Castletown win back-to-back Wexford SFC titles as they defeat Shelmaliers

BACK TO BACK TITLES: Castletown's Colin Kennedy lifts the trophy. Picture: ©INPHO/Dan Clohessy

Wexford SFC final: Castletown 0-14 (0-2-10) Shelmaliers 1-7 (1-1-5)

MIDFIELDER Liam Coleman inspired holders Castletown to a comfortable four point victory over a disappointing Shelmaliers in this Wexford senior football championship final played at Chadwicks Wexford Park.

It was back-to-back titles for Castletown and their victory was far more convincing than the final four point margin suggests for the Shelmaliers goal arrived deep into additional time, ending a second half that the holders controlled, indeed they controlled this game from the outset as inspirational Coleman gave them a strong foothold in midfield.

Castletown laid down a marker from the opening exchanges stretching into a four point lead inside 11 minutes of the start, with points from Donncha Holmes, Jonathan Bealin and a two point free from keeper Darragh Brooks.

Shelmaliers had to wait until the 15th minute for their opening score, a Simon Donohoe point. They gave brief hope of playing their way back into this game with a two pointer from play, and one further point from Conor Hearne to level the sides at 0-4 each.

But that was as good as it got for the Shelmaliers side as Castletown quickly regained control adding points through Colin Kennedy, Belin, free, and Coleman to lead 0-7 to 0-4 at the interval.

Although very closely marker, Jack Higgins showed his speed and skill to set up Conor Carty for a two pointer within two minutes of the restart, and by the end of the third quarter they had stretched 0-12 to 0-6 clear.

The final quarter saw the Castletown dominance continue as Rory Heffernan added further points, with Glen Malone managing a pointed free for the challengers. Their goal in the third minute of addition time from Graham Staples proved just a consolation score, as Castletown retained their title in a one-sided final.

Scorers for Castletown: J Bealin 0-4 (1f); C Carty 0-2 (2pt); D Brooks 0-2 (2ptf) D Holmes 0-2; C Kennedy, L Coleman, R Heffernan, B Halpin 0-1 each.

Scorers for Shelmaliers: C Hearne 0-3 (2pt); G Staples 1-0; G Malone 0-3 frees; S Donohoe 0-1.

CASTLETOWN: D Brooks; S O'Hagan, D Gardiner, J Ahern; K Pierce, C Kennedy, S Maloney; R Heffernan, L Coleman; J Higgins, C Carty, G Kelly; D Holmes, J Bealin, R Brooks. 

Subs: R Cody for Gardiner (51), B Halpin for Pierce (56), D Daly-O'Toole for Holmes (59).

SHELMALIERS: C McCabe; C Roche, R Banvile, H P Manley; G Staples, E Nolan, S Donohoe; G Malone, A Cash; J Donohoe, C Hearne, A Murphy; P Hearne, B Malone, E O'Gara. 

Subs: R Ormonde for J Donohoe 944), R Delaney for Cash (51); K Roche for P Hearne (56).

Referee: Thomas Furlong.