All Blacks U-13s edge out Celtic to take Division 1 title
AFTER a season mostly huge highs but also some disappointing lows, All Blacks wrapped up the Wexford and District Schoolboys Soccer Under-13 Division 1 title last midweek, beating Wexford Celtic 1-0 in Casey Park.
The Mayglass boys were a huge fifteen points behind longtime leaders Wexford Albion at one stage but rounded out the season with a fantastic winning run, including two victories against the side that beat them in the South East Regional Final, Wexford Celtic, to end the season on top of the Under-13 tree.
There will be a chance for the Sinnottstown Lane side to end the season on a high, they play Fethard Rangers in a novel Under-13 Cup final on Saturday in Curracloe. That game kicks-off at noon and is followed by the Under-15 decider between North End and Gorey Rangers.
Meanwhile, Rangers secured more success on both Monday and Tuesday nights of last week. Their Under-14’s needed just a draw against North End to take the Division 1 title ahead of their rivals and they got it in a tense 1-all contest.
The Hollygrove boys have the unfortunate honour of being one of only two sides that went the entire league season unbeaten, having draw twice with Rangers. It was their other draw, away to Duncannon, that proved the difference in the final standings.
Gorey Rangers Under-12’s then ended the fairytale run of New Ross Town the following evening.
Having beaten their title rivals three days earlier to force a playoff, Rangers showed no mercy in the title decider, winning 2-0 to take the honours.
It was an interesting season for the champions. They lost just once, 1-0 to their title rivals Ross Town. They also drew four times, all 0-0, which is unusual at this level but they are a talented bunch who will be even harder to stop on the big pitches next season.
Oylegate claimed the Under-13 Division 2A title with victory over Killenagh Wanderers last week. They had to wait for several weeks to finish their season, as others had make-up games to play but they ended it in style, winning 3-0 at home.
Spare a thought for Shelburne. They are the second side to go undefeated and not take the crown.
They won six, drew six of their twelve games with the critical result come back in late March when they let a two-goal lead slip against the eventual champions.
A playoff is needed in Under-12 Division 1A where Gorey Celtic and New Ross Celtic finished level on top of the table after fourteen games, that will take place on Tuesday (today) in Cloughbawn. On the same night, Fastnet Rovers meet Glynn Barntown in the Division 2 play-off.
Bunclody turned the tables in Division 2A and won their play-off with Curracloe to take the title at the weekend, it was only needed after they lost to the runner-up late in the season.
Curracloe still have a chance to end the season on a high when they face Moyne Rangers in the Under-12 Cup final in Ramstown on Friday evening (7.30pm kickoff).