St. Martin’s move closer to spot in Minor last four
ST. MARTIN’S moved closer to claiming one of the two automatic spots in the Wexford People Coiste na nOg Premier Minor football championship semi-finals after dismissing Shelmaliers for their fifth win in as many games.
The top two in the group progress to the final four while third-through-sixth meet in two quarter-finals. Mogue O’Rahilly’s beat HWH-Bunclody last week but both are also still in the running for a top-two finish, while Glynn-Barntown, who also won, are currently fourth.
In Roinn 1 it’s a little less complicated, as the top four in each group progress to play crossover quarter-finals.
Shamrocks won last week and top Group 1 ahead of also qualified Castle-Craan Gaels. Starlights picked up a victory and are on the verge of qualification while Ballinastragh Gaels are also in a strong position.
Sarsfields (see above) claimed safe passage through to the quarters with a home win in round five. In behind it’s a crapshoot where five clubs - Crossabeg-Ballymurn, Volunteers, Rathgarogue-Cushinstown, Our Lady’s Island/St. Fintan’s and Oylegate-Glenbrien - are separated by one point and are fighting for three places with two games remaining.
St. Anne’s beat St. Mary’s (Maudlintown) in Roinn 2 to book an automatic quarter-final place. The other four sides will play-off for two further spots.
In four-club Group B, Ferns St. Aidan’s lead the way and will wrap up top place, assuring themselves of a semi-final spot, with victory over Kilrush next time out. The other three teams join those from Group A in the quarters.
After rounding out the group stages last week, the Gorey Guardian Juvenile football Premier championship quarter-finals took place last night (Monday) and pitted Oylegate-Glenbrien with St. Martin’s and Starlights opposite Naomh Eanna.
Ballinastragh Gaels had previously booked their semi-final spot and will face the winners of the first quarter above, and they are joined in the last four by Glynn-Barntown.
Again, Roinn 1 is less complex. Sarsfields and Gusserane were in the quarters before last night’s final round of group games. Two of St. Mary’s (Maudlintown), Volunteers, Our Lady’s Island/St. Fintan’s and even St. Anne’s could follow.
Similarly, in the other group, HWH-Bunclody and Bann Gaels were through with Blackwater, Kilrush, Shamrocks and Shelmaliers looking to follow.
The knockout stages kicked off in Roinn 2 last week. The results of those games pitted St. Joseph’s against Réalt na Mara and Kilross Gaels against Ferns St. Aidan’s in the semi-finals.
Those matches were also scheduled for last night with the first of the 44 Coiste na nOg finals to be played this coming autumn coming from the victors.
Finally, it was a slightly quieter week in the New Ross Standard Under-14 hurling championship. A re-fixture that saw Faythe Harriers blitz Coillte O’Rahilly’s to secure top spot in the table with one round of fixtures remaining was the only action in Division 1.