Wicklow SHC Final: Carnew Emmets retain title

Wicklow SHC Final

Carnew Emmets 0-15 Glenealy 0-12

By Tom Byrne at Echelon Park, Aughrim

Carnew Emmets have retained the Wicklow senior hurling championship crown following a hard-fought three-point win over Glenealy at Echelon Park.

The Emmets were made work all the way by their opponents, but their experience of getting over the line last year stood to the men in blue and gold.

Playing with the aid of a slight breeze in the opening half, the reigning O'Donoghue Cup champions took a four-point lead (0-10 to 0-6) into the interval following an evenly contested and entertaining first 30 minutes.

Glenealy’s chief scoring threat throughout this year’s championship campaign, Michael Óg O'Neill, registered four points before the break, three of them from placed balls, while a lively and energetic Carnew forward line was met by a resolute and hard-working opposition defence.

The score of the half arrived courtesy of Tommy Collins’ skill and determination, as he weaved his way through a cluster of Glenealy players before offloading to Daniel Redmond, who sailed over a strike to raise the noise of the blue and gold faithful.

The second half was finely poised throughout, a tense and hard-fought contest as both sides exchanged scores, with Carnew’s Padraig Doran proving particularly influential in possession and from placed balls.

Glenealy searched for a way back into the contest, but the reigning champions stood firm when it mattered most and were deserving winners to secure their 21st senior crown.

Scorers for Carnew Emmets: Padraig Doran 0-4 (4fs), Eoin Kavanagh 0-4, Wayne Kinsella 0-2, Ken Cullen 0-2, Dan Redmond 0-1, Fionn D’Arcy 0-1, Tom Brennan 0-1.

Scorers for Glenealy: Michael Óg O'Neill 0-7 (6fs), Danny Staunton 0-1, Sam O’Dowd 0-1, Alex O’Dowd 0-1, Gavin Weir 0-1, Gary Hughes 0-1.

Carnew Emmets: Robert Fitzgerald; Cormac Redmond, Conall McCrea, Conor Byrne, Rian Rooney, Padraig Doran, Rory Stokes; Tommy Collins, Aaron Kinsella; Ken Cullen, Wayne Kinsella, Daniel Redmond, Fionn D’Arcy, Eoin Kavanagh, Tom Brennan.

Subs: Paudie McGing for Kinsella (43), John Doyle for Brennan (55), Jack Doyle for Kavanagh (59).

Glenealy: Joey Driver; Andrew Lynch, Matthew Traynor, Ronan Manley, TJ O’Neill, Gary Byrne, Cian O’Neill; James Byrne, Sam O’Dowd; Alex O’Dowd, Danny Staunton, Warren Kavanagh, Alan Driver, Gavin Weir, Michael Óg O'Neill.

Subs: Gary Hughes for A. O’Dowd (40), Jonathan O’Neill for Driver (45), Lorcan Byrne for S. O’Dowd (51), Cormac Byrne for Weir (55).

Referee: Christopher Canavan (Avoca).