Underdogs Horeswood produced a turbo-charged finish to dethrone Castletown in a gripping Wexford SFC final at Wexford Park yesterday.

Horeswood 3-9
Castletown 0-11

Few would have backed against the holders after county goalkeeper Anthony Masterson levelled the scoring on 0-10 to 1-7 from a free with nine minutes remaining. But the challengers finished powerfully with David Shannon's '45 being followed by two goals in as many minutes from Shannon and Declan Murphy.

Both goals were created by county star PJ Banville. Castletown 'keeper Richard Farrell failed to deal with his sideline kick which led to Shannon scoring the first, while his defence-splitting run created the space for Murphy to rifle the second to the roof of the net.

With Thomas Howlin and Paddy Murphy holding sway at midfield, Horeswood played some great football into the wind in the opening half. Half back Eddie Shiely's 12th minute goal helped them to a 1-4 to 0-4 interval lead, but Castletown showed why they are champions by resuming with points from George Sunderland, Anthony Masterson (two) and James Lannigan.

When Masterson levelled in the 51st minute, the scene was set for a grandstand finish, but Horeswood completely outplayed the champions in those closing stages to win back the title after a one-year lapse. Castletown's misery was compounded by the late dismissal of their full back Noel Morris on a straight red card.

SCORERS - Horeswood: D Shannon 1-4 (2f), PJ Banville 0-4 (2f), D Murphy, E Shiely 1-0 each, N Collins 0-1. Castletown: A Masterson 0-6 (2f, 1 '45'), C Carty (f), J Holmes, G Sunderland, J Lannigan, B Halpin 0-1 each.

Horeswood - S O'Hanlon; N Murphy, J Hearn, D Larkin; E Shiely, L O'Brien, B Hearn; T Howlin, P Murphy; N Collins, C Deely, Darren Shannon; D Murphy, David Shannon, P J Banville. Subs: D O'Reilly for Darren Shannon (45), M O'Hanlon for P Murphy (48), E Murphy for Larkin (57), S Collins for N Murphy (60).

Castletown - R Farrell; R Kinsella, N Morris, D Gardiner; C Molloy, C Morris, C Carty; T Sheehy, J Foley; J O'Shaughnessy, J Holmes, G Sunderland; J Lannigan, A Masterson, B Halpin. Subs: J Aherne for Foley (17); D Holmes for Sunderland (56); A Merrigan for Lannigan (59).

Ref - I Plunkett (Marshalstown) Tweet

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