Sarsfields 0-8; Gusserane 1-6

 An Adrian Flynn goal a mere 12 seconds after the break gave Gusserane the impetus they needed to collect the first WFC Senior football ‘B’ championship crown at the expense of Sarsfields in a dull and dreary Bellefield on Saturday last.

The Wexford town team tried hard to get some silverware to adorn the top table at their centenary celebrations on the following evening, but they fell short in a low-scoring encounter played in slippery underfoot conditions.

County player Adrian Flynn posed a constant threat on the ’40 for Gusserane, and he got them off the mark in the ninth minute after Killian Kehoe caught a Kenneth Cahill kick-out.
Sarsfields captain and chief scorer, Ciarán O’Leary, equalised from a free shortly afterwards, and a lot of honest endeavour followed even though the scoreboard stayed the same for 12 minutes. The eventual losers came close to goaling when a head-high Barry Goff delivery was pursued by Minor duo Paul Gannon and Noel Walsh, and the ball ended up striking the crossbar. Moments later a good goalscoring chance for Gannon brought the best out of Gusserane netminder Kenneth Cahill who gave up his usual attacking role to replace Ollie Murphy - missing due to illness. While Emmet Keeling picked up the pieces and fired over the lead point, it was shortlived as Adrian Flynn equalised within 60 seconds. And Gusserane went in at half-time ahead by 0-3 to 0-2 after midfielder Seamus Ryan hooked the ball over the bar from a Matty Flynn pass in the 30th minute.

Sarsfields were rocked on the re-start when a long ball found Adrian Flynn in the clear, and he confidently slid the ball past James Roice to give Gusserane a huge boost. Gary O’Grady widened the gap from a free, but Ciarán O’Leary responded after receiving a handpass from Colin Bent - now at left half-forward - in the 34th minute (1-4 to 0-3).
O’Leary tapped over a free midway through the third quarter, and the momentum swung towards Sarsfields as the same player struck again from play shortly afterwards. They were unlucky once more after 43 minutes when Noel Walsh palmed a Michael Hanrahan pass off the post, but the margin was reduced to the minimum midway through the half when Ciarán O’Leary pointed once more from a short Barry Goff ’45 (1-4 to 0-6). A needless free was conceded at the other end which enabled Gary O’Grady to give Gusserane a little breathing space, and the ever-accurate Adrian Flynn picked off what proved to be their last point in the 51st minute.

Sarsfields pushed hard near the end, with substitute Philip Cullen converting a free before Gusserane veteran John Roche received his marching orders for a second booking.
Ciarán O’Leary left one point between them again 49 seconds into added time from a free, but the game ended with a teasing delivery by the same player from the left wing being kept out by Kenneth Cahill.

Gusserane captain Philip Wallace had the pleasure of being the first man to accept the new Billy Keilthy Memorial Cup which was presented by Ger Doyle, Co. Chairman.

Sarsfields: James Roice; Colin Bent, Paul Harrington, Enda Whelan; Fran Cleary, Emmet Keeling (0-1), Shane Barnes; Ciarán O’Leary (capt., 0-6, 3 frees), Barry Goff; Kevin Gore, Michael Hanrahan, Andrew Moore; David Gannon, Noel Walsh, Paul Gannon. Subs. - Cian Hore for P. Gannon, Philip Cullen (0-1 free) for D. Gannon, Blayne Dalton for Gore, David Clancy for Harrington, inj.

Gusserane: Kenneth Cahill; Robbie Corcoran, P.J. Rossiter, Seamus Cullen; Cathal Somers, Philip Wallace (capt.), Mark Egan; Seamus Ryan (0-1), John Roche; Matty Flynn, Adrian Flynn (1-3), Killian Kehoe; Gary O’Grady (0-2 frees), Fintan Ryan, Walter Cosgrave. Sub. - Seán Caulfield for Egan.

Referee: James Owens (Kilrush).

 

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Kevin Carty