Rapparees are sidelined

JUST five days after Rathnure buried the great Bobbie Rackard, the hurling folk of the Blackstairs had something to cheer about yesterday.

Jimmy Holohan's remarkable contribution of 1-2 from sideline cuts helped the parish team to their first Wexford senior hurling title since 1990. The veteran midfielder was declared man-of-the-match after an outstanding display against the Enniscorthy Rapparees before about 5,000 spectators in Wexford Park.

The town side had first use of a stiff breeze but failed dismally to capitalise on this advantage. Solid defensive work by the Rathnure half-back line of Joe Mooney, Michael O'Leary and Dave Guiney kept the Rapparees largely under wraps.

They were behind from the moment that Holohan landed his first sideline cut on 15 minutes and the losers only scored twice from play all afternoon.

In contrast, Rathnure made the most of their attacks with Austin Codd, Paul Codd and Martin Byrne helping their side to a 0-6 to 0-4 interval advantage. There was a point, too, from Rod Guiney, who out-shone his fellow All-Ireland medallist, Adrian Fenlon for most of the match.

Immediately on the restart, Holohan sent a swerving ball from the line beneath the main stand into the far corner of Brian Ivers's goal. After that it was largely a question of the champions elect soaking up whatever the Rapparees could throw at them, and stinging on the break.

The losers were dealt a sad blow when 40-year-old Paudge Courtney, one of Wexford's new senior was carried off the pitch with a knee injury.

In his absence only Garrett Kavanagh, Jim Holden and, in the latter stages, Fenlon, displayed any great enterprise. Their highest scorer was freetaker Connell McBride, who was denied a goal by a brilliant challenge from captain John Conran with 10 minutes still to play.

Instead of forcing themselves back into contention, they were soon smarting at yet another of Holohan's party pieces from the sideline.

The new champions would have won by an even greater margin but for some glaring wides from corner-forward John Codd. There were no such mistakes from Dave Guiney or from Holohan, with the 38-year-old having the last laugh of the afternoon, this time scoring from the hand at a range of 80 yards.

This year's Wexford championship was run off in helter skelter fashion after the delays caused by the counter attraction of the All-Ireland success. Rathnure's victory comes just in time to give them a crack at Gowran from Kilkenny in the Leinster club championship next Sunday.