Ballyhogue bolster U17 football squad
IF YOU can get a price on Ballyhogue to win a Minor football title later in the year, it might be worth your while investing a few bob. Many onlookers in Bellefield last Tuesday were getting acquainted with the county team in that grade for the first time, and it was very interesting to note that the Enniscorthy District club - a traditional stronghold - supplied exactly one-sixth of the 24-strong squad listed on the programme.
Having four players on a Wexford Minor panel - all of them starters, too - is a fair achievement for any club, but what makes it all the more interesting is that Ballyhogue aren’t even in the highest grade.
They are Roinn 1, below Premier and above Roinn 2, while seven of the top flight teams had representation on the panel: Crossfin Gaels (Crossabeg-Ballymurn, St. Fintan’s and Our Lady’s Island combined) with three, Ballynastragh Gaels with a similar number, Naomh Eanna with two, plus one apiece from Na Laochra (HWH-Bunclody and Réalt na Mara combined), Shelmaliers, St. Martin’s and Glynn-Barntown.
The one Premier club without their own representation on the squad is Sarsfields while, as well as the Ballyhogue quartet, there’s Roinn 1 players from Horeswood (two), Castletown, Cloughbawn and St. James’ (one apiece).
Rathgarogue-Cushinstown kept the Roinn 2 flag flying with two players, and it would appear from the official fixtures supplied to us by Coiste na nOg that Volunteers are not fielding at Minor level although they do have a representative on the squad who, one assumes, is eligible to field with another club as an isolated player.
History was also made on the selectorial side because, for the first time ever in the Minor grade, all four mentors hail from the same District.
Problems in attracting personnel to look after under-age football county teams have been highlighted in the past, and that must be the reason why manager Peter Nolan has two of his Ferns St. Aidan’s club colleagues, Patrick Breen and Emmet Gethings as selectors. They are assisted by another Gorey District man, Kevin Morris of Castletown.