Wexford SFC: Castletown end nine-year barren spell

James Holmes inspired his side to a thrilling victory over Gusserane O’Rahilly’s


Castletown 3-16 Gusserane O’Rahilly’s 2-10

A convincing 10-point winning margin in the end but Castletown had to turn on the style to end a nine-year barren spell with a dramatic victory over Gusserane O’Rahilly’s in what was a thrilling Wexford senior football championship final at Innovate Wexford Park on Sunday.

Inspired by the experienced James Holmes who gave a towering attacking display, Castletown had a storming start when a Holmes inspired move saw Brendan Halpin score a goal inside 30 seconds of the start, giving them a lead they never subsequently relinquished.

They led 1-4 to 0-2 at the end of the opening quarter, extending that to 1-7 to 0-2 by the 22nd minute when Gusserane had a Sam Wall goal disallowed for a square infringement, and in a quick counter attack from the resulting free, Jonathan Bealin blazed home a superb goal helping his side to a 2-8 to 1-6 lead at the interval, an Adrian Flynn goal minutes before the break hauling Gusserane back into contention.

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When Castletown extended the lead with three unanswered points through James Holmes, Jonathan Bealin and Donnchada Holmes within six minutes of the restart, they looked on their way to a comfortable victory, but Gusserane kept battling and a 44th minute Gavin Sheehan goal reduced the deficit to four points, 2-12 to 2-8.

Gusserane never led in the game and it was always Castletown who were going to finish strongly with sub Robbie Brooks scoring a superb third goal five minutes from the end to seal a dramatic victory and end that long barren spell without a county title.

Castletown: A Masterson; J Ahern, D Gardiner, F Roche; C Carty (0-1), C Morris, J Gardiner; R Heffernan (0-1), L Coleman; J Shaughnessy, B Halpin (1-0), D Holmes (0-1); J Bealin (1-6, 0-2f), B Brosnan, J Holmes (0-6).

Subs: S Moloney for Shaughnessy (37), R Cody for Ahern (48), R Brooks (1-1) for J Holmes (53), C Kennedy for D Holmes (59), K Pierce for Gardiner (60), R Farrell for Coleman (60).

Gusserane O'Rahilly's: M Ryan; J Burford, K Cahill, J O'Connor; A Redmond, M O'Neill, G Sheehan (1-0); J Roche, C Kehoe; S Wall (0-2), G Cullen, P Conway (0-1); M Rossiter (0-2), A Flynn (1-3, 0-2f), S Ryan (0-2).

Subs: T Foran for Cahill (37), S Cullen for Kehoe (45), F Ryan for Roche (53).

Referee: K Carty (Sarsfields).