Minor hurling knockouts starting to take shape
THE WEXFORD People Coiste na nÓg Premier Minor hurling championship is beginning to take shape now with one round of group fixtures remaining.
St. Martin’s will be one of the sides to go directly into the semi-final after victory over Naomh Eanna during the week.
The Gorey boys will host Shelmaliers in the final group game knowing that only a victory will prevent the Hollymount club from automatically filling the second spot. The bottom two in Premier ‘A’ will drop to the quarter-finals to play the top two in ‘B’.
Currently, after wins last week, Oulart-The Ballagh and Mogue O’Rahilly’s occupy those spots and both will keep their last-six places if they avoid defeat against Rathgarogue-Cushinstown and Glynn-Barntown respectively in the coming weeks.
Meanwhile, in Roinn 1 HWH-Bunclody got a walkover against Castle-Craan Gaels, meaning they will take one of the four quarter-final spots up for grabs in Group A.
Hollow Rovers and Monageer-Boolavogue, who both won last week, will likely join them while Ferns St. Aidan’s sit fourth and are favourites to take the final spot.
Oylegate-Glenbrien won their fifth straight game in Group ‘B’ to all-but assure themselves of a spot in the quarters. Munna-Abbain are unbeaten and likely to follow after picking up a win and a draw last week, and the other two spots look set to come down to a battle between Geraldine O’Hanrahans, Dunbrody Gaels, Blackwater and Rathnure.
The group stages in Roinn 2A are now complete. Cloughbawn were victorious against Ballyhogue in their final outing and finish top, earning an automatic spot in the quarters against St. Patrick’s, bottom of Roinn 2B. The other four will play-off among each other to move forward in the championship proper.
Ballinastragh Gaels have wrapped up top spot in the fourteam Roinn 2B with one game remaining.
That ensures the Gorey District side a semi-final spot, with the other three advancing straight to the quarter-finals.
Naomh Eanna are assured of a semi-final spot in the New Ross Standard Under-14 Division 1 football championship, and Sarsfields are close to joining them after a big win over St. Martin’s last Thursday. Shelmaliers and Glynn-Barntown, from 1B, are both assured of championship quarter-final places.
Gusserane’s strong victory over Starlights last week means they booked their spot in the semi-finals of Division 2. St. James’ and Crossabeg-Ballymurn are in great position to join them but with Castletown, Horeswood and HWH-Bunclody sitting in behind, potentially looking for that last spot, there’s plenty of drama ahead.
In Division 3, Ferns St. Aidan’s and Our Lady’s Island are on their way to the last four. The group behind, battling it out for the other two spots, is headed by Kilrush but Craanford and St. Mary’s (Maudlintown) are ready to pounce.
Ballyhogue lead the way in Division 4 and are safely into the last four. Bannow-Ballymitty are also in the semi-finals with Adamstown and Oylegate-Glenbrien sitting just behind.
Finally, in Division 5 13-a-side, St. Patrick’s, Cloughbawn and Clongeen are all safely in the semi-finals, and St. Joseph’s will join them provided they record a victory over Marshalstown-Castledockrell in two weeks’ time.