Shelmaliers 4-21 Faythe Harriers 1-16

An early hat-trick from Eoghan Nolan paved the way for Shelmaliers’ comfortable first-round Pettitt’s county senior hurling championship Group A success over Faythe Harriers at Innovate Wexford Park on Saturday afternoon.

The absence of Richie Kehoe through Army commitments was sorely felt in the ‘Harriers defence as Wexford senior footballer Nolan displayed his opportunism when helping himself to a hat-trick which eased Shelmaliers clear by 3-8 to 0-6 after 16 minutes.

The full-forward opened the scoring in some style when scooping home the ice-breaking goal after just 76 seconds, before flicking the ball over the ‘keeper and to the Clonard-end net to stretch the gap to 2-2 to 0-2 after six minutes. He completed his three-goal salvo on 14 minutes when scooping home after a long delivery from Conor Hearne.

And Nolan’s feat effectively reduced the derby to a rather pedestrian affair for the remainder.

Recent Wexford minor Ross Banville sprayed over points consistently for the black-and-amber, tallying 0-8 in the first-half during which Lee Chin responded with 0-7 as he tried to create hope for the ‘Harriers.

But the Wexford town men were fortunate not to be more than 3-12 to 0-10 adrift at half-time after Brian Malone had a goal ruled out when play was called back for a penalty, which Faythe Harriers’ ‘keeper James Henebry saved from Banville.

Early second-half wides hindered Faythe Harriers’ prospects of staging a successful recovery, although sub Podge Farrell went close with a goaling chance.

The gap was 3-19 to 0-14 before both sides were reduced to 14 men when Alex Lynch of Faythe Harriers incurred a straight red-card and Shelmaliers’ Eoin Doyle picked up a second yellow-card in a related incident on 50 minutes.

The formalities, meanwhile, were completed with Podge Farrell pegging back a consolation goal for the ‘Harriers on 56 minutes, while Seán Keane-Carroll marked his senior debut for the Shels with a 59th-minute net-rattler to ensure a successful start to the 2014 champions’ hurling challenge having emerged from their two football games with a 100% record.

Shelmaliers – Adam Howlin; Andre O’Brien, Aidan Murphy, Ciarán Walsh; Jody Donohoe, Simon Donohoe, Glen Malone; Eoin Doyle, Tommy Barron (0-2); Séan Keane-Carroll (1-3), Brian Malone (capt.), James Cash; Conor Hearne (0-2), Eoghan Nolan (3-0), Ross Banville (0-12, 7 frees).

Sub: Joe Kelly (0-2) for Cash.

Faythe Harriers – James Henebry; Brendan Mulligan, Jim Berry, Ross Lynch; Cormac Byrne, Emmett Keeling (0-1), Tomás Campbell; Johnny Bridges, Lee Chin (capt., 0-12, 9 frees); Conal Clancy (0-2), Michael Hanrahan, Stephen Kearney (0-1); Cillian Gahan, David Mooney, Conal Crowley.

Subs: Ciarán Kirwan for Campbell (23); Podge Farrell (1-0) for Gahan (27); Alex Lynch for Clancy (inj., 39).

Referee – David O’Leary (Rathnure).