Column: Assessing The Main Challengers To The Rapparees Wexford Senior Hurling Crown For 2022

Ladies and gentlemen, we are well and truly back to greatness. The Wexford senior hurling championship is starting to reach a boiling point with just one final group game left before the madness and mayhem of the quarter-finals at the end of the month…

Today, we’re going to assess the main challengers to the Rapparees’ crown and predict who will take Bob home in 2022.

Group A

Naomh Eanna

Group A’s leaders had barely put a foot wrong in this year’s championship coming up to last weekend. Their big scoring performances against Cloughbawn and Glynn Barntown put everyone else on notice. Conor McDonald’s viral flick and score against the latter showed that Samba hurling is very much back on the menu for the Gorey men.

Those rock-solid foundations started to shake a little when Crossabeg came to town. Suddenly the scores dried up and complacency set in as ball after ball was waved wide. All top teams need a test and this weekend Gorey will certainly get it against 2nd placed St Anne’s who are also fond of a goal. 

The Eoins, Molloy and Conroy, will have to shut up shop a little more and provide a launchpad for Charlie McGuckian and JJ Twamley to help out with the Mac attack. The county star had only 2 white flags last time out but will relish the physical nature of the championship as we get to the business end. A win against Rathangan would surely put Gorey as favourites for a title tilt.

St Anne’s Rathangan 

10 goals in four games and yet still not top of the table tells you all you need to know about last years finalists. The men in sky blue have been rattling nets all around the county but have contrived ways to lose games that should have been in their grasp. 

There’s debate over whether Lee Chin’s winner for Faythe Harriers was soft in helping the town men win their round 4 encounter but there’s no argument about whether they deserved their luck. It’s fierce unfortunate to score a hat trick and still end up on the losing side but that’s what we saw from Liam Og McGovern and his team as their ill-discipline caught up with them. Add that to the 3 point loss to Glynn and Rathangan have real questions to ask.

There’s still time to join Naomh Eanna on 6 points with a win this weekend but they can’t afford to give Padraig Doyle target practice. If they back themselves, the great entertainers could go into the knockouts with real confidence that they can trouble anyone. 

Cloughbawn 

With 4 teams on 4 points, there’s still plenty to play for in Group A. You could make a case for all four, but Cloughbawn have the best chance to improve on their recent run of so-so luck in this competition.

Group stage exits in 2017 and 2020 along with last year’s goodbye at the pre-quarters stage don’t tell the true story of the Cloughbawn journey. They merit their place in the knockouts proper and now have the opportunity to really show their mettle when the chips are down.

That starts against bottom side Faythe Harriers this weekend. More magic moments like Liam Flood’s goal against Glynn are needed to give this side the belief to live up to their potential. Any team in the country would be improved by the addition of the Whittys while the hooking and blocking from the likes of Connal Flood and Darragh Kehoe have given them the most miserly defence of the championship. A bit more from the men up top and Cloughbawn will battle their way to the semi-finals and perhaps more. 

Group B

Ferns St Aidan’s 

In a similar way to Naomh Eanna, Ferns’ year was going like a dream. Their massive come-from-behind win over the defending champions turned them from hopefuls into contenders in lightning speed. A comprehensive result against Rathnure furthered the belief that this is a side that’s aiming for more than just their almost traditional quarter-final bow.

The loss to Shelmaliers did pump the brakes and bring some perspective back to proceedings but Ferns should be asking “why not us”? They are a side with some of the finest stickmen in the South East. Paul Morris, James Tonks and Ian Byrne have given so much to the game that they deserve more than 1 final appearance for the club in over 50 years. 

As long as the handwringing over the Shels’ defeat stops, they’ll fancy their chances against an off-colour St Martins. Hope has to turn to determination now and putting down a marker on Sunday must be the aim to convince not only their opponents but themselves that they belong on the big stage.

Rapparees

Dr Bowe is a great friend but an awfully heavy burden at the same time. It’s no secret why retaining the title in Wexford has been so difficult over the years and that’s because it paints a target square on your back. Only the freakish Oulart team of the last decade could claim recent success in keeping the cup but that’s what the Enniscorthy men are determined to do.

The shock from the Ferns loss is starting to subside. Putting Shels and Martins to the sword was the perfect response and Rapps are staring to look like champions again. Their waltz to the title was season looks like a doddle compared to this one but their battling qualities have been on full show and they’ve dealt with adversity admirably.

Kevin Foley has made up for his Wexford disappointment by being the leader that Rapps really needed. His greatest quality has always been making those who play with him better and he’s certainly provided the platform for the likes of Nick Doyle and Oisín Pepper to show their huge talent. They won’t have it all their own way against Oylegate-Glenbrien, but a statement win would show why no one is ruling out our first back-to-back champions since 2015-16.

Pics Via Noel Reddy

Shelmaliers 

While St Martins and Oylegate are definitely still in the running, Shels looks best placed to break from the pack and challenge come the end of the championship. They have the experience and know how to navigate the next few weeks in a quiet and calculating manner.

Sure, the Oylegate loss was a setback but they won’t be playing against an inspired Damien Reck every week. They did come out on the wrong side of the game of the championship thanks to Dillion Redmond’s late goal but Shels more than anyone know how to put this all into context and learn their lessons. That was evident against Ferns as they stopped the rot despite some charitable defending at times.

Simply put, those errors have to stop. In the Malones and Donohoes, they have more than enough power and nous to use every advantage they can to keep the enemy from the gates. County star Simon has even turned his attention to becoming a more credible scoring threat but Vinny Parker’s men might be better served with a safety-first approach against Rathnure. Nothing silly this weekend and Shels can stroll into the next round as they aim to return to the top table of Wexford hurling. 

Games this weekend (all 7pm throw in on Sunday 24th July)

Group A

Cloughbawn v Faythe Harriers

Crossabeg v Glynn Barntown

St Anne’s Rathangan v Naomh Eanna 

Group B 

Ferns St Aidans v St Martins

Rathnure v Shelmaliers 

Rapparees v Oylegate Glenbrien 

Aidan Delaney
Aidan Delaney

Aidan Delaney is a columnist with Wexford Weekly. He has a passion for sports and all-things Wexford.

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