Rathnure 2-14 Naomh Éanna 2-12

Cathal Dunbar found the net on his county senior championship debut for Naomh Éanna, but one of his Wexford colleagues grabbed the spotlight in Saturday evening’s Pettitt’s hurling Group B first-round clash at sunny Hollymount as Jack Guiney emerged as ‘man of the match’ following an imperious display for Rathnure.

Guiney had seen little competitive action following a second-round National Hurling League appearance for Wexford against Cork on February 4th last owing to injury complications.

But he was certainly in rude health on Saturday as, from the customary centre-back role which he has enjoyed during Kevin Ryan’s charge of Rathnure, Guiney had a considerable say in matters generally speaking while also contributing a hefty 1-5 from placed-balls as they overcame a bright start by Gorey.

Indeed, Naomh Éanna, semi-finalists last year in their second year back in senior, were most encouraging during the opening 15 minutes, after which they led 0-6 to 0-2 as free-taker Pádraig Doyle (3) led the way and Conor McDonald (2) and wing-back Gary Molloy also weighed in.

But some less than neat Gorey play fed into Guiney’s growing prominence from centre-back, and when a free from inside his own half by Guiney was fetched on the edge of the square by James Tobin, the Gorey defenders fouled and the resultant penalty allowed Guiney to net on 18 minutes. Shane Lawlor pointed two minutes later to level on 1-3 to 0-6.

There was a suggestion that Gorey were about to regain the whip-hand when Cathal Dunbar, in his first hurling championship outing for Naomh Éanna since transferring from Réalt na Mara-Ballygarrett, caught a Gorey puck-out out on the right wing before dashing in and dancing past a challenge to ram home and restore their lead after 21 minutes (1-6 to 1-3).

However, the momentum was now with Rathnure, who dominated the remainder of the half to lead 2-7 to 1-8 at half-time after Seán O’Connor goaled on 28 minutes having been located with a nicely threaded sideline-cut.

While Darragh Hughes (free) resumed with a Gorey point, Rathnure weren’t showing any intentions of wavering as they instead stretched clear by 2-12 to 1-9 on 42 minutes as Rory Higgins (2), Ciarán O’Connor (2 frees) and Séan O’Connor pointed.

But, as strong as they were going forward, Rathnure were similarly efficient at the back and principally through the inspired Guiney, with the black-and-amber having to withstand serious goal threats in the closing stages, including after Conor McDonald had pegged back a well worked goal on 58 minutes to cut the gap to 2-14 to 2-12.

Gorey might have salvaged something, but there was little denying Rathnure on an evening when Jack Guiney demonstrated how good he is at his craft.

Rathnure – Dermot Flynn (capt.); Paddy Whitley, Eoin Boggan, Cathal O’Connor; Shane Lawlor (0-1), Jack Guiney (1-5, 1-0 penalty, 0-5 frees), Aidan Redmond (0-1); Eoin Higgins, Podge Doyle; Richie Flynn, James Tobin, Michael Redmond; Seán O’Connor (1-1), Ciarán O’Connor (0-4 frees), Rory Higgins (0-2).

Sub: Seánie Redmond for Ciarán O’Connor (52).

Naomh Éanna – Barry Kinsella; Pedro Travers, Brendan Travers (capt.), Eoin Molloy; Jack Cullen, Seán Doyle, Gary Molloy (0-1); Aodhán Doyle, Charlie McGuckin; Darragh Hughes (0-2 frees), Pádraig Doyle (0-6, 5 frees), Cathal Dunbar (1-0); Eoin Conroy, Conor McDonald (1-3), David O’Brien.

Subs: (temporary, Lee Kinsella for P Travers, 44); William Cullen for McGuckin (44); Lee Kinsella for Conroy (inj., 52); Jack Cushe for O’Brien (55).

Referee – Justin Heffernan (Blackwater).