Higgins goal applies the seal as Kilanerin end 18-year Wexford wait

 

Wexford SFC final: Kilanerin 1-15 St Martin's 0-12 

St Martin's paid a heavy price for their 'double' bid as Kilanerin turned up the heat in the final quarter to end to bridge an 18-year gap to their last Wexford SFC title.

Having failed in their bid for a three-in-a-row senior hurling titles with a semi-final loss to Rathnure seven days earlier, St. Martin's ran out of power in the closing quarter in their 13th successive weekend of major games.

Calmly, Kilanerin brought real quality football to this final but despite a dominant opening half found themselves only level at the interval, 0-5 apiece. 

Kilanerin played with great assurance through the opening quarter and led by 0-4 to 0-0, with points from Cian Hughes, Eoin Hughes, two, and a Dean O'Tooe free.

A Jake Firman point saw Martin's storm into the game. finishing the half strongly, with points from Luke Kavanagh, and a huge two-pointer from Barry O'Connor 

It was still deadlocked at 0-7 each entering the final quarter. But with centre-forward Paraic Hughes assuming leadership, Kilanerin responded with two huge two-pointers from Sean Hughes. 

St. Martin's refused to drop heads, responding with a Jake Firman two pointer, and Barry O'Connor free, to leave the minimum separating the sides, 0-11 to 0-10, with nine minutes remaining.

But when sub Vincent Higgins powered home a superb goal on 52 minutes, that was that.

Just on, Higgins latched on to a superb Niall Hughes ball inside to fire low beyond keeper Ryan Sinnott leaving no way back for St. Martin's.

The north county side controlled the closing stages to emerge with a hugely satisfactory victory. 

KILANERIN: Conor Hughes; A Smith, C Jones, K Steadmond; M McGonigle, C Devitt, P Jones (0-1); T Mordaunt, M Hughes; N Hughes (1 2pt), P Hughes (0-3, 1 2ptr), E Hughes (0-2); Cian Hughes (0-2), C Kinsella, D O'Toole (0-3 frees). 

Subs: D Forde for M Hughes (ht), S Hughes (1 2ptr) for D Forde (34 inj), S Forde for Kinsella (45), V Higgins (1-0) for Devitt (49).

ST. MARTIN'S: R Sinnott; E O'Leary, M Codd, S Audsley; P Dempsey, S Walsh, J Barrett; C Firman, B Maddock (0-1); J Firman (0-4, 1f,1 2pt), L Kavanagh (0-1), D O'Leary; K Firman, D Waters (0-1), B O'Connor (0-5, 2f, 1 2pt). 

Subs: D Codd for B Maddock (49), O Waters for K Firman (45), J Berry for E O'Leary (48), O Barry for Kavanagh (54).

Referee: E Furlong (Starlights/Rapparees).