St Joseph's on different plane

History and disappointment rhymed for Rathnure yesterday as the Wexford club slumped to a record fifth All-Ireland hurling final defeat. St Joseph's Doora-Barefield were superior in virtually all sectors of the field and thoroughly deserved both their AIB All-Ireland title and the whopping 12-point margin of victory.

Despite moments of competitiveness in the first half, the match was a major anticlimax to the club season but the winners can hardly be blamed for that.

They went into the match with injuries bothering important players. In the event goalkeeper Christy O'Connor and All Star midfielder Ollie Baker both passed their fitness tests.

O'Connor had a fine match and did well with his puck-outs despite fears that a troublesome tendon might restrict his striking. Baker wasn't himself - hardly a surprise given that he hadn't hurled since breaking a finger in the semi-final against Athenry. His striking suffered but he maintained his physical presence around the pitch and set up Lorcan Hassett's injury-time goal.

The irony for St Joseph's was that their three All Stars were for a change not at the epicentre of the team's most explosive moments. Jamesie O'Connor didn't have one of his best days on the combative Rod Guiney but with him everything is relative. He still hit four points including one from play, his last score, which was a replica of the stunning point which won the 1997 All-Ireland for Clare.

Baker's difficulties have been mentioned but he was ably assisted at midfield by county footballer Joe Considine until he suffered a knock in a clash with Austin Codd and eventually had to be substituted.

Sean McMahon delivered the highest performance levels of the county men but even his longrange striking wasn't at its most accurate. Nonetheless he dominated the central corridor ensuring a miserable afternoon for Rathnure centre forward Martin Byrne.

The Wexford team had additional emotional baggage with 41 year-old full back John Conran playing his last game for the club 21 years after his first All-Ireland club final. He was occasionally troubled by the roving of Ciaran O'Neill, but was generally dependable and assured. Around him, however, the house was burning down.

St Joseph's threat came mainly on the flanks and that's where the damage was done. Captain Lorcan Hassett was a constant menace and even before his coup de grace in the 61st minute had tormented the Leinster champions and hit five points from play.

In front of him in the left corner Andrew Whelan scored the first goal on his way to 1-2, while nine of the 14 wides came from the wings and corners.

Rathnure tried to juggle their resources but the changes didn't help. Larry Somers was taken off at half-time after suffering on Hassett but Michael Redmond was unable to contain the St Joseph's man any more effectively.

Occasionally Dave and Rod Guiney burst into life and launched themselves on relieving breakouts but often even their clearances were poorly directed and renewed the pressure on Rathnure.

The one shortcoming in the winners' game was their marksmanship but even that must be placed in context. For much of the year, doubts have hovered over the attack and its reliance on O'Connor and to an extent, Andrew Whelan.

Yesterday those reservations were allayed to the extent that as well as scoring 2-14, the winners hit 14 wides to Rathnure's six - a fair reflection on the superiority achieved up front.

In defence, as usual, everything was in order. Whereas the prolific Paul Codd scored six points, only one was from play and in the full-forward line, Colm Byrne and Brendan O'Leary were kept under wraps by Donal Cahill and the excellent Ger Hoey.

Rathnure started hopefully, playing into the wind, and early wides from St Joseph's gave them some hope. Paul Codd struck a long-range free in the second minute to give the Wexford side the lead but they were under pressure and gradually conceded points. In the 12th minute, Hassett put a fine pass into the onrushing Whelan and he buried the ball beyond Jim Morrissey.

Still, Rathnure burrowed away and enjoyed their best spell in the game, reducing the leeway and frustrating a great chance for O'Neill with a fine save by Morrissey. As things stood in the 20th minute, when Brendan O'Leary snapped a point to bring the scoreline to 0-4 to 1-3, St Joseph's might have been regretting the earlier misses.

Instead, they reeled off four unanswered points before half-time to lead 1-7 to 0-4.

Rathnure got the start they needed after the interval when Austin Codd pointed after just a minute. There were some signs that matters might improve but such hopes quickly died and the match effectively ended as a contest when St Joseph's struck four points in the space of three minutes.

Thereafter the trend saw Rathnure take points from Codd which were quickly answered by the winners so no real inroads were being made on the lead.

For a final flourish Jamesie O'Connor scored his best point in the 60th minute and before the end, Ollie Baker finally lifted a lineball into the Rathnure square where it broke obligingly for Hassett to drive back wide of Morrissey and into the net.

St Joseph's: C O'Connor; G Hoey, D Cahill, K Kennedy; D O'Driscoll, S McMahon (0-1, free), D Hoey; O Baker, J Considine (0- 1); J O'Connor (0-4, three frees), N Brodie, L Hassett (1-5; capt); G Baker, C O'Neill (0-1), A Whelan (1-2). Subs: C Mullen for G Baker (43 mins); F O'Sullivan for Considine (56 mins).

Rathnure: J Morrissey; S Somers, J Conran, D Guiney; L Somers, J Mooney (capt.), R Guiney; M Redmond, M O'Leary; A Codd (0- 1), M Byrne, P Codd (0-6, four frees, one 65); M Morrissey, C Byrne, B O'Leary (0-1). Subs: N Higgins for Somers (half-time); R Codd for M Morrissey (45 mins); J Holohan for C Byrne (50 mins).

Referee: P O'Connor (Limerick).