Rapps face Harriers in Saturday’s Premier Minor hurling final
BALLYHOGUE WILL meet Sarsfields in the Wexford People Minor football Roinn 1 championship decider after both sides won their respective semi-final ties last week.
The Wexford town club turned the tables on Gusserane to make the final. Having lost in the group stages to the New Ross District club, the Sars went on a goal blitz to advance to the decider (6-8 to 1-6).
Ballyhogue needed to come through a replay to knock out an in-from St. Joseph’s side in the quarter-finals, but they didn’t quite have it as tough against Crossabeg-Ballymurn in the last four, winning through by 4-8 to 2-4 to an as-yet unscheduled decider.
Naomh Eanna proved too strong for Sarsfields in the Gorey Guardian Under-15 football Premier championship semi-final. They will have to wait to discover their opponents in the decider after Glynn-Barntown and Fethard drew.
HWH-Bunclody and St. Anne’s had lost just once between them in 16 games this season ahead of their clash in their Under-15 football Roinn 1 championship semi-final last week, so it was somewhat apt that extra-time couldn’t separate them (5-7 to 3-13), with a replay needed to find a final opponent for Clúain O’Rahilly’s.
Meanwhile, in the Enniscorthy Guardian Under-15 hurling championship, the Gusserane/Clongeen combination played their Roinn 2 semi-final against Ballyhogue on Saturday but succumbed by four points. In the other semi-final, Rathgarogue-Cushinstown shocked inform Taghmon-Camross.
Looking ahead to this coming week, there are multiple title deciders as the Coiste na nÓg finals season moves past the midpoint and into the second half of fixtures.
Bannow-Ballymitty and Marshalstown-Castledockrell face-off in the Gorey Guardian Under-15 football Roinn 2 shield final on Wednesday in St. Patrick’s Park (7.15 p.m.).
Saturday is set to be a bumper day of action, with currently six finals down for decision.
The big one comes at Taghmon (12 noon) where Rapparees and Faythe Harriers face off for the right to call themselves the Wexford People Minor hurling Premier champions for 2018 in what promises to be a cracking final.
It’s quite the turn of events, with Rapparees losing all six group games, getting past Na Piarsaigh in the quarters, before stunning unbeaten St. Martin’s in the semi-final. It has been a more serene progress for the Harriers, losing to the Piercestown-based side twice but winning all of their other games.
Also on Saturday, a double-header in St. Patrick’s Park sees Cloughbawn meet Davidstown-Courtnacuddy for the New Ross Standard Under-13 hurling Division 4 title at 11 a.m. before clashing with Oulart-The Ballagh for the Wexford People Minor hurling Roinn 1 crown at 12.30 p.m.
Camolin hosts the Under-13 Division 3 hurling final between Askamore and Ballinastragh Gaels at 11 a.m., Duffry Rovers and Taghmon-Camross meet for the Under-15 Roinn 2 football crown in Bree at the same time, while the details for the Under-15 hurling Roinn 2 shield final between Kilmore and St. Mary’s (Rosslare) are still to be confirmed.
Finally, on Sunday, Naomh Eanna and Na Piarsaigh come face-to-face for the Wexford People Under-17 hurling Premier shield title in St. Patrick’s Park at 11 a.m.
Once that fixture is played, barring draws after extra-time, just 13 trophies will remain available in the People Newspapers Coiste na nÓg championships.