Wicklow SHC Final

Bray Emmets 1-15 Carnew Emmets 2-10

By Brendan Lawrence at Echelon Park

Bray Emmets made hurling history in Wicklow on Sunday by becoming the first team to ever win five O’Donoghue Cups in a row when defeating a very impressive Carnew Emmets.

The defending champions were made work incredibly hard by the challengers over the course of 60-odd fiercely contested minutes in front of a very decent crowd, and it was their traditional strong second-half showing that got them over the line, moving them from 1-7 to 1-6 ahead at the half-time break to 1-15 to 1-10 in the clear by the time referee Liam Keenan signalled that there would be three minutes of injury time added.

But the large Bray support on what they lovingly refer to as Hill 17 were made to sweat for those tense 180 seconds as Carnew Emmets laid siege to Conor McNally’s goal, forcing the netminder into a fine save before Dan Redmond fired home to leave just two between the sides.

However, Paul Carley’s men would win their own puck-out and the final whistle sounded, with Bray Emmets securing a precious and historical five-in-a-row of Wicklow senior crowns.

Bray got the perfect start to the game when Eoin McCormack rifled home the opening goal after just 60 seconds with Mikey Boland’s initial effort saved by Bob Fitzgerald in the Carnew Emmets goal.

Both sides were guilty of coughing up possession on numerous occasions in the early stages as the tension of the big day and the ferocity of the defending on both sides prevented any real flow.

Carnew Emmets were fortunate that Bob Fitzgerald is having a superb season moments later when the Annacurra man stopped Ronan McMahon’s effort at one end with the challengers sweeping up the field for Jack Doyle to get them off the mark with six on the clock.

Christy Moorehouse and Mikey Boland pushed Bray 1-2 to 0-1 ahead, but a fine Pádraig Doran effort from distance after his free had dropped short to Conor McNally made it 1-2 to 0-2 at the end of the first quarter.

Three Moorehouse frees for Bray and a tasty Dan Redmond score for Carnew put Bray Emmets five clear, but Carnew finished the half strongly with a fine score from James McGing, a monster free from Bob Fitzgerald and a wicked goal from midfielder Adrian Myers making it all square at 1-5 apiece with 27 gone.

Two Moorehouse points from frees either side of a Pádraig Doran effort left the sides finely poised at 1-7 to 1-6 at the break but Carnew had lost Jack Doyle to injury just before the break.

Man of the match Eoin McCormack got Bray up and running in the second half and further points from Diarmuid Masterson, Davy Maloney, McCormack, Moorehouse (two frees) and two peaches from substitute Brian Nesbitt left Paul Carley’s men looking comfortable.

A moment of wizardry from Dan Redmond left it all in the melting pot with seconds remaining only for that fleeting time to run out, and an uproarious eruption of noise from Hill 17 to erupt when the final whistle sounded.

It’s onwards to Leinster for the Bray men. Heartbreak for Carnew Emmets, but they’re improving.

Bray Emmets: Connor McNally; Ben Kearney, Karl Lacey, Seanie Maloney; Arran Murphy, John Henderson, Daire Henderson; Luke Maloney, Diarmuid Masterson (0-1); Davy Maloney (0-1), Marc Lennon, Ronan McMahon; Eoin McCormack (1-2), Christy Moorehouse (0-8, 7f), Mikey Boland (0-1).

Subs: Pádraig Doyle for A Murphy (H/T), Brian Nesbitt (0-2) for M Boland (55), Cian Lohan for M Lennon (50), Ben McCormack for E McCormack (57).

Carnew Emmets: Bob Fitzgerald (0-2, 2f); John Young, Conall McCrea, Martin O’Brien; Aaron Kinsella, James McGing (0-1), John Doyle; Justin House, Adrian Myers (1-0); Pádraig Doran (0-5, 4f), Wayne Kinsella, Jack Doyle (0-1); Dan Redmond (1-1), Eoin Kavanagh, Tommy Collins.

Subs: John Doyle Jnr for J Doyle (29, inj), Paudie McGing for J Young (39), Owen Young for J Doyle (52).

Referee: Liam Keenan Jnr (Aughrim).