The '74.........1992 Intermediate Football Championship

Kilanerin back in the big time

1992 Wexford Intermediate Football Final Kilanerin beat St. Martin's in epic three-match saga
Winning a county title is always a special achievement, but winning it in a second replay makes one far more appreciative of the enormous volume of work which goes into shaping a team into worthwhile championship contenders. And so it was an overjoyed Kilanerin side in early November when they bridged an 19 year gap by capturing the Intermediate football crown after a marathon three-game saga with St. Martin's. By a remarkable quirk of fate, it also took three games to seperate the same sides when they clashed in the Co. Junior semi-final of 1963, with Kilanerin also winning out in the end on that occasion. And several members of that team looked on with a lump in their throats as their sons and nephews ensured the victory on November 7th which brought this memorable saga to an end. Both teams had their chances of glory in all three games, with St. Martin's also contributing in a rich measure to three and a half hours of excellent entertainment. The overall standard of football mightn't have satisfied the purists, but for goalmouth action drama, glaring misses and defiant defending, the three final encounters were hard to beat.

THE FIRST MATCH: Kilanerin 3-3 St. Martin's 1-9 The first meeting was played as a double header with the Intermediate hurling final in Bellefield, Enniscorthy on October 18th, and Kilanerin seemed to be on course for victory as they made all of the early running. Michael D'Arcy was having the better of the midfield battle with George O'Connor, while cousin Nicky was flying at wing forward. However, for some strange reason the forward line found it hard to pick off their points, and this deficiency enabled St. Martin's to stay in contention despite the fact that that they were surviving on limited scraps of possession. Industrious centre-forward Seamus Hughes was the only Kilanerin forward to score a point from play, with Michael D'Arcy and Nicky D'Arcy raising the white flag in the first half. And the latter added a crucial goal midway through the half from the penalty spot to leave the North county team leading by 1-3 to 0-3 at half-time. Things got better and better for Kilanerin in the third quarter with Nicky D'Arcy completing his hat-trick of goals. Number two was bundled in one minute into the second half and the third came from the penalty spot after Seamus Hughes was fouled. It was clear that it was going to take something very special to pull this game out of the fire for St. Martin's and the introduction of Rory MacCarthy produced just that. With 16 minutes left he sent in a long-range shot which Barry Hughes could only parry down for Philip Murphy to ram into the net. MacCarthy added two more points as Kilanerin lost their shape, and two George O'Connor points brought about the drawn result which Kilanerin were fortunate to hold on for. THE FIRST REPLAY: Kilanerin 1-7 St. Martin's 0-10 Thrills and spills abounded again in the replay which took place at Bellefield on November 1st. Thirty drama-filled minutes of extra-time failed to seperate the sides, with Kilanerin's ace marksman Nicky D'Arcy saving the day with two pointed frees in the closing minutes. The Gorey District side made numerous positional and personnel changes for the game and got off to a great start. While St. Martin's were guilty of bad wides, Kilanerin opened the scoring with a superb goal after a five-man move involving Michael D'Arcy, Seamus Hughes, John Hegarty and Eddie O'Sullivan combining to release Nicky D'Arcy for the goal. Kilanerin's lead was reduced to 1-2 to 0-4 by half-time and St. Martin's equalised early in the second half through a point from Carnew native, Declan Myers. Indeed, as the half went on it looked as though St. Martin's would emerge as victors as they went into a 0-7 to 1-3 lead with ten minutes left. However, Kilanerin were not going to give up easily, and inspired by magnificent corner back Pat Murray, they slowly but surely regained the initiative. Eddie O'Sullivan was guilyt of a bad miss in the 24th minute, but the game was deadlocked by Nicky D'Arcy on the stroke of full-time when he knocked over a fine left-footed point after a solo-run up the wing (1-4 to 0-7). The drama continued in extra-time, with 16 year-old Kilanerin substitute, Jim D'Arcy guilty of one of the most glaring misses ever seen at the venue after four minutes. After being put through by Kevin Hempenstall, D'Arcy rounded goalkeeper Jim Dempsey but slipped as he was about to shoot. The crowd looked on in disbelief as the shot went wide. St. Martin's availed of this let-off to go into a 0-10 to 1-4 lead early in the second period of extra time, and it looked yet again as if Kilanerin's championship charge was about to come to an abrupt end. However, the true spirit of this team was epitomised by corner-back Pat Murray who drove his side forward relentlessly in search of scores. Re-introduced wing-back Gerry Boland gave them a major boost with a lovely point with 11 minutes left, and Nicky D'Arcy reduced the margin to the minimum with a pointed free shortly afterwards. It was appropriate that the equalising score should stem from a let tackle on Pat Murray who was the man-of-the-match without a shadow of a doubt. D'Arcy duly obliged again from the placed ball, but Kilanerin weren't finished yet. A Kevin Hempenstall piledriver went inches wide with time running out, but in the final analysis another draw was a fair result (1-7 to 0-10). THE SECOND REPLAY: Kilanerin 0-9 St. Martin's 1-4 It was back to Bellefield again for the third meeting on November 7th. This game was the toughest of the three, with no quarter asked for or given as both teams made an all-out effort to break the deadlock. St. Martin's made the brighter start on this occasion, with full-forward Tomas Codd fisting a goal in the 12th minute, but they only led by 1-1 to 0-3 at the interval. The sides were deadlocked (0-5 to 1-2) at the three quarter stage as the excitement mounted. It was point for point all the way, with George O'Connor edging St. Martin's ahead, PJ Gethings levelling, John Hegarty putting Kilanerin in front, and Philip Murphy equalising again. In the end end it was two points from 40-metre frees by PJ Gethings that decided the issue, although St. Martin's substitute had a great chance to pull the game out of the fire in the final seconds when he fumbled in front of a gaping goal with the defence and goalkeeper caught out of position. As County Chairman Joe O'Shaughnessy presented the cup to a triumphant Eddie O'Sullivan (pictured left), the celebrations had already begun, with the scenes of joy reminiscent of 1973 when Kilanerin last won the Intermediate title. They went on to win Senior the following year, and with such a young side they may well emulate the feats of their team of the early seventies. No fewer than nine of the successful panel also won Minor Pemier medals in 1992, and bearing this in mind the future looks exceptionally bright for the North County club who were coached by former Wicklow selector, Gerry Farrell. For sheer drama and excitement, nothing which happened earlier in the championship could match the three-match saga. It was a gripping battle between two perfectly-matched sides which will be fondly remembered for many years to come. Kilanerin Team: Barry Hughes, Pat Murray, Chris Murray, Sean Kinsella; Michael Higgins, PJ Gethings (0-3 frees), Peter Bushe; Michael D'Arcy, Seamus Hughes; Nicky D'Arcy (0-3), Ross Murphy, Kevin Hempenstall; Eddie O'Sullivan capt. (0-2), Martin Hempenstall, John Hegarty (0-1). Subs: Gerry Boland for Martin Hempenstall, also Paul Hughes, Patrick Kinsella, Mick Byrne, Paul Mordaunt, James Furlong, James D'Arcy, Pat Forde, Micheal Hughes, Donal Noonan, Chris O'Connor, Pat O'Connor.

1992 Wexford Intermediate Football Final

Kilanerin beat St. Martin's in epic three-match saga

Winning a county title is always a special achievement, but winning it in a second replay makes one far more appreciative of the enormous volume of work which goes into shaping a team into worthwhile championship contenders.

And so it was an overjoyed Kilanerin side in early November when they bridged an 19 year gap by capturing the Intermediate football crown after a marathon three-game saga with St. Martin's.

By a remarkable quirk of fate, it also took three games to seperate the same sides when they clashed in the Co. Junior semi-final of 1963, with Kilanerin also winning out in the end on that occasion. And several members of that team looked on with a lump in their throats as their sons and nephews ensured the victory on November 7th which brought this memorable saga to an end.

Both teams had their chances of glory in all three games, with St. Martin's also contributing in a rich measure to three and a half hours of excellent entertainment. The overall standard of football mightn't have satisfied the purists, but for goalmouth action drama, glaring misses and defiant defending, the three final encounters were hard to beat.

THE FIRST MATCH: Kilanerin 3-3 St. Martin's 1-9

The first meeting was played as a double header with the Intermediate hurling final in Bellefield, Enniscorthy on October 18th, and Kilanerin seemed to be on course for victory as they made all of the early running. Michael D'Arcy was having the better of the midfield battle with George O'Connor, while cousin Nicky was flying at wing forward.

However, for some strange reason the forward line found it hard to pick off their points, and this deficiency enabled St. Martin's to stay in contention despite the fact that that they were surviving on limited scraps of possession.

Industrious centre-forward Seamus Hughes was the only Kilanerin forward to score a point from play, with Michael D'Arcy and Nicky D'Arcy raising the white flag in the first half. And the latter added a crucial goal midway through the half from the penalty spot to leave the North county team leading by 1-3 to 0-3 at half-time.

Things got better and better for Kilanerin in the third quarter with Nicky D'Arcy completing his hat-trick of goals. Number two was bundled in one minute into the second half and the third came from the penalty spot after Seamus Hughes was fouled.

It was clear that it was going to take something very special to pull this game out of the fire for St. Martin's and the introduction of Rory MacCarthy produced just that. With 16 minutes left he sent in a long-range shot which Barry Hughes could only parry down for Philip Murphy to ram into the net.

MacCarthy added two more points as Kilanerin lost their shape, and two George O'Connor points brought about the drawn result which Kilanerin were fortunate to hold on for.

THE FIRST REPLAY: Kilanerin 1-7 St. Martin's 0-10

Thrills and spills abounded again in the replay which took place at Bellefield on November 1st. Thirty drama-filled minutes of extra-time failed to seperate the sides, with Kilanerin's ace marksman Nicky D'Arcy saving the day with two pointed frees in the closing minutes.

The Gorey District side made numerous positional and personnel changes for the game and got off to a great start. While St. Martin's were guilty of bad wides, Kilanerin opened the scoring with a superb goal after a five-man move involving Michael D'Arcy, Seamus Hughes, John Hegarty and Eddie O'Sullivan combining to release Nicky D'Arcy for the goal.

Kilanerin's lead was reduced to 1-2 to 0-4 by half-time and St. Martin's equalised early in the second half through a point from Carnew native, Declan Myers. Indeed, as the half went on it looked as though St. Martin's would emerge as victors as they went into a 0-7 to 1-3 lead with ten minutes left.

However, Kilanerin were not going to give up easily, and inspired by magnificent corner back Pat Murray, they slowly but surely regained the initiative. Eddie O'Sullivan was guilyt of a bad miss in the 24th minute, but the game was deadlocked by Nicky D'Arcy on the stroke of full-time when he knocked over a fine left-footed point after a solo-run up the wing (1-4 to 0-7).

The drama continued in extra-time, with 16 year-old Kilanerin substitute, Jim D'Arcy guilty of one of the most glaring misses ever seen at the venue after four minutes. After being put through by Kevin Hempenstall, D'Arcy rounded goalkeeper Jim Dempsey but slipped as he was about to shoot. The crowd looked on in disbelief as the shot went wide.

St. Martin's availed of this let-off to go into a 0-10 to 1-4 lead early in the second period of extra time, and it looked yet again as if Kilanerin's championship charge was about to come to an abrupt end.

However, the true spirit of this team was epitomised by corner-back Pat Murray who drove his side forward relentlessly in search of scores. Re-introduced wing-back Gerry Boland gave them a major boost with a lovely point with 11 minutes left, and Nicky D'Arcy reduced the margin to the minimum with a pointed free shortly afterwards.

It was appropriate that the equalising score should stem from a let tackle on Pat Murray who was the man-of-the-match without a shadow of a doubt. D'Arcy duly obliged again from the placed ball, but Kilanerin weren't finished yet. A Kevin Hempenstall piledriver went inches wide with time running out, but in the final analysis another draw was a fair result (1-7 to 0-10).

THE SECOND REPLAY: Kilanerin 0-9 St. Martin's 1-4

It was back to Bellefield again for the third meeting on November 7th. This game was the toughest of the three, with no quarter asked for or given as both teams made an all-out effort to break the deadlock.

St. Martin's made the brighter start on this occasion, with full-forward Tomas Codd fisting a goal in the 12th minute, but they only led by 1-1 to 0-3 at the interval.

The sides were deadlocked (0-5 to 1-2) at the three quarter stage as the excitement mounted. It was point for point all the way, with George O'Connor edging St. Martin's ahead, PJ Gethings levelling, John Hegarty putting Kilanerin in front, and Philip Murphy equalising again.

In the end end it was two points from 40-metre frees by PJ Gethings that decided the issue, although St. Martin's substitute had a great chance to pull the game out of the fire in the final seconds when he fumbled in front of a gaping goal with the defence and goalkeeper caught out of position.

As County Chairman Joe O'Shaughnessy presented the cup to a triumphant Eddie O'Sullivan (pictured left), the celebrations had already begun, with the scenes of joy reminiscent of 1973 when Kilanerin last won the Intermediate title. They went on to win Senior the following year, and with such a young side they may well emulate the feats of their team of the early seventies.

No fewer than nine of the successful panel also won Minor Pemier medals in 1992, and bearing this in mind the future looks exceptionally bright for the North County club who were coached by former Wicklow selector, Gerry Farrell.

For sheer drama and excitement, nothing which happened earlier in the championship could match the three-match saga. It was a gripping battle between two perfectly-matched sides which will be fondly remembered for many years to come.

Kilanerin Team: Barry Hughes, Pat Murray, Chris Murray, Sean Kinsella; Michael Higgins, PJ Gethings (0-3 frees), Peter Bushe; Michael D'Arcy, Seamus Hughes; Nicky D'Arcy (0-3), Ross Murphy, Kevin Hempenstall; Eddie O'Sullivan capt. (0-2), Martin Hempenstall, John Hegarty (0-1).
Subs: Gerry Boland for Martin Hempenstall, also Paul Hughes, Patrick Kinsella, Mick Byrne, Paul Mordaunt, James Furlong, James D'Arcy, Pat Forde, Micheal Hughes, Donal Noonan, Chris O'Connor, Pat O'Connor.

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