (53), F Doran for Rowley (55),
Ref: D Crosby (Kilmore).
