Jack’s the lad as Campile claim Under-16 crown
JACK KEHOE scored a lastgasp winner for Campile as they claimed the Wexford and District Schoolboys Soccer Under-16 Division 2 league title on Saturday. The champs looked set to endure a frustrating afternoon as the game moved into the latter stages, but there was to be no denying Kehoe and his side.
With nine wins on the bounce, it has been a remarkable season for the south county side. They were promoted from the third tier last season, coming second to St. Cormac’s, but huge strides have been made and they are still alive for a league and cup double, with New Ross Celtic to come in the quarters.
They weren’t the only club celebrating last weekend. New Ross Celtic Under-14s, the side which put up an heroic effort against North End in the cup two weeks earlier, wrapped up the Division 2 crown by beating New Ross Town 5-3 in a cracker.
Like Campile, Celtic are unbeaten in the league this season, drawing just once against Corach Ramblers back in Jan- uary. They’ve played in some truly memorable games, 8-3 and 8-2 home and away against All Blacks, 8-5 and 3-2 against Rosslare Strand, and a critical 2-1 win away to New Ross Town that put them in a league-winning position.
After taking the Under-14 Division 2 title without stepping foot on the pitch, Shamrock Rovers were able to collect their trophy at the weekend.
They drew 2-2 against Kilmore, their first dropped points of the season, but it mattered little with the silverware already secured.
Both New Ross sides exited the Under-12 Cup on Saturday. Celtic fell away to in-form Curracloe while Town were beaten by Wexford Albion.
Division 2A side Bunclody shocked Blackwater of 1A and there were also wins for St. Joseph’s and Shelburne.
In Under-12 Division 1A, Gorey Celtic closed the gap on leaders New Ross Celtic with a big victory over Wexford Celtic. In Division 2, Fastnet missed out on the chance to move within a point of Glynn Barntown at the summit, losing 1-0 at Rosslare Rangers.
Gorey Rangers B edged closer to the Division 3A title with a 5-1 win away to New Ross Celtic B. Gorey Celtic also won to remain two points back, meaning they must beat their town rivals in a final game showdown to take the crown.
St. Leonards put their Division 1A struggles behind them to shock Division 1 Gorey Celtic in the second round of the Under-14 Cup. The victory gives them an away quarter-final tie against St. Joseph’s in the coming weeks.
There was drama in the second round of the Under-16 Cup too. Division 2 side St. Cormac’s were pushed all the way by Division 4 outfit Wexford Celtic before coming through on spot-kicks. They will meet Forth Celtic in the last eight.
North End United remain nine points behind Ferns with two games in hand in Under-16 Division 1 after both sides won at the weekend. Finally, New Ross Celtic eased seven points ahead in Division 3 with an 8-2 victory against Forth Celtic B.