WEXFORD SHC FINAL: Oulart-the-Ballagh 1-14, St Martin's 0-6:REIGNING champions Oulart-the-Ballagh may not have produced their customary flowing style but they still proved far superior to St Martin's as they retained their Wexford SHC title in a hugely disappointing final at Wexford Park yesterday afternoon.

Oulart found it difficult to hurl against the close-marking St Martin’s whose forwards only managed just a single point from play.

Points from Rory Jacob (two) and Paul Roche helped Oulart establish a 0-3 to 0-1 lead after 15 minutes but wayward shooting plagued both sides and only Nicky Kirwan’s free added to that meagre tally as Oulart went on to lead 0-4 to 0-1 at the interval.

Oulart killed off any hope of an upset when Garrett Sinnott finished to the net from close range after a Barry Lambert free had reduced the deficit to two points.

The champions then outscored their rivals 0-10 to 0-3 in the closing 20 minutes with excellent points from Shaun Murphy, David Redmond, Kirwan, Rory Jacob and sub Stephen Doyle.

SCORERS:Oulart-the-Ballagh: N Kirwan 0-4 (three frees), G Sinnott 1-0, S Murphy 0-3, R Jacob 0-3, D Redmond (0-2), S Doyle, P Roche (0-1 each ). St Martin's: B Lambert (0-3 frees), J Coleman, T Waters, P Kelly (0-1 each).