A DISPLAY of polish and precision was witnessed in Wexford Park on Tuesday of last week as holders Rapparees clinched their second successive Under-14 hurling Division 1 championship crown with a runaway win over final first-timers Craanford.

These are exciting times for the Enniscorthy club as this talented crop of players have brought numerous honours home to Bellefield in both codes.

Last year they accounted for Naomh Éanna in the corresponding final by 7-11 to 2-4, and the Rapps haven't looked as strong at this level since their untouchable ten-in-a-row days from 1978 to '87.

Craanford shouldn't be too disappointed after losing to such a strong team, and it was a tremendous feat on their part to reach the top-flight final. After winning the Under-12 Division 2 titles of 2007 and '08, they made the step up in fine style and dumped two strongholds in Shelmaliers and Naomh Éanna in knockout games en route.

Classy captain Kevin Foley was the stand-out performer for the winners, with the full-forward tapping over two early points before an injury to midfielder Darragh Pepper saw them swap places.

The enforced move arguably made things better rather than worse for the favourites, as Foley continued to go to town further outfield while Pepper posed a constant threat and finished with a fine 3-3 to his name,

Patrick Hore grabbed the first Rapps goal in the 15th minute (1-3 to nil), and the lead was widened to nine points before John Fleming drilled a close-in free to the net for Craanford near half-time.

That was the highlight from their viewpoint, and Rapparees quickly resumed normal service as Hore added a second major to leave them ahead at the break by 2-8 to 11.

The second-half was nearly all one-way traffic as there was no evident weak link on the winners' team, with Darragh Pepper rattling the net three times while James Walsh added one for good measure.

Coiste na nÓg Chairman, Diarmuid Devereux, presented the cup to Kevin Foley who is clearly a tremendous prospect.

©  Enniscorthy Guardian