Monday start for Minor footballers

THERE WILL be a Bank Holiday Monday start for the Wexford Minor footballers, and it will be a chance for some revenge as they will be at home to Offaly, their conquerors in last year’s quarter-final, on April 17.

Kilkenny have withdrawn from the championship after the humiliation of losing by a cricket score to the Slaneysiders in 2016.

As a result, one preliminary round game was required and Wexford and Offaly came out of the hat, with the winners set to take on Westmeath on the following Saturday, April 22. If the Model county lads march on, that game will be at an away venue.

And if they lose at that first or second hurdle, Wexford will still get a chance to advance via the qualifiers which are slated for May 6, with the quarter-finals to follow a fortnight later.

Meanwhile, on the Minor hurling front, the first game for the purple and gold will see them pitted against one of the winners from Kilkenny v. Westmeath, or Laois v. Offaly, on April 15, with the draw yet to be made.

Victory would result in a semi-final place, while a loss would lead to a chance to make amends via the quarter-final.

The new Under-17 competitions in both codes will also be awaited with interest. The hurlers are due to face either Kilkenny, Westmeath or Offaly on April 19, while the footballers will host Offaly on Friday, June 23.

On the Senior front, the football clash against Carlow will be at 3 p.m. in Netwatch Cullen Park on Sunday, May 21.

And in the event of a win, the Sky cameras will be in Innovate Wexford Park on Saturday, June 3, for live coverage of the quarter-final versus All-Ireland champions Dublin.

The hurlers’ quarter-final against one of the round robin teams will be on Saturday or Sunday, May 27 or 28, with Kilkenny awaiting in the last four - another fixture live on Sky - on Saturday, June 10, at 7 p.m. in Innovate Wexford Park if we’re involved.