Tommy Murphy Cup final : It becomes extremely difficult to further criticise the already much-maligned Tommy Murphy Cup after seeing the reaction of the Tipperary players in victory, and those of Wexford in defeat, yesterday. The romance normally saved for the championship proper was also on show.
Last year Tipperary football suffered what initially appeared a mortal blow. They pulled out of their qualifier match against Fermanagh because of a dispute with the dominant hurling faction in the county over player availability. Micheál Webster was the main bone of contention and he would have been captain here if not for his preference for hurling.
"It means everything to us," explained Tipperary manager Séamus McCarthy. "If you look back nine or 10 months ago we weren't even playing football so it is fantastic. It's great for the game at home."
Then there is the tale of Declan Browne. One of the most talented footballers of this generation, he finally climbed the Hogan Stand steps and in doing so fittingly became the first Tipperary footballer in 75 years to lift a national title. His accuracy in contrast to Matty Forde's waywardness ultimately proved the difference.
Wexford's story is different. In Portlaoise four months back they became the championship's dark horse after defeating Tyrone. However, it was the first of four appearances in Croke Park this year that proved their undoing as Armagh's ruthless league final display showed their real place in the pecking order.
The subsequent loss of confidence really told when the temperature rose against Dublin in the Leinster semi-final. Then they lacked the resolve to find a way past Monaghan after losing their experienced full back Philip Wallace, to holidays, just days before. Manager Pat Roe resigned soon after to leave them rudderless for this competition.
Wallace was back from his travels yesterday to keep an eye on Browne.
Tipperary's only football All Star was fairly muted until the final 10 minutes, when he suddenly awoke to skin Wallace for a glorious 1-3.
It ended what seemed an unstoppable Wexford revival and ruined a year that promised so much for football in the county.
Wexford's attitude 15 minutes before throw-in explained a lot. Their players trickled on to the field like a junior team on a cold Sunday morning. It smacked of a lack of interest.
They were made pay within six minutes, when a Browne sideline ball was punched to the net by Aidan Fitzgerald. Browne added another four points, three frees, before the interval but it was his heir apparent who caught the eye.
Damian O'Brien landed two fine points before palming to the net after a powerful run from centre forward Benny Hickey.
Wexford chalked up seven wides and spurned two goal chances, by PJ Banville and Forde, to leave it 2-6 to 0-4 at half-time.
Forde threatened to turn the contest with six second-half points, but he missed two clear goal chances. Still, it was all Wexford until the final furlong, when Browne steered Tipp home.
TIPPERARY: 1 P Fitzgerald; 2 D Byrne, 3 N Curran, 4 P King; 5 P Morrissey, 6 B Lacey, 7 R Costigan; 8 K Mulryan, 9 N Fitzgerald; 10 A Fitzgerald (1-0), 11 B Hickey (0-1), 12 B Hahessy; 13 B Mulvihill, 14 D Browne (1-7, 4f), 15 D O'Brien (1-2). Subs: 20 S Murphy for A Fitzgerald, 26 F O'Callaghan for N Fitzgerald (both 48 mins), 19 E Hanrahan for F O'Callaghan (67).
WEXFORD: 16 J Cooper; 17 N Murphy, 25 P Wallace, 4 C Morris (0-1); 5 S Cullen (0-1), 3 D Murphy (0-1), 6 D Breen (0-1); 19 D Kinsella (0-3), 9 D Fogarty; 10 J Hudson, 11 R Barry, 12 J Hegarty (0-1); 13 PJ Banville (0-1), 14 P Colfer, 15 M Forde (0-6, 4f). Subs: 2 P Curtis for N Murphy (temp. 28 mins), 20 D Foran for P Colfer (43), P Curtis for N Murphy (47), 22 W Carley for J Hegarty, 23 J Lawlor for PJ Banville (both 68).
Referee: J White (Donegal).
Paul Roche's early goal from a penalty helped Wexford earn a thrilling 1-15 to 0-16 victory over Galway in the All-Ireland Intermediate hurling final at Portlaoise on Saturday.
SCORERS: Wexford: S Doyle 0-7, P Roche 1-0, MJ Furlong, P Carley 0-2 each, PJ Nolan, M Byrne, M Kelly, L Gleeson 0-1 each. Galway: K Burke 0-9, B Lucas 0-3, N Earls, B Gantley, J Gantley, N Kenny 0-1 each.
