Semi spots for Oylegate, Bunclody
THERE WERE heroic efforts elsewhere from Wexford teams at the Féile na nGeal too.
Buffers Alley, Division 2 champions locally, were given the tricky task of competing at the third tier of the national competition against several strong sides.
They began on Friday with a tough test against home side Mount Sion.
The Alley were in touch throughout the game but the Waterford club eventually emerged victorious by 3-7 to 2-4.
Cork outfit Whitechurch were next up, and the Monamolin boys held a 2-3 to 2-2 lead early in the second-half. Eventually the Leesiders upped the ante, winning by 3-6 to 2-3.
In the final game, west Waterford club Dungarvan proved too strong, coming through on a 2-6 to 0-3 scoreline. The three defeats left Buffers Alley in the Division 3 shield quarter-final.
Their opponents, Ballinkillen from Carlow, were excellent, winning by 2-11 to 1-4 to end a memorable weekend for the Gorey District side.
Oylegate-Glenbrien won the Division 3 title in Wexford and were placed in the eighth tier of the national competition. They opened their account in style, winning by 0-6 to 0-2 against Waterford club Clonea.
However, their second opponents, CRC Gaels from Offaly, proved to be a talented bunch and they ran out 2-7 to 0-1 victors in Friday’s second encounter.
That left a massive third tie against their hosts, St. Molleran’s of Carrickbeg, which the Wexford club won by 3-8 to 1-3 to progress to the quarter-finals.
On Saturday afternoon Oylegate-Glenbrien needed extra-time to edge past Limerick outfit Kildimo-Pallaskenry on a 5-4 to 3-6 scoreline. That set up a semi-final with Bodyke/O’Callaghan’s Mills, which the Clare side won by 3-7 to 0-1.
Wexford had one representative in the national camogie Féile, Bunclody. They were placed in Division 1 Group D against the finest Under-14 sides in the country and gave a fantastic account of themselves.
In their opening game on Friday they set the tone for the weekend. They faced Tipperary outfit Shannon Rovers and performed superbly to take a 5-5 to 1-3 win. Next up was an even more impressive victory over Dublin club Lucan Sarsfields, by 1-2 to 0-2.
Saturday saw Bunclody getting goals again as they beat Nenagh Eire Óg by 2-2 to 0-2.
That left them top of the group and the only Division 1 team to win all three of their round-robin games.
In the last eight Bunclody edged their way past Galway club Athenry by 2-2 to 0-2, but Sarsfields (Cork) put paid to their title hopes in the semi-final as they eased away for a strong 5-1 to nil win.
Meanwhile, three Wexford clubs also took part in the Leinster provincial Féile on Saturday for clubs who didn’t qualify for the national event.
Naomh Eanna were in action in Rathleague, Oulart-The Ballagh played in O’Loughlin Gaels (Kilkenny), and Craanford featured in the action in Tullogher.