Champions aim to do county proud
Kilanerin ready for Leinster

by ALAN AHERNE Staff Reporter (Gorey Guardian)

CLASSY KILANERIN are aiming to make an all-out assault on the AIB Club championship following their six-point victory over keenest rivals, Castletown, in Sunday's county Senior football final held in Gorey. Gerry Farrell's men seemed to be in a spot of bother when they conceded a goal to the underdogs just 23 seconds after the half-time break, leaving them in arrears by five points. However, Kilanerin dug deep and strode majestically to a fifth championship success with a string of superb scores. A wonderfully-taken goal from leading marksman Matty Forde was instrumental in the win, while midfielder Seamus Hughes was another hero for the north county side who fully deserve the accolade of Wexford football's team of the nineties.

Kilanerin certainly weren't getting carried away in the aftermath of their latest success, with the squad now determined to have a serious crack at the provincial championship. Co. Chairman Paddy Wickham noted in his after-match speech that the time has come for the team led by corner-back Micheal Hughes to do the county proud at Leinster level. And that view is shared by the squad and backroom team given the bitter disappointment which greeted their first round exit to Rathnew from Wicklow, following a replay, in 1997.

Ironically, Kilanerin's best performance at Leinster level so far came in 1996 when they failed to win the county title! With the domestic championships delayed due to Wexford's All-Ireland success, they were nominated to represent the county in the provincial series. And while Kilanerin earned many admirers by giving St. Sylvester's of Dublin a searching test in the semi-final, the year ended on a low note when they lost the delayed county decider to Glynn-Barntown.

The sporting spotlight on the local scene switches to hurling this weekend, with reigning champions Rathnure the red-hot favourites to see off the young pretenders from St. Martin's in the Pettitt's Senior hurling championship final.

The game goes ahead in Bellefield on Sunday at 3.30 p.m., with the action also being televised live on ÔArd San Aer Beo, TG4's popular G.A.A. programme.