Oulart-The-Ballagh withstood a late onslaught from Rathnure to capture their third Wexford SHC title on the trot at Wexford Park yesterday.

Oulart-The-Ballagh 1-10
Rathnure 0-11

The 1/7 favourites did just enough to hold off the challenge of their old rivals, for whom former county star Paul Codd accounted for all but one point of their tally from placed balls. A replay could not be ruled out when just a point separated the sides in injury-time, but Gareth Sinnott had the final say for the champions who were appearing in their eighth consecutive county final.

In a game that lacked quality, the challengers took the lead for the only time in the opening minute when Robbie Codd pointed what was to prove their only score from play. Shaun Murphy eventually got Oulart off the mark in the ninth minute and the game's crucial score arrived a minute later when full forward Frank Cullen collected a pass from Nicky Kirwan before blasting home the only goal.

Liam Dunne's charges were never headed thereafter and took a 1-5 to 0-4 lead into the break thanks to further points from Rory Jacob, Stephen Doyle, David Redmond and Cullen.

Codd grabbed the first score of the second half for Rathnure, only for midfielder Murphy to restore the champions' four-point lead. But Codd's unerring accuracy from frees had the margin down the minimum, 1-8 to 0-10, with eight minutes remaining.

Kirwan and Codd then traded frees before Sinnott capitalised on a loose pass from Aidan Redmond deep into injury-time to fire over the insurance point.

Scorers - Oulart-The Ballagh: F Cullen 1-1, R Jacob, N Kirwan (2f), S Murphy 0-2 each, G Sinnott, S Doyle, D Redmond all 0-1 each. Rathnure: P Codd 0-10 (9f, 1 '65'), R Codd 0-1.

Oulart-the Ballagh - B O'Connor; P Roche, K Rossiter, B Kehoe; S Murphy, D Stamp, L Prendergast; M Jacob, D Redmond; S Doyle, G Sinnott, P Murphy; R Jacob, F Cullen, N Kirwan. Subs: E Moore for P Murphy (ht), D Nolan for Doyle (55), D Mythen for Kirwan (59), A Kavanagh for Moore (60).

Rathnure - J Morrissey; C Redmond, M O'Leary, A O'Connell; T O'Connor, J O'Connor, S O'Neill; P Codd, P Whiteley; T Hogan, B O'Leary, D Flynn; J Guiney, R Codd, N Higgins. Subs: A Redmond for O'Neill (32), F Murphy for Hogan (47) R Flynn for D Flynn (51).

Ref - J Flood. Tweet

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