Double joy for Gorey Celtic
Under-14 leagues secured in dramatic circumstances
THERE ARE many ways of wrapping up a league title, and often in the Wexford and District Schoolboys Soccer League it helps having games to play and destiny in your own hands.
The teams that play out their games and wait often don’t have things fall the way they need. That was until last week.
There was not only one but in fact two teams which finished their fixtures and were left waiting for a slip-up, which they both got. On top of that little bit of fortune, both teams came from the same age group and the same club.
Gorey Celtic were celebrating at the double last week after two remarkable titles ended up in their clubhouse.
The first bit of drama happened on Tuesday evening when Under-14 cup finalists Forth Celtic ‘B’ went to New Ross Town needing victory against the bottom club to force a league title play-off.
It’s unlikely anyone really believed that Division 2A was going to end up in anything other than a winner-takes-all battle between the top two, but New Ross Town had other ideas and they shut out their title-chasing opponents from Murrintown in a 0-0 draw to hand the trophy to Gorey Celtic ‘B’.
At least in that instance their destiny was in their own hands. However, their ‘A’ team didn’t have that luxury.
For several weeks now the Celtic first team have been relying on other results to go their way while they sat back with 25 points from their twelve games and hoped for the best.
Fethard Rangers were the first to have their chance of leapfrogging Celtic blown to pieces when they lost to Wexford Albion the week before last.
Since that fixture the Wexford town team have been on a charge and were two wins away from taking the title themselves heading into last week.
However, with games against Wexford Celtic and Shamrock Rovers in a super-competitive division to come, it was certainly no foregone conclusion.
Indeed, they didn’t even get through the first one as the Sinnottstown Lane club went and won 2-0 against their local rivals.
That meant that Gorey Celtic, after a battle all season long, emerged victorious in one of the most competitive Division 1 races in memory.
At the time of writing the winner and second last were separated by just 13 points, and Shamrock Rovers could have closed that further if they took points in their final game against Albion last night.
There were two champions crowned in the Under-15 age group too. Before the cup final took place on Saturday, there was mixed news for the two competing sides.
St. Joseph’s league chances ended with a loss to North End last Tuesday evening.
The Sky Blues were probably on their way to the Division 1 title even had they lost to the Kilmuckridge side. However, they showed why they have wrapped up the title with just seven of their ten games played with yet another excellent 3-2 away victory against the Joey’s.
It was better news for Shamrock Rovers. They were waiting on the result of Rosslare Strand’s game with Bridge Rovers. A 1-1 draw meant that the Enniscorthy Town side could no longer be caught at the top, despite still having a game to play.
It has been a remarkable season for Rovers. A dream run all the way to the cup final, and winning the Division 2 league crown with the vast majority of their side still Under-14. It bodes well for the immediate and long-term future of the club.
Going into last night there were just three leagues still up for grabs. In Under-12 Division 4A, Gorey Rangers ‘B’ were sitting three points behind Bridge Rovers ‘B’ with a game in hand against Cushinstown to play, and a win would send the title to a play-off.
In Under-13 Division 1, both challengers, Moyne and Gorey Rangers, played last night. Going into those games they both had two games each left and were level on points so a play-off is very possible there too.
Finally, in Division 1A, Wexford Albion were on the verge of taking the title. A win in either of their last two games would mean that Fastnet can no longer catch them.
There are two more cup finals down for decision this weekend. All Blacks will be strong favourites going into their Under-14 final in Kilmuckridge (11 a.m.) against Forth Celtic ‘B’, but the Murrintown boys have caused several shocks along the way and should be underestimated at your peril.
It’s a similar story in the Under-16 final (Kilmuckridge, 1 p.m.) where runaway winners in Division 1, Forth Celtic, face off against Shamrock Rovers, third place finishers in Division 5.
Form suggests there should be only one winner but cup finals can be funny games and Rovers will believe in the improbable.
Under-12 Division 3: Ballagh United 2,
Wexford Bohs 1.
Under-13 Cup final: Moyne Rangers 0, Forth Celtic 0 (AET - Moyne won 3-1 on penalties).
Under-13 Division 1: New Ross Celtic 2, New Ross Town 4.
Under-13 Division 1A: Wexford Albion 7, Glynn Barntown 1.
Under-14 Division 1: Wexford Albion 0,
Wexford Celtic 2.
Under-14 Division 2A: New Ross Town ‘B’ 0, Forth Celtic ‘B’ 0.
Under-15 Cup final: Shamrock Rovers 3,
St. Joseph’s 1 (AET).
Under-15 Division 1: St. Joseph’s 2, North End 3; North End 5, Forth Celtic 0..
Under-15 Division 2: Rosslare Strand 1, Bridge Rovers 1.
Under-15 Division 3: Taghmon 2, Tombrack 0.
TUES. MAY 22 Under-11 Division 3: Bree v. Camolin Celtic (6.30, W. Murphy).
Under-12 Division 1: Cloughbawn v. Forth Celtic (7.00, W. Murphy).
Under-14 Division 1A: Forth Celtic v. New Ross Town (6.30, M. Kelly).
SAT. MAY 26 Under-14 Cup final: Forth Celtic ‘B’ v. All Blacks (St. Joseph’s, 11.00, TBC).
Under-16 Cup final: Shamrock Rovers v. Forth Celtic (St. Joseph’s, 1.00, TBC).