Holders power past Rathnure

Reigning champions Oulart-the-Ballagh powered their way to a comfortable 4-15 to 2-14 victory over Rathnure in their Wexford SHC clash at St. Patrick’s Park, Enniscorthy, on Saturday.

Manager Martin Storey expressed delight at the result.

“I’m very happy with the result and scoring 4-15 but would still be a little worried with the concession of 2-14. There were lapses in concentration, but still we played really, really well.”

It was a typical clash between these two great rivals, but the power of Garrett Sinnott, Rory Jacob, Nickey Kirwan and David Redmond drove Oulart-the-Ballagh to the crucial scores, with Peter Sinnott, Rory Jacob, Nickey Kirwan and David Redmond accounting for their goals.

U21 star Jack Guiney was his side’s leading marksman with 1-7, but the winners controlled this game for the most part, with Rathure counting their luck they, like the holders, were already in the knockout stages.

Shelmaliers continued their recent good form with a surprisingly easy 1-19 to 0-12 victory over St Anne’s (Rathangan). These sides are still in contention for the hurling and football double but the Shels’ recent form that suggests they are capable of more upsets along the way.

Points from Joe Kelly, Conor Byrne and Eoin Doyle settled the Shels and, thanks to a Kelly goal, they went in leading 1-11 to 0-3 at the interval.

St Anne’s looked a dismal shadow of the side we had earlier seen, and while they improved in the second half, as Liam Óg McGovern, Diarmuid O’Keeffe and Red Barry picked off points, the Shels dug deep to fashion out an impressive ten-point victory.