Wexford SFC final Shelmaliers 1-12 Castletow 1-11
It was a reversal of roles in the Wexford Senior football championship decider for the second year running after Shelmaliers edged defending champions Castletown in Sunday's battle at Chadwicks Wexford Park.
Paul Hearne, who hauled Shelmaliers back into the tie with a 36th minute goal, snatched victory with a point three minutes into added-time after a one-two with captain Eoghan Nolan.
And Castletown missed a last-gasp chance to bring the showpiece to a replay for the first time since 2018 as Shelmaliers claimed their third football crown and trip to Westmeath champions St. Loman's next Sunday in the Leinster opener.
Midfielder Rory Heffernan gave holders Castletown a dream start when smashing home a second minute goal after a lay off from Ben Brosnan.
And they were further boosted when Shelmaliers were immediately reduced to 14 men after defender Andre O’Brien was red-carded for fouling Brosnan as the goal was dispatched.
Jonathan Bealin and Brosnan (free) made it a solid 1-02 to no-score start for Castletown after six minutes, before the Malone brothers, Glen and Brian, hauled Shelmaliers into the picture.
But Donnacha Holmes and Brosnan restored a five point divide by the end of the first quarter (1-04 to 0-02).
However, after the sides shared the next four points, Shelmaliers began to ratchet things up, as numerical equilibrium was restored when Bealin was black-carded for a foul on Eoghan Nolan.
And Brian Malone had a certain goal cleared off the line by Killian Pierce, before Ross Banville and Nolan (free) pared the gap down to 1-6 to 0-6 at half-time.
Shelmaliers produced an inspired start to the new half when seizing the initiative by 1-09 to 1-07 after seven minutes, with Paul Hearne playing a one-two with his brother Conor before Paul’s angled drive on goal went in off a defender in the 36th minute.
Castletown bridged the gap after 57 minutes as Brosnan (three frees) tied it up on 1-11 apiece, sparking Shelmaliers to introduce Dublin All-Ireland winner Eoghan O’Gara, an inspirational force in their semi-final victory.
But the decider was lurching towards a replay until Paul Hearne snatched the decisive score three minutes into added-time, before Brosnan was off-cue with a last-gasp chance to save the day.
Shelmaliers: Craig McCabe; Andre O’Brien, Simon Donohoe, Ross Banville (0-01); Glen Malone (0-03 frees), Graham Staples, Conor Roche; Aidan Cash, Seán Keane-Carroll; Aaron Murphy, Eoghan Nolan (capt., 0-06, 1 ’45, 4 frees), Cian Doyle; Paul Hearne (1-01), Brian Malone (0-01), Conor Hearne.
Subs: Dan Campbell for Doyle, inj. (6), Eoghan O’Gara for Murphy (55).
Castletown: Darragh Brooks; Conor Carty (capt.), Joe Ahern, Danny Gardiner; Killian Pierce, Frank Roche, Joe Gardiner; Rory Heffernan (1-00), Liam Coleman; Brendan Halpin (0-1), Ben Brosnan (0-07, 5 frees), Donnacha Holmes (0-01); Jonathan Bealin (0-02), Robbie Brooks, Jack Higgins.
Subs: Jody O’Shaughnessy for Holmes (47), Gavin Kelly for Halpin (53), Ross Cody for Ahern (53), Stephen Moloney for Roche (60), Halpin for Carty, inj. (60+4).
Referee: Brendan Martin (Ballyhogue).
