U-14 Premier hurling final the week’s major game
AFTER THE raft of finals in the last seven days, this week is a little quieter in the People Newspapers Coiste na nÓg championships.
On Thursday is the clash of Bannow-Ballymitty and Ballyhogue in the New Ross Standard Under-14 football Division 4 championship final in Tagoat (7.30 p.m.).
Also that evening Ballinastragh Gaels face Glynn-Barntown in the Division 1 shield final in St. Patrick’s Park at the same time.
Then, on Saturday, it’s the big one. Faythe Harriers meet Rathnure in the New Ross Standard Under-14 hurling Division 1 final (venue and time TBC). In Taghmon on the same morning Cloughbawn meet Davidstown-Courtnacuddy in the Division 5 hurling decider.
On Sunday at 11 a.m. in St. Patrick’s Park, St. Martin’s face Naomh Eanna in the Enniscorthy Guardian Juvenile hurling Premier shield final.
The big final last week saw Ballinastragh Gaels get the better of Starlights in the Gorey Guardian Juvenile football Premier championship decider in St. Patrick’s Park. A full report, plus the rundown on many of the other nine finals during the week, can be found in this section.
There was plenty of other knockout action last week too. In the New Ross Standard Under-14 football Division 2 shield semi-final, Blackwater had a fine win over HWH-Bunclody, and they will play Starlights in the final.
Meanwhile, the Blackwater boys have been waiting patiently for an opponent in their Division 2 hurling final for a little while. HWH-Bunclody will have a chance for revenge after getting the better of Buffers Alley at the weekend to advance to the title decider.
Rathnure out-goaled Askamore in the Enniscorthy Guardian Juvenile hurling Roinn 1 quarter-final on Saturday morning. Their reward for that victory is a meeting with Rathgarogue-Cushinstown in the final four.
In the Roinn 1 shield semi-final, played on the same day, Ballygarrett moved into the decider at the expense of Geraldine O’Hanrahans.
They await the winners of the other last four clash between Liam Mellows and Shamrocks which takes place Thursday in Craanford.
However, the big game last Saturday pitted Féile champions Faythe Harriers with St. Martin’s in the Division 1 semi-final. The Páirc Charman boys were solid, winning through to that title showdown with Rathnure.
The two Wexford People Minor football Roinn 1 championship semi-finals took place on Sunday morning.
Castle-Craan Gaels got the better of Starlights in St. Patrick’s Park to reach the final, while Sarsfields beat Crossabeg-Ballymurn in Grantstown to advance.
In the shield semi-final Rathgarogue-Cushinstown beat Macamore Gaels (Buffers Alley/Réalt na Mara) with a late goal to advance to the decider.
There they await the winners of the match between Hollow Rovers and Our Lady’s Island/ St. Fintan’s.
After last night’s Wexford People Minor football Roinn 2 shield final between St. Mary’s (Maudlintown) and Cloughbawn, 21 of the 44 Coiste na nÓg finals, from Minor down to Under-14, have been played.
A total of 42 matches, including quarters, semis and finals, remain.
Only 16 of 42 finals had been played by the end of September last year, meaning that the People Newspaper championships are ahead of 2015’s schedule. Six finals were played last November and whether or not that can be avoided this year is still questionable.