By Dan Walsh in Gorey
A sensational afternoon in Chadwick’s Wexford Park this afternoon where Naomh Éanna beat Oylegate-Glenbrien, 2-18 to 2-12, to secure the cup and become county champions for the second time (first in 2018) following an entertaining Pettitt’s Wexford senior hurling championship final in front of an attendance of 6,800 spectators.
Gorey is celebrating tonight. Captain Conor McDonald and ‘Man of the Match’ Charlie McGuckin and other members and officials from the victorious team arrived back in Gorey around 7.30pm and received a tumultuous reception from delighted fans with cheering and flag waving as the town swung into celebration mode.
It was a double success for Naomh Éanna as the it won the Junior ‘A’ county hurling championship, beating Ballyhogue by 1-10 to 0-10, also in Chadwick’s Wexford Park today, and they are also part of the homecoming celebrations.
Gorey Pipe Band led the champions from the ’98 monument in McCurtain Street, down the long Main Street and to the club house in Clonattin. Huge numbers turned out and lined the route for what is one of the greatest sporting occasions to involve the town in recent times.
The celebrations have spread around the town and into the districts – there may be a slow down on work tomorrow? – but it is a unique uplifting occasion and deserves to be celebrated with sporting pride and outstanding achievement.
Teams and other news from today’s Pettitt’s Wexford Senior Hurling Championship final. Naomh Éanna: Jack Cushe; Brendan Travers, Eoin Molloy, Tom Stafford; Charlie McGuckin, (who was named ‘Man of the Match’ (0-4), Cian Molloy, Cian Ó Tuama; Seán Doyle, Jack Doran; Cian Browne (0-1), Cathal Dunbar (0-2), Jack Cullen (0-5, 4 frees); Aodhán Doyle, Conor McDonald, team captain, (1-4), Pádraig Doyle (1-2, 0-1 free). Subs: Eoin Conroy for S. Doyle, temp. (26-27), Seán Óg Whelan for Doran (65), Conroy for Travers (58),
Oylegate-Glenbrien: Aaron Duggan; Tomás Cosgrave, Ciarán Hourihane, Shane Reck; Mike Kelly, Damien Reck, Paudie Casey; Pa Cullen, Jack Reck (0-2); Fiachra Hourihane, Seamus Casey (1-7, 0-5 frees, 0-2 ‘65s), Joe Dunne; Conor Heffernan (0-1), Podge Doran (1-2, 0-2 from line balls), Peter Rowley. Subs: Jamie Reck for F. Hourihane (43), Evan Kelly for Heffernan (53), Fergal Doran for Rowley (55),
WexfordLocal.com 