Brilliant O'Connor inspires St Martin's to Wexford title

Home from Australia for the club season, Barry O'Connor proved inspirational throughout a thrilling decider when Rathnure fought gallantly

Sun, 26 Oct, 2025 - 18:29

Brendan Furlong

WEXFORD SHC FINAL: St. Martin's 2-14 Rathnure St. Anne's 0-16

HAVING found themselves four points adrift five minutes into the second half, a Barry O'Connor-inspired goal four minutes from the end drove St. Martin's on to back-to-back titles for the first time. They claimed silverware at the expense of a gallant Rathnure in a thrilling Wexford senior hurling championship final played at Chadwicks Wexford Park.

Just two points separated the sides at the time as St. Martin's had fought their way back into the game taking the lead for the very first time on 49 minutes, when a first-time Jack O'Connor stroke on a breaking ball found its way over the bar out of midfield.

But it was his cousin Barry, home from Australia for the club season, who proved inspirational all through, showing his skill and speed to intercept a loose pass out of defence to power his way through for a goal that inspired his side through a tense and drama-filled closing minutes.

The champions lit up this game with a powerful final quarter but they were met head-on by last year's county and provincial intermediate champions, Rathnure, who played with skill and confidence. However the young side were overpowered by the strength and composure of the eventual winners through that dramatic final quarter.

Rathnure were quick off the mark with the three opening points inside four minutes courtesy of Michael Redmond, Sean O'Connor and A. J. Redmond. St. Martin's then got off the mark through a Mikey Coleman point. But this Rathnure group, appearing in their first senior final having being relegated two years back, responded through Jack Redmond (3), Mikey Redmond and Rory Higgins. St. Martin's kept their score ticking with points from Michael Codd, Darren Codd and Barry O'Connor but it was Rathnure who led 0-9 to 0-8 at the interval.

Rathnure opened the second half with a string of scores through Sean O'Connor (2), and Jack Redmond, to extend into a 0-12 to 0-8 lead.

When St. Martin's seemed to be struggling, Jack O'Connor thundered through the centre and laid the ball off to Mikey Coleman who clinically finished to the corner of the net to reduce the deficit to the minimum, 0-12 1-8.

The sides continued to trade points, but with Rathnure still leading 0-14 to 1-10, the challengers missed a gilt-edged goal opportunity when Ciaran O'Connor pulled his attempt just wide.

Relieved St. Martin's picked up their game following this let off, with Diarmuid O'Leary having them level with a neat point, but it was the O'Connor cousins who blazed the holders to victory in the closing minutes.

St. Martin's: C Quirke; E O'Leary, P Dempsey, C Firman; D Waters, D O'Leary (0-2), J Barrett; D Codd, M Codd (0-2); D Codd (0-2), R O'Connor. J O'Connor (0-4, 1free); M Coleman (1-1), B O'Connor (1-2), J Firman (0-1).

Subs: L Kavanagh for M Codd (43), A Maddock for J Firman (52), B Maddock for Coleman (55), B Stafford for Darren Codd (60).

Rathnure: lK Martin; C O'Neill, B Quigley, M O'Connor; D Wickham, S Martin, C Mooney; L Codd, C O'Connor; M Redmond (0-2). J Redmond (0-8, 0-6 frees), E Wickham; S O'Connor (0-4), A J Redmond (0-1), R Higgins (0-1).

Subs: lS Lawlor for C O'Connor (19-20), Lawlor for M Redmond (40).

Referee: J Owens (Askamore/Kilrush).