Féile champions make sure of place in last four
THE NEW Ross Standard Coiste na nÓg Under-14 hurling championship is hotting up with the group stages moving towards a conclusion
Féile champions Faythe Harriers are the only club assured of a last four spot in Division 1 after beating Shelmaliers last week.
Rathnure are right on their tails and look set for second spot after edging past Coillte O’Rahilly’s by 3-9 to 2-6, but there’s a battle on for the final two spots between three teams - Naomh Eanna and St. Martin’s, who drew their match-up in the last round, and the Horeswood/ Gusserane combination.
Still unbeaten, HWH-Bunclody are on course to top Division 2 heading into the semi-finals. Blackwater picked up a welcome two points with a walkover against Monageer-Boolavogue and are second, while Glynn-Barntown and Buffers Alley, who drew last week, as well as Rapparees and Craanford are hoping to nab one of the other two spots in the last four.
Crossabeg-Ballymurn are assured of top spot in Division 3 after beating Fethard last week.
They will be joined in the semi-finals by the New Ross District side, as well as Askamore and St. Anne’s, as long as Balli- nastragh Gaels don’t win their last two games.
Division 4 is a little different as it contains just six teams. They play each other twice and the top two go directly to the final. After convincing wins last week, the top two of Oylegate-Glenbrien and Our Lady’s Island/St. Fintan’s will be set in stone if either one of them wins on Thursday.
Cloughbawn kept up their impressive run with victory in Division 5 13-a-side. Yet they are not sure of a semi-final place with St. Patrick’s, Davidstown-Courtnacuddy, Clongeen and St. Mary’s (Rosslare) all within two points of the leaders with two games to go.
It was a quiet week in the Wexford People Minor hurling championship with just a handful of games played.
Most of the action was in Roinn 2 where Kilross Gaels beat Ballyhogue to join Cloughbawn, Our Lady’s Island/St. Fintan’s, Askamore, Davidstown-Courtnacuddy and St. Patrick’s in the quarters.
Ballinastragh Gaels topped Group B and go straight into the last four.
Attention switched to the Enniscorthy Guardian hurling championship at Under-16 level last week.
Oylegate-Glenbrien became the first side to reach the semi-fi- nals with a comprehensive win against Glynn-Barntown.
Rapparees look a good bet to also make it after beating Naomh Eanna while Faythe Harriers, Bann Gaels and St. Martin’s are all fighting for the other two spots.
While the formula is simple in Roinn 1, the current standing certainly isn’t with five teams at the top of Group A, namely Monageer-Boolavogue, Ballinastragh Gaels, Askamore, Ferns St. Aidan’s and Liam Mellows, all fighting for four quarter-final places with two games remaining.
Things could become a little clearer when Askamore play Liam Mellows on August 8.
Matters are a little more straightforward in Group B where Rathnure are definitely through, Shelmaliers are all but through, and Rathgarogue-Cushinstown and Blackwater are highly likely to follow them into the quarter-finals.
Just one quarter-finalist remains to be decided at this stage in Roinn B.
Adamstown need to avoid defeat against Davidstown-Courtnacuddy on July 29 to join Crossabeg-Ballymurn, Cloughbawn and Buffers Alley from Group B, and Gusserane, Kilross Gaels, Our Lady’s Island/St. Fintan’sand Moguegeen Gaels from Group A, in the last eight.