Don’t worry you didn’t miss the game, it’s seventy years ago since that headline appeared in the local newspaper.

The game in question was the 1948 Junior Hurling final between St Martin’s and Oulart Father Murphy’s, the final was played the following year in April 1949.

We are lucky to have some never seen before video interviews from players and spectators from that day.

Lar Dempsey, and Jim Sinnott both played for Oulart in the game, Bill Kenny was a spectator, those three pieces were recorded in 1994, Ned Wheeler, as a 16yo lined out for St Martin’s, and that piece was recorded 4 years ago in 2015.

You can also read the report in the local newspaper the following week below

SCENES AT BELLEFIELD

PITCH INVADED DURING JUNIOR HURLING FINAL

ST MARTIN’S WIN FROM OULART FATHER MURPHY’S

Disgraceful scenes marked the second half and close of the County Junior Hurling final at Bellefield last Sunday, where St Martin’s (Wexford District) defeated Oulart Fr Murphy’s (Enniscorthy District), by 3-04 to 1-03. Raised fists were a frequent sight and an exchange of blows around the St Martin’s goal midway through the second half brought in hundreds of spectators from the side-line. The pitch was cleared and when order was restored the game re-started. As the final whistle sounding a boxing bout between two players again electrified the spectators and the pitch was invaded once more. A fierce free for all exhibition took place all over the ground which became a battlefield for rival players and supporters was no credit to those concerned. The Gardai assisted the stewards in quelling the outbreak, but in the melee, a number of stewards and umpires were struck.

The game was played in a rugged, dour fashion right through the hour. No quarter was asked or given and the keenness of the pulling will long be remembered by the spectators. Despite the fact that the rivalry and the determination reached uncalled for heights as the game progressed, there was plenty of good hurling and had the teams of settled down to play the game in a sporting manner, the play would have reached great heights. Thrills were numerous until the third quarter when St Martin’s established a comfortable lead and then the play deteriorated into a series of fouls, robust tackles and wild swinging of hurleys. Mr W Kielthy, the well known former St Aidan’s hurler and former inter-county player was faced with an extremely difficult task as referee but acquitted himself admirably, and it is quite a tribute to his courage and stern control that the game was finished at all. During the game he was obliged to send off four players to the side-line for rough play.

St Martin’s deserved their victory but it was hard-won and they thus achieved the first leg of the double for the also meet Tara Rocks (Gorey) in the football final.

In the opening minutes, the Oulart team shaped well but the steadiness and experience of the St Martin’s paid dividends and at the interval, they held a lead of nine points. With the wind in their favour on the change of ends, Oulart were expected to get on terms with their opponents but could make little headway against the Martin’s defence and never really looked like winning.

Birmingham (goal), N Boggan, Peter Cullen, the sixteen-year-old Wheeler, P O’Connor (backs), Hayes and Hickey (midfield), Pettit, Walsh, Tony Boggan and Murphy (forwards) were outstanding for the winners. Dwyer (goal)was particularly brilliant for Oulart, who were prominently assisted by Dempsey, Earle, Kinsella, Baker Murphy, P Hayes, and Sinnott.

The Play.

Oulart moved into the attack from the start, but Peter Cullen cleared for Tony Boggan to deliver to the Oulart posts where Dempsey saved but Pettit raced in to crash to the net. Undismayed by this opening score Oulart swung back into St Martin’s territory. and followed a series of fast movements by both sides after the Martin’s goalie, Birmingham, saved a stinging drive, Michael Murphy gathered and drove over a point. Oulart kept up a strong offensive for several minutes, but the Martin’s defence never once wilted. Birmingham brought off a great save from a drive by Murphy and a long goal delivery by the same player after Oulart had wided. Oulart came under pressure and Dwyer cleared from Tony Boggan. St Martin’s were awarded a short free which was blocked down, and at this stage, an incident occurred which resulted in the referee (Mr W Kielthy)ordering one of the Saint Martin’s to the line. St Martin’s returned to the attack vigorously and Hayes pointed two frees give the Wexford side a lead of four points. The play now came more robust and fouls were frequent. The Oulart defence warded off attack after attack, but eventually, a centre by Peter Cullen was finished in a goal by Quirke. An Oulart player was then sent to the line and when play continued Hayes pointed a Martin’s free. Pettit forced a seventy which was cleared, but Murphy gathered and was fouled, the free by Hayes crossing the bar for another point. Nicky Boggan checked two Oulart attacks in their initial stages and Hickey gave the St Martin’s forwards another opportunity, but Dempsey saved from a free by Dempsey before the interval when the position was

St Martin’s 2-04
Oulart Father Murphy’s 0-01

When play was resumed Pettit sent the Martin’s forwards into action and Culleton drove in a hard shot, but Dwyer cleared brilliantly. Oulart improved and were quickly challenging the St Martin’s defence. A centre by Murphy was cleared by Peter Cullen, and again the Martin’s broke through the Oulart lines, but Dwyer stopped a drive by Walsh. Earle and Sinnott transferred play to the St Martin’s posts where Birmingham saved at the expense of a point. Murphy sent over another point but the Martin’s swept downfield in a fast movement in which Walsh, Pettit, and Whelan figured. Whelan’s shot was blocked by Dwyer but Culleton raced in to crash to the net from close range. St Martin’s now appeared to be definitely on top and during some rugged exchanges in the Oulart goalmouth a further incident occurred and two players were sent to the line. Dwyer once more saved his side, and a long centre by Peter Cullen reached the Oulart posts, but Walsh wided. Oulart fought back gallantly and Baker Murphy led a fierce attacking movement and following a free by J Gahan drove past the players lining the goal to the net. Oulart returned to the attack but a free was wided before Cullen and N Boggan transferred attention to the Oulart side. The backs repulsed this raid and Oulart looked dangerous but the juvenile Wheeler checked Murphy and flicked downfield. Earle again placed the Oulart forwards but Birmingham brought off a fine clearance and Dwyer in the Oulart goal also was impressive in saving from Culleton. St Martin’s came under severe pressure but a free relived. A further Oulart raid was stemmed by Paddy O’Connor while Earle checked an attack in which Peter Cullen was prominent. Baker Murphy rallied the Oulart men by Wheeler nipped in to intercept a pass and cleared to midfield. Hayes returned an Oulart goal-puck but Earle came to the rescue with a long clearance which brought St Martin’s some anxious moments, but Birmingham proved unbeatable between the sticks. P Dwyer wided for Oulary and then a movement by Martin’s looked like succeeding but Dwyer stopped two terrific shots while Earle drove to the Ouklart forwards. Two Oulart attacks were beaten off and then another incident which brought spectators rushing in on the field. Blows were exchanged and it was five minutes before order was restored. Oulart continued to attack and as the final whistle sounded the pitch was again invaded and a free for all took place.

The final scores were
St Martin’s 3-04
Oulart Father Murphy’s 1-03

St Martin’s
J Birmingham, J Culleton, N Boggan, C Culleton, N Wheeler, Peter Cullen, P O’Connor, T Hayes, J Hickey, J Quirke, J Pettit, J Walsh, M Whelan, T Boggan, M Murphy.

Oulart Father Murphy’s
T Dwyer, M Dempsey, L Dempsey, J Devereux, T Earle, P Murphy, J Kinsella, P Murphy, J Devereux, J Martin, J Gahan, T Ferris, P Dwyer, J Sinnott, M Murphy.