The trophy is coming home.
What a day it was in Wexford for St.Martin’s, they finally snapped Oulart the Ballagh’s winning streak.
Just to give a bit of context how good Oulart are, their record isn’t half bad as county champions.
The years they have won since the turn of the millennium are
- 2004
- 2005
- 2007
- 2009
- 2010
- 2011
- 2012
- 2013
- 2015
- 2016
Yep, they’re pretty good but one club that won the title back in 2008 was St.Martin’s and they went and won it again nine years later.
They did so emphatically too as they went on to win by 10 points in a scoreline of 2-16 to 1-9 and as you can see it meant to those players.
Obviously delighted but there was one man, in particular, sitting in the stands who was happier than most.
Chris Culleton is a St.Martin’s clubman through and through, he was their physio for 22 years but unfortunately was diagnosed with cancer and is now fighting the disease.
It’s undoubtedly a tough journey that he is on but a day like today seeing your club lift the Wexford Senior Championship is always going to be a cherished memory.
Although Culleton is no longer the team physio these lads don’t just forget the years of commitment, they treat him the way he should be after all the hours he put in.
In the match programme the club secretary wrote:
“As ourselves and Oulart prepare to battle it out in today’s final, I’d like to take this opportunity to mention two great servants and friends of our club who are involved in their own battle. To Sheamus Howling and to Chris Culleton, please know that the thoughts and support of our club and community are with you always and please God we’ll see you back on the sidelines roaring on the St Martin’s teams very soon.”
That’s a classy gesture in its own right but nope it didn’t stop there, this group of players have their priorities in order and as they went back into the dressing room to celebrate so did Chris and the team photo speaks for itself.
(Credit: Wexford GAA Facebook)
Moments like that are what it is all about.
