Messing pays off for Martin's as Stafford goes down 'in the annals of the parish'

St Martin's players Ben Stafford, left, and Jake Firman celebrate after their side's victory in the AIB Leinster GAA Hurling Senior Club Championship final match between St Martin's of Wexford and Shamrocks Ballyhale of Kilkenny at Croke Park in Dublin. Photo by Seb Daly/Sportsfile

St Martin's manager Daithí Hayes reckons Ben Stafford's Leinster club SHC final matchwinner may have had something to do with the 'bit of messing' the players get up to at training.

Substitute Stafford was only on the field a couple of minutes when the ball squirmed out of a ruck to him, just outside the 65 metre line and deep into stoppage time, providing the platform for a potshot at glory.