Under-20s exit from provincial title race
THE QUARTER-FINAL hurdle proved a bridge too far for the three Wexford hurling participants at the national Féile na nGael, but all returned from the weekend after making new friends and feeling enriched by the experience.
On the plus side, all three did well enough in the group games to advance to the last eight in the cup as opposed to the shield, but they were unable to match the outstanding feats of the Kilrush girls who shared the Division 1 camogie crown with Sarsfields of Cork as reported last week.
Fethard flew the flag in the top flight, and they had mixed fortunes in their first two games, beating Tynagh/Abbey-Duniry of Galway by 0-10 to 0-2 before going down to Dúrlas Og of Tipperary on a 3-6 to 0-3 scoreline.
However, a fine 4-6 to 0-1 win against their hosts, Loughrea of Galway, on Saturday morning ensured a spot in the cup quarter-final, and there was certainly no shame in going down to another club from west of the Shannon, Turloughmore, by 1-5 to 1-2, given that their conquerors went on to win the overall title.
Faythe Harriers competed in Division 3, sharing the spoils with Kinvara of Galway (0-5 each) before coming up against a very strong force in the form of Kilmallock of Limerick who romped home by 5-15 to nil.
In the circumstances, it was a very impressive recovery from the town team when they edged past their hosts, Gort (Galway), by 1-7 to 2-3 to clinch a place in the last eight of the cup.
And they weren’t too far away from victory in Duggan Park, Ballinasloe, on Saturday, bowing out narrowly to Watergrasshill from Cork by 0-7 to 0-5.
Finally, Oylegate-Glenbrien took part in Division 6 and had a 50 per cent record on Friday, beating St. Oliver Plunkett’s of Westmeath by 5-9 to 0-1 before losing to Cloughduv from Cork by 1-9 to 2-4.
Saturday morning saw them account for their hosts, Fr. Dalton’s from Westmeath, by 1-4 to 0-2, and they gave their all once again later that day before losing the quarter-final to J.K. Bracken’s from Templemore in Tipperary by 2-5 to 1-4.