Wexford 3-14 Galway 0-20
It was a fantastic senior hurling final at the Irish
Cultural Center in Canton on Sunday afternoon.
Maybe not quite David and Goliath, but Galway were the team with the
stars while Wexford were definite underdogs.
For much of the game it was Galway who looked fitter, sharper, and more
certain of their abilities. Wexford had
the fire in the belly though, and two second half goals that could not have
contrasted more in nature, delivered the game. Michael Moloney netted as good a goal as you will ever see, and on the 60th
minute Paudie Kehoe mis-hit a long range free that traveled into the back of
the Galway net to put the side two points to the good.
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| Wexford Hurlers Celebrate a Sweet Victory |
Galway threatened to run away with it in the first 20
minutes as Wexford struggled to settle down.
The underdogs seemed a little anxious and made uncharacteristic
mistakes. Galway on the other had were
running very smoothly. Liam Rushe
started on the half forward line and looked much more comfortable then in his
first outing almost a month ago. Points
flew over the bar from all distances and angles for Galway. Eoin Guinan, Kevin Canty, Cian McBride, and
Rushe had Galway in a six points to one lead before the game was 10 minutes
old. It took a couple of Paudie Kehoe
points from frees to settleWexford and the Slaneysiders remained in the
contest. Two Galway points were
exquisite in nature, and Rushe was involved in both. The first was from the middle of the field
after Rushe won the ball on the sideline and the second came from a cleanly
fielded ball by the Dubliner, who handpassed to fellow countyman McBride and
the ball went between the posts. At the
break it was Galway five points to the good, and looking very much in control.
Wexford started the second half with a bang. After Eoghan
Kavanagh pointed Michael Moloney netted to make it a one point game. Again Galway took control as it seemed they
could whenever they wanted to, and the points flew over the bar. Guinan, Rushe, and John Moylan restored the
lead to six points. Moloney struck again
with the best goal that Canton has seen in many years. The ball found the Kilkenny man on the 14 at
a tight angle and Moloney took one touch off the hurl and swung to fire the
ball into the far corner. Wexford were
still a goal behind but the score garnered belief. After Kavanagh followed with a point the game
was anybody’s. The sides traded points
until there was five minutes left. With
Galway leading by a point a goal almost came for the tribesmen. Spruhan saved a goalbound shot and Kevin
Canty pulled on the rebound and over the bar it went. Then came the dramatic finish that always
seemed to be on the cards. Kavanagh
first had a half chance from a breaking ball, and sent it over the bar after
pulling on it. The Wexford’s third goal
came and it sent the supporters into delirium.
Paudie Kehoe’s free from the 65 was hit low and looked like it would be
dealt with easily, but it did not seem to get a touch before landing in the
back of the net. Wexford up by two now –
a dangerous lead. Gearoid O’Connor, who
missed almost the entire season due to injury had the final say with a point
from play. Victory was particularly
sweet for Wexford who had some things not got their way over the season. Perhaps this year will deliver a North
American Senior Championship to go with the junior from 2011. If I were to hazard a guess, there will
surely have been a rendition or two of the Transit Van before the night is out.
Referee: James Owens
(Loch Garman)
Man of the Match:
Michael Moloney (Wexford)
Moloney’s amazing goal gave Wexford the lift to keep Wexford going till
the end.
Wexford: E. Spuhan,
M. Walsh, D. Redmond, B. O’Connor, P. Nolan, B. Dalton, P. Coady, J. O’Neill,
J. Kehoe, E. Kavanagh, P. Kehoe, K. Sheerin, M. Moloney. Galway:
M. Mulrooney, D. Shaw, C. Murphy, B. Watkins, S. Nolan, S. Corry, C.
McBride, B. McNamara, L. Rushe, K. Canty, S. Brown, E. Guinan, J. Moylan.
By Rory O'Donnell
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