Six participants in Premier knockouts now known

THE SIX sides into the knockout stages of the Wexford People Minor hurling Premier championship are confirmed after the last full round of fixtures was completed last week.

While St. Martin’s and Faythe Harriers still have to finish their round-robin games, they are assured of knockout spots alongside Shelmaliers, Naomh Eanna, Oylegate-Glenbrien and Ferns St. Aidan’s.

Seven of the qualifiers for the quarter-finals of the Roinn 1 championship were known before last week but there was still one spot up for grabs.

That slot was a straight fight between Ballinastragh Gaels and HWH-Bunclody, and the Gorey District side won a cracking encounter between the two by 3-11 to 0-15 to move impressively into the last eight.

It was a similar story in the seven-team Roinn 2 championship. Davidstown-Courtnacuddy and Crossabeg-Ballymurn already knew they would face each other in the semi-finals so few secrets were given away when they met last week.

However, Ballygarrett had a big win against Moguegeen Gaels to book the final spot in the last four against high-flying Askamore.

There were no surprise results in the Enniscorthy Guardian Juvenile hurling Premier championship quarter-finals last week.

Faythe Harriers proved too strong for hosts Rathgarogue-Cushinstown and will face Rapparees, while St. Martin’s eased past Shelmaliers and will meet Naomh Eanna in the final four.

The pairings for the Roinn 1 quarter-finals are also set. HWH-Bunclody’s reward for nabbing the last spot in the knockouts is a clash with Glynn-Barntown.

Slaney Gaels were dominant throughout the group stages and they will match-up with Cloughbawn.

Crossabeg-Ballymurn will play Blackwater, while Rathnure and Horeswood round out the quartet.

In the Roinn 2 quarter-finals, St. Patrick’s will be warm favourites in their game against Moguegeen Gaels. Taghmon-Camross face Ballygarrett while Askamore meet Kilross Gaels.

Finally, St. James’ reward for going through the group stages unbeaten is a home clash against Ballyhogue.

Naomh Eanna will meet Faythe Harriers after both town teams won their respective New Ross Standard Under-14 hurling Division 1 championship semi-finals on Saturday.

The Gorey boys edged HWH-Bunclody 3-6 to 1-10 and are still on for the double, while the Páirc Charman club blitzed Buffers Alley with points, winning by 2-17 to 4-8.

In the Division 2 quarter-finals, authentic Division 2 clubs performed well. Fethard continued their impressive form with a 4-9 to 3-4 victory over Rathnure, Blackwater gave Rapparees a good battle before falling by 2-9 to 2-4, but Glynn-Barntown were too strong for Oulart-The Ballagh.

There was controversy in Piercestown where Shelmaliers beat St. Martin’s by a point but several observers scored it the other way around.

In the Division 3 knockout games played over the weekend, Horeswood put up a pile of points to edge past Askamore by 2-15 to 5-4.

Ferns St. Aidan’s went down to Carne and came away with an impressive 3-6 to 3-3 win against the hosts.

Monageer-Boolavogue beat a talented Ballyhogue by seven points in Division 4, where Clúain O’Rahilly’s also advanced with a win against Rathgarogue-Cushinstown.

In Division 5, St. James’ proved way too strong for Marshalstown-Castledockrell.