St Martin’s (Wexford) 0-24; Shamrocks (Kilkenny) 2-17
It’s not too often that Wexford teams get the better of their Kilkenny counterparts in a tight finish - and maybe that was why there was such exhilaration at St Martin’s late, late victory over record holders of provincial and All Ireland club crowns Ballyhale Shamrocks in Croke Park on Saturday evening.
This was an intriguing battle with a quirky storyline which saw young Ben Stafford come off the bench for 90 seconds to hit the sweetest point of his life to bring home the silverware to Piercetown outside Wexford town last weekend.
As star player and scorer in chief Jack O”Connor said afterwards: "Ben has the best wrists in the club so it was great the chance fell to him.”
Henry Shefflin's Shamrocks were sick as two minutes earlier they had just forged into the lead courtesy of a great point from Richie Reid, who took a pass from his brother TJ to raise what looked like the winning flag of the day.
They could almost touch their 13th title when it was whipped away by their neighbours, the first Model men to win since Oulart-The Ballagh, back in 2012.
Jack O'Connor scored six points from play and was the winner’s talisman while brother Rory notched 11 mostly from frees for the side managed by Daithi Hayes. And their cousin Barry O’Connor, back from Aussie Rules duties, also put in a huge hour’s effort as he worked tirelessly against an accomplished Shamrock’s rearguard.
The sides were level 10 times over the hour and five times late in the game as the pendulum leaned one way, then the other as both sides went for glory.
The delight of victory was backed by the fact that the relative newcomers were taking over this year from a team which has been there or thereabouts for nearly three decades.
The Martin’s, as they are known locally, now advance to another big test when facing perennial Waterford and Munster champions, Ballygunner the week before Christmas.
A Leinster title to savour, Jack O’Connor’s wedding this week to Grace Walsh, sister of Kilkenny’s former star Tommy and an All Ireland semi-final… they won’t have time to pluck the turkey down that part of Wexford in the coming weeks.
Ballyboden St Enda's (Dublin) 2-18 Athy (Kildare) 1-14
Almost to an alarming extent, Dublin has dominated the eastern province at club and intercounty level in recent times.
It took Louth to stop the rot on the intercounty front earlier this year and the expectation was that Kildare’s Athy could very well carry the red and white colors to a second Leinster success in Croke Park on Saturday evening when they set out against Ballyboden St Enda’s who were looking to win to make it a sixth title in succession for Dublin clubs.
They started the first half as if they meant to obliterate their Lily rivals but a revival saw the Athy boys go ahead before half-time.
A Ryan Basquel goal and a point gave the Dubs a four point advantage and then a power packed third quarter saw them kill off the game, before allowing their opponents some late consolation scores which put more of a respectable look on the final score.
So the club's third provincial title arrived after they had at one stage established a 14-point lead before seriously taking their foot off the accelerator.
The 2016 All Ireland champs now face Daingean of Kerry in a tough semi-final. However with Ryan to the fore and ex-All-Star brother Colm and current Dublin colleague Ross McGarry notching nine points between them, there is strength in depth in this squad. Throw in county hurler Patrick Dunleavy, who shot the second goal for the winners and Galway’s dominating midfielder Cein D'Arcy and you can see what they fancy their chances of going all the way again.
Eamon O'Reilly’s Ballyboden were mighty impressive on this showing while Athy may point to the absence of Tailteann Cup Team of the Year All-Star James McGrath as a huge loss.
