Passage secure first senior hurling County Final.

Sunday October 13, 2013 will long be remembered in the village of Passage and the other surrounding villages that stretch from the areas around Jack Meade’s Pub to Dunmore East.

Over the past few years, when the village of Passage and the surrounding villages hit the news headlines, it was often associated with tragedy, of which there has been a number in the area over the years.

However, Sunday October 13, 2013 made the headlines for much different headlines, headlines, which the people of the area will never tire of reading about, for that was the day at the fourth attempt that the local hurling club for the first time won the Waterford County Senior Hurling Championship.

Ten minutes into the second half of the game at Walsh Park, it looked as though it was all over for Passage. JJ Hutchinson had just struck a third goal for Ballygunner, to give them a seven point advantage on the score board. But credit to Passage, they refused to lie down and roll over they continued to fight hard.

With seven minutes of the game to play, again it looked as though it was all over for Passage as Ballygunner once again went seven points in front on the score board. Having to hit seven points for Passage in as many minutes without conceding seemed a difficult task for Passage. Even if they did hit the seven points, then they still would not win, they had to still hit another score to go in front, and then hope that the neighbours and great rivals would not score.

Former Kilkenny hurler Christy Heffernan speaking on W.L.R.fm at half time felt that if Passage were going to be in with a major shout if the game was close. I would love to have heard match commentator Kieran O’Connor press him a little and ask what was close. In most seven points down with as many minutes to play would be a little too wide a gap, but not to the men from Passage.

It took both sides a little time to settle in this game. The first score of the game did not arrive until the fourth minute; a free converted by Ballygunner’s Pauric Mahony.  Passage however were not long behind. Within a minute, they were level after John Whitty pointed from play.

Owen Connors edged Passage in front for the first time on nine minutes when he converted a free, but it was cancelled out four minutes later when Pauric Mahony converted from the ’65 metre line.

The first goal of the came on sixteen minutes when Stephen Power finished to the net after David O’Sullivan ran at the Passage defence.

The measure of a good side is how they response after conceding a goal, and Passage certainly responded in style.

Killian Fitzgerald hit a point on eighteen minutes and a minute later an Eoin Kelly free left one between the sides.

Nine minutes from the break, Passage went in front after Owen Connors after Conor Carey did well to field a puck out and in turn fed the ball to Connors.

Passage were now a point up, and it was Ballygunner’s turn to show how good they are.

They responded with a free converted by Pauric Mahony on twenty-four minutes, and the same player again from a free edged Ballygunner back in front two minutes later.

Three minutes from the break the sides were level once more when Owen Connors put over a free and before the break Pauric Mahony and Eoin Kelly landed points to send the sides to the dressing rooms locked at 1-6 a piece.

The second half began as the first ended.

David O’Sullivan sent Ballygunner in front two minutes after the restart, but within a minute Eoin Kelly had the side’s level once more when he converted a free, but the sides were not long inseparable as Stephen Power pointed on thirty four minutes to give Ballygunner a one point advantage.

Regular readers of what I have to say will know that I am not a fan of the short puck out in hurling. It’s my belief that when it happens it puts defenders under pressure straight away. A lengthy puck out however gives back a little bit of time to get into shape even if a puck out in the opponents half back line is lost.

Ballygunner’s second goal came as a result of one of a short puck out. Brian O’Sullivan won a Passage puck out and in turn quickly found Pauric Mahony who beat Eddie Lynch to give Ballygunner a four point advantage.

Pauric Mahony and Owen Connors swapped points before JJ Hutchinson finished to the net for a third Ballygunner goal to give his side a seven point cushion with forty minutes played.

Owen Connors, Pauric Mahony and Eoin Kelly traded scores over the following five minutes which game Ballygunner a six point advantage with a quarter of the game still to play.

Harley Barnes and Eoin Kelly were next to trade scores before Owen Connors and Brian O’Sullivan did likewise, and when Shane Power sent the umpire reaching for a white flag with seven minutes left to play, it was not looking good for Passage.

However, a show is as they say is never over till the fat lady signs and in the same way in sport a game is never over till the referee sounds his or her final whistle, something that was obviously instilled in the Passage team.

It’s sad to say, but here in Waterford we have many that do not always believe this. We have people who regularly head away from a game early. With minutes to go in Walsh Park, some feeling that the game was done and dusted with Ballygunner leading by seven points with as many minutes to play, some were seen heading towards the exits and up Keane’s Road, down the Paddy Browne Road and along the other exits from Walsh Park all hoping for a swift exit from the area before the main body of people exited from the ground and headed for their cars.

Those that did however missed the most exciting finish to a Waterford senior hurling championship in a long number of years, possibly the most exciting finish ever.

The last minutes of the game were totally controlled by Passage.

Jason Roche pointed to leave six between the sides with five minutes to play. Killian Fitzgerald and Owen Connors followed up with points to leave Ballygunner leading 3-13 to 1-15 with fifty nine minutes played.

On the hour mark, Owen Connors pointed to leave three between the sides, but the game was not over by any means.

Passage refused to throw in the towel and they were rewarded handsomely for doing so.

On the hour mark, step forward – Sean Hogan.

The autumn of 2013 will never be forgotten by this young man.

Throughout the year he was sent on for Passage in a number of their games and hit some crucial scores.

In September he was part of the victorious Waterford Minor panel that captured a first All-Ireland Final for the first time since 1948.

However, while it is great to win with your county, many will tell you to win with your club is an even bigger thrill. Many that have won honours in the past have said to win with those you went to school with, to win with those you meet in the pub, to win with those that you mean everyday as you go about your daily business, nothing equals it.

Over the year, Sean Hogan has hit some important scores, but not will ever prove to be more important as the one he scored in this game, beating Stephen O’Keeffe for a suburb shot to draw the side’s level.

Those of the approximate 5,000 that passed through the turn styles were not thinking about having to go back and do it all over again, possibly next Saturday and roaring on their respective sides all over again.

However, the fifteen players on the field for Passage at the time were harbouring no such thoughts. There was only one thing on their mind. They had come from seven points down with seven minutes to play to draw level and now there was only one thing on their mind, to press on for the winner.

And this is exactly what Passage did.

Almost from the resumption Sean Hogan won the ball and he found Conor Carey with a brilliant pass and the long serving Passage man blasted home past Stephen O’Keeffe.

It was mission accomplished. Passaged had hit ten points (2-4) in the closing minutes of the game to go in front.

When Tommy Sullivan brought this years championship to a conclusion, a roar never heard from any Passage support went up which was almost heard by those that remained at home on the day.

Passage now march on and will contest the Munster Senior Club Hurling Championship for the first time where the winners of game between Tipperary champions Loughmore-Castleiney and Limerick champions Na Piarsaigh.

Will Passage have a chance of winning that game and advancing to a Munster Final? They will be short for that game. It’s well documented that Noel Connors is moving abroad for a while and he will be a loss. But to answer the question, a while back, few gave Passage any chance of winning this year’s county championship. To many it was a straight dog fight between Ballygunner and De La Salle but neither came out on top. Passage are worthy winners of this years championship and having deprived some of the bigger guns within the county of taking home the Waterford News and Star Cup, others that are coming out across Munster and beyond will be sitting up and take notice.

PASSAGE: Eddie Lynch, Jason Roche, Mark Wyse, Joseph Upton, Stephen Mason, Noel Connors, Patrick Walsh, Killian Fitzgerald, John Whitty, Owen Connors, Conor Carey, Tommy Connors, Rory. Walsh, Eoin Kelly, Liam Flynn. Subs: Jason Flood for Joseph Upton, Sean Hogan for Liam Flynn; Joe McClean for Rory Walsh.

Scorers: Owen Connors 1-7 (0-6fs, 0-1 65); Eoin Kelly 0-5 (0-4fs); Conor Carey, Sean Hogan 1-0 each; Killian Fitzgerald 0-2; John Whitty and Jason Roche 0-1 each.

BALLYGUNNER: Stephen O’Keeffe, Stephen O’Keeffe, Barry Coughlin, Paul Coughlin, Shane Walsh, Wayne Hutchinson, Alan Kirwan, Philip Mahony, Harley Barnes, Shane O’Sullivan, Pauric Mahony, David O’Sullivan, Brian O’Sullivan, Shane Power, JJ Hutchinson. Sub: Barry O’Sullivan for JJ Hutchinson.

Scorers: P. Mahony 1-7 (0-5fs, 0-1 65); S. Power 1-2; JJ Hutchinson 1-0; H. Barnes 0-2; D. O’Sullivan, Brian O’Sullivan 0-1 each.

Referee: T. O’Sullivan (Cappoquin).