St. Martin’s 2-20 St. Anne’s 2-16

Five closing points from Rory O’Connor helped defending champions St. Martin’s to shake-off the tenacious first-round challenge of neighbours St. Anne’s in Friday evening’s riveting Pettitt’s county senior hurling championship Group A derby at floodlit Bellefield.

A fifth free from the Anne’s Jess Codd on 48 minutes had tied matters for a tenth time (1-16 to 2-13). But while Diarmuid O’Keeffe netted a 59th-minute penalty to cut the gap to 2-17 to 2-16, Rory O’Connor came to the fore in the closing stages to guide the title-holders to the spoils on a night when he shot a personal tally of 0-14 before watching Wexford boss Davy Fitzgerald and selector JJ Doyle.

Despite still being without Liam Óg McGovern as he continues his recovery from injury, the Anne’s were extremely game and very purposeful on their return to top-grade hurling after a year’s absence.

The south county rivals were level six times during the first-half alone, although St. Martin’s wasted chances to create some daylight in that period.

Ciarán Lyng went close with an early goaling chance before a Rory O’Connor score for the Martin’s was eclipsed by strikes from ‘Dee’ O’Keeffe and Jess Codd (2 frees) as the Anne’s made their intentions clear to lead 0-3 to 0-1 inside ten minutes.

But Jake Firman swept home a delivery from Rory O’Connor on 12 minutes to transform things by 1-1 to 0-3, and while the Anne’s got back level, a second personal goal from Firman on 18 minutes helped the Martin’s stretch clear by 2-4 to 0-6.

Liam Rochford caught the eye for the Anne’s, and he went close to goaling before the Sky Blues make a big breakthrough. ‘Dee’ O’Keeffe produced a defence-splitting run before forcing a save, and Andy Kennedy galloped onto the breaking ball to whip home and edge the reigning intermediate champions ahead by 1-8 to 2-4 after 25 minutes.

But it was eventually all-square at the break on 2-6 to 1-9 after Rory O’Connor (free) and Jake Firman sandwiched a Jess Codd free for the Anne’s, who had a late goaling effort by ‘Red’ Barry foiled.

Everybody remained on the ‘edges of their seats’ entering the closing ten minutes after Jess Codd’s accuracy from placed-balls levelled matters for a tenth time (1-16 to 2-13).

But then came the game’s defining spell as St. Martin’s claimed four unanswered points, including three on the bounce from Rory O’Connor (2 frees) and one from sub Darren Codd to lead 2-17 to 1-16 after 56 minutes.

The Anne’s weren’t going away though, and after ‘Red’ Barry crashed the ball off the crossbar, play was called back for a penalty which ‘Dee’ O’Keeffe netted to give the Rathangan men a real shout as they closed to within 2-17 to 2-16 on 59 minutes.

However, the O’Connor brothers, Rory (2, including a ’65) and Jack guided St. Martin’s clear for a result of certain relief to the title-holders and obvious frustration for the hard-pressing Anne’s.

St. Martin’s – Luke White; Willie Devereux, Patrick O’Connor, Conor Firman (0-1); Ben Maddock, Aaron Maddock, Paidi Kelly; Harry O’Connor, Mark Maloney; Jack O’Connor (0-3), Rory O’Connor (0-14, 8 frees, 2 ’65s), Darren Codd (0-1); Ciarán Lyng, Joe O’Connor, Jake Firman (2-1).

Sub: Jack Devereux for Maloney (53).

St. Anne’s – Paul Brennan; Páraic O’Keeffe, Tomás Cullen, Kenny Clooney; Finn O’Driscoll, Aidan Rochford (0-1), Seamus Mythen; Diarmuid O’Keeffe (1-5, 0-2 frees, 1-0 penalty), Mark Furlong; Jess Codd (0-7, 5 frees), Liam Rochford (0-1), Jonathan Fogarty (0-1); Michael Fogarty (capt.), Redmond Barry (0-1), Andy Kennedy (1-0).

Sub: Kevin Whelan for Kennedy (46); Michael O’Brien for Cullen (52).

Referee – John O’Loughlin (Monageer-Boolavogue).