Celtic Challenge Under 17 Hurling – South Wexford 3-15 South Tipperary 1-14

South Wexford defeated South Tipperary by 3-15 to 1-14 in Round 4 of the Celtic Challenge Under 17 Hurling competition on Wednesday May 25th at New Ross.

Celtic Challenge 25th May 2016 (Group A)
South Wexford 3-15 South Tipperary 1-14

New Ross was the venue for South Tipperary’s fourth round Celtic Challenge game against a classy South Wexford selection who denied the visitors a third victory in a row.

Click to view photos from the game

South Tipperary who lined out with Cormac Maher in at midfield for the unavailable Andy Byrnes had a productive opening 11 minutes which culminated in an opportunistic goal from Niall Hoctor to leave the score line 1-3 to 0.1. Following a slow start South Wexford gradually took control of the game and some excellent teamwork resulted in seven unanswered points. South Tipperary responded before half time with points from Conal Donovan and Cathal Bourke (2) to leave a point between the sides at the break in South Tipperary’s favour. The half time score was South Tipperary 1-6 South Wexford 0-8.

The second half opened disappointingly for South Tipperary with a quick goal for South Wexford by Sam Wall. The hard working Cathal Bourke responded for the visitors with two points from frees and one from play but within minutes James Kelly raised a green flag for South Wexford. Bourke responded with a great individual point and a subsequent pointed free but South Wexford were beginning to score freely and to dominate in many positions on the field. When Wall scored his second goal for South Wexford the writing was on the wall for South Tipperary but to their credit they battled to the end and finished the game with points from Ross Bonner and Jack Lyons (2).

For South Tipperary this was a case of not playing to their potential but of being deservedly beaten by a superior team on the night. Paul O Heney, Fiachra Scott, Conal Donovan, Niall Hoctor, Cathal Bourke and Jordan Hayes were the most prominent players for South Tipperary whereas for South Wexford the performances of Ben Maddox, Jamie Myler, Chris Cowman, Sean Nolan, Kyle Firman and Sam Wall were among the many impressive South Wexford performances on the night.

South Tipperary’s final game in the group stages of the competition will take place on Wednesday 1st June @ 7.30pm at a South Tipperary venue.

South Tipperary
16. Killian Hayde – Golden Kilfeacle
2. Stephen O’Brien – Eire Og Annacarty
3. Donnacha Quirke – Clonoulty Rossmore
23. Eoin McCormack – Knockavilla Kickhams
5 Paul O’Heney – Emly
6 Fiachra Scott – Ballingarry
7 Niall Heffernan – Golden Kilfeacle
4 Cormac Maher
8 Darren O’Dwyer – Arravale Rovers
10 Eoghan Brett – Mullinahone
14 Cathal Bourke (0.9, 5F)
12 Josh Macken – Skeheenarinky
20 Niall Hoctor – St. Mary’s Clonmel (1.1)
11 Conal Donovan – Arravale Rovers (0-1)
15 Ross Bonner – Cashel King Cormacs (0-1)

Interchanges and Panelists
1. Luke Delahunty – Moyle Rovers
28. Jordan Hayes – Eire Og Annacarty
17 Michael Meaney – Ballyneale
13 Fergus Halligan – Arravale Rovers
19 Kevin Lawlor – Killenaule
22 Conor Leahy – Arravale Rovers
24 Matthew Moroney – Arravale Rovers
25 Dean McMorrow – Clerihan
26 Jack Lyons – Ballyneale (0-2, 1F)
27 Jack Lowry – Arravale Rovers
29 Conor O’Brien – Cahir
21 Colin Ryan – Cashel King Cormacs
30 Nathan Crowe – Arravale Rovers
8 Andy Byrnes – Golden-Kilfeacle

South Wexford
1. Callum Quirke
2. Philip Dempsey
3. Ricky McGrath
4. Darragh Cooper
5. Ben Maddox
6. Jamie Myler
7. Gavin Sheehan
8. Chris Cowman
9. Eoin O Neill
10. Sean Nolan
11. James Kelly
12. Kyle Firman
13. Sam Wall
14. Jack O Leary
15. Kyle Roche
16. Adam Aherne
17. Alex Gondard
18. Shane Lacey
19. James Doyle
20. Adam Cantwell
21. Cristoir Reveille
22. Padraig Reveille
23. Philip Rowson
24. Mark Power
25. Mark Murphy
26. Owen McLoughlin
27. Sean Banville
28. Daire Reville
29. Adam Howlin
30. Fionn Slattery