Four talking points from the St Martins and St Annes Wexford SHC final

St Martins have been crowned the Wexford Senior hurling champions for 2024…

St Martins defeated St Annes on a score-line of 1-21 to 0-19.

Here, we look through the major talking points following the 2024 Wexford Senior Hurling County Final.

Scrappy game:

Although it was the County Final between two of the in-form teams of this year’s championship, it was a scrappy game and one that probably didn’t live up to its expectation. St Martins and St Annes were nip and tuck for the first 27 minutes, scoring 0-06 apiece. For St Annes, just two points came from play in the opening half. In true St Annes style, their work-rate and their doggedness made it difficult for St Martins to implement their attacking running game. The second-half continued in similar fashion to the first-half. It was very stop start, a lot of rucks, and a lot of frees. In one sense, it shows the fight from the players – but overall, the game struggled to take off and build momentum due to its stop-start nature.

Big moments for big players:

With County Finals, all moments are big in a game. Some of the biggest moments came from big players. Rory O’Connor found himself winning two frees in the opening 20 minutes, before slotting them over and forcing a yellow card from his inter-county team-mate, Eoin Ryan. Jack O’Connor didn’t play the game that many expected – but he still stepped up with two vital scores, one from a long-range free and then another excellent point from play in the dying moments of the game. Rory O’Connor then stepped up to score a fine point on the run from the side-line in the dying moments of the game to kill St Annes’ momentum. Liam Óg McGovern found himself on the score-sheet twice, as he attempted to inspire his team’s comeback in the second-half. One of the biggest moments, however, came from Barry O’Connor – the big man who was plying his trade in Australian football – as he found himself scraping the sliotar to the net in the second half after some hassling from relative Rory.

St Martins goal:

The St Martins goal has come under some fire from the St Annes contingent, with David Redmond and the St Annes selectors perplexed with the umpires and Justin Heffernan’s decision to allow the goal. Rory O’Connor had hassled St Annes keeper, Andrew Kennedy, quite aggressively on his goal mount only for the St Annes keeper to drop the ball in his square. Rory attempted to scoop the ball into the net, but it was saved. Full-forward Barry O’Connor then scraped the ball into the net from the ground to the sheer delight of the St Martins following. St Annes seemed to be quite discontent with the decision and Rory’s tackling. For me, on first view, I thought it was excellent hassling and pressure from Rory. In my opinion, it would have been viewed as good pressure out the pitch, so it must be viewed as good pressure on the goal-line too.

St Annes drought continues:

St Annes last won the Wexford Senior hurling championship back in 2000. The loss in this game is one that will hurt them. Losing out to St Martins in two finals, in 2019 and in 2024, will leave a bitter taste in their mouths. But, as Des Mythen mentioned, this St Annes team isn’t going away. They have an excellent profile of players, mixed with youth and experienced players. They will be back again. For St Martins, it’s their first time winning the championship since 2019. For many of this crop of players, they’ve captured two – cementing their names in history. They’re an excellent side and a brilliant club, but only winning one Senior hurling championship with the crop of players in this generation would have been a disaster. Now, with a weight off their shoulders, they are champions again and they’ll be hoping to retain the trophy in 2025.

St Martins’ attention will now turn to the Leinster Senior hurling club championship, where they’ll take on the Kildare champions in just two week’s time.

Read the report from the St Annes and St Martins Wexford SHC County Final here.

St Anne’s Scorers:

Kyle Kennedy (F 0-07) Justin Moran (0-01) Cillian Byrne (0-01) Liam Og McGovern(0-02) Liam Rochford (0-03) Mark Furlong (F 0-03) (0-01) Darragh Furlong (0-01).

Wides: 5

St Martin Scorers:

Rory O’Connor (F0-07) (0-03) Kyle Firman (0-01) Jack O Connor (F0-01) (0-01) Darren Codd (0-03) Jake Firman (0-01) Conor Firman (0-01) Barry O Connor (1-00) Joe Barret (0-01) Philip Dempsey (0-01) Ben Maddock (0-01)

Wides: 8