Martin’s get the nod
Jimmies put title on line in final repeat
DEFENDING CHAMPIONS St. James’ against beaten finalists St. Martin’s is the pick of the ties in the Tom Doyle Supplies Senior football championship quarter-finals, with all four down for decision on Saturday.
The Jimmies come into the tie in indifferent form, having lost two and drawn one of their last three games. Maybe more worrying than that run of results is the lack of scoring in those matches: 0-8 against Castletown and Horeswood, with just 2-4 coming against Glynn-Barntown.
Yet, it should be remembered that St. James’ only scraped into the knockout stages last year too and then look what happened. The Ramsgrange men certainly know how to peak at the right time.
St. Martin’s were on the other end of that last October. They went into that county final much like they go into this, as the in-form side. They have youth, quality and a gameplan that works for them, although, if anything, some might argue they are too attacking in nature.
It’s certain to be another nail-biting game for both sets of supporters, with little likely to separate the sides in the end. St. James’ will approach it the same way as they did their championship meeting last October, but St. Martin’s are tipped to have learned their lessons from that tie.
Following on from that 4 p.m. throw-in at Innovate Wexford Park is the meeting of St. Anne’s and Gusserane (5.30 p.m.). The Rathangan-based club have beaten the teams they were expected to beat and lost to Castletown and St. James’ thus far.
They showed real promise last time out, overawing Horeswood to saunter into the last eight. Given their showings in recent years they couldn’t be dismissed as serious title contenders.
Gusserane, on the other hand, are difficult to figure out. On paper they seem to have the right blend of experience and youth but things are not quite clicking for them. It’ll probably only take one good win to bolster confidence and it has to come now.
If all the St. Anne’s big names perform as they can, it’s going to be tough for Gusserane to pull this one out. Form and momentum are both big deals at this time of year and it looks like the Wexford District side have enough of both to make the last four.
Earlier in the afternoon, Glynn-Barntown meet Shelmaliers in a Wexford District derby in Enniscorthy (Bellefield, 2 p.m. throw-in). In a way it’s easy to disregard their draw with Adamstown as a dead rubber game but the Shels’ performance against Fethard wasn’t spectacular either.
The Hollymount side’s arrow has been pointing the wrong way in recent weeks and they need to arrest that slide now. Glynn-Barntown, on the other hand, have been in flying form, as they were unlucky to lose their opening game to Castletown and then fall to St. Anne’s by a point a week later.
That was in April and they’ve won three games since. Confidence is high now for Glynn-Barntown and they will believe that they can emulate what St. James’ achieved last year by winning it out a season after promotion. They are picked to take the first step here.
The fourth quarter-final pits Castletown with Fethard (Bellefield, 3.30 p.m.). On the face of it, Castletown are strong favourites and that’s completely justified.
They are probably the most pol- ished football side in the county, which wins them a lot of games.
Fethard seem to have regressed since their county final appearance a few years ago. They have been poor in recent weeks and it’s hard to see them keeping it close. They will fight all the way but Castletown will surely have too much quality in the end.
Starlights will be hoping to continue the form that put it up to Castletown in the first half of the final group game when they face Adamstown in the relegation final on Friday (St. Patrick’s Park, 8.30 p.m.).
They might have the slight edge talent-wise on their opponents but the New Ross District club have shown a lot of positive signs in the last couple of games. It will be another close one but Adamstown can hang on to their Senior status again.
Kilanerin have cantered to the last eight of the Ashdown Park/ Amber Springs Hotels Intermediate football championship and will not be too stressed in St. Patrick’s Park (Saturday, 6 p.m.) by a Ferns St. Aidan’s side which limped into the quarters in fourth place.
HWH-Bunclody will be favourites against Ballyhogue in the same Enniscorthy grounds on Saturday (7.30 p.m.).
Despite winning their group they aren’t as dynamic as Kilanerin but have impressed along the way. Expect this one to be closer but Bunclody should edge their upand-coming opponents.
St. Fintan’s have stumbled in recent weeks, hitting a poor patch of form and with injuries thrown in, it makes their game with Bannow-Ballymitty a lot harder to call than it might have appeared before the blip.
The Grantstown club have the momentum and are picked to nab a last four spot.
Maybe the most balanced of the quarters in the Intermediate grade is the one that follows that game in Oylegate on Saturday (5.30 p.m.). St. Mary’s (Maudlintown) have had a fantastic season, while Taghmon-Camross are perennial pretenders; the former are chosen to win a tight clash.
Tagoat (Saturday, 5 p.m.) is the venue for the relegation final as St. Joseph’s face Kilmore. Neither side will be happy with how their season has gone. Kilmore have a habit of losing tight matches but they have to be the pick here, despite the Joey’s giving it a good rattle.
There is plenty of intrigue in the Joyces Expert Intermediate ‘A’ quarter-finals too. Crossabeg-Ballymurn should have too much for a Naomh Eanna side which has been more cold than hot this season.
Cloughbawn promise much but always seem to fall short, although that shouldn’t happen against Réalt na Mara. Duffry Rovers should see off Geraldine O’Hanrahans but their shock knockout defeat to St. Joseph’s last season is something their opponents will use as precedent for an upset.
Volunteers meet Craanford in a tie pitting two sides that had two grades between them in 2015. The Vols are dangerous but the ‘Ford have picked up their form in the latter part of the season and they may just nick a tight contest.
The Enniscorthy Farm Systems Junior football championship quarter finals will be played the following week, with a play-off between Glynn-Barntown and Buffers Alley required to decide who takes the final last eight spot.
As well as the Junior football quarters, the last eight in the hurling championships will take place over the weekends of September 11 and 18.