Castletown first to fly Wexford flag Sunday

CASTLETOWN WILL become the first club to fly the Wexford flag in Leinster this year when they travel to Netwatch Cullen Park on Sunday to take on Eire Og of Carlow in the first round of the AIB Senior football championship (3 p.m.).

Amazingly, it’s been 15 years since a Slaneyside club last won a game in this competition, with Starlights prevailing on that occasion against Rathvilly after a replay by 2-5 to 0-7.

And with Carlow opposition once more on Sunday, hopefully it will be a good omen for a club who gave a good account of themselves before bowing out to Skryne from Meath in Navan when they last took part in the provincial competition in 2010.

Word from the Castletown camp is that they returned to training very quickly after their eleventh county title success, and they are intent on giving a good account of themselves.

Ballygarrett also learned their opponents in Leinster over the weekend, as they will now meet Naomh Bríd from Carlow in the Junior hurling quarter-final after their victory over Louth’s Naomh Moninne.

Turning back to the local club scene, there will be a repeat of the Gorey District decider in Bellefield on Saturday when Buffers Alley battle it out with neighbours St. Patrick’s in the Enniscorthy Farm Systems Junior ‘B’ football championship final.

The men from Monamolin won that previous encounter on the unusual scoreline of 3-8 to 4-2, and they will be looking for a consolation prize now after departing from the race for Intermediate hurling honours when HWH-Bunclody defeated them by four points in Innovate Wexford Park on Saturday.

The Alley defeated Sarsfields by 2-18 to 2-10 in a high-scoring county semi-final, while their Ballyoughter rivals accounted for New Ross District champions St. James’ on the same evening in Bree by 2-7 to 1-5.

There should be a repeat of that last meeting between the sides, especially if the Alley attack can sparkle like they did in their last encounter.

If the game produces a winner on Saturday, it will leave the Intermediate grade as the last adult football competition to be decided.