Fethard facing Callan in final
Strong results in province
WEXFORD CLUBS are enjoying quite a remarkable run in the AIB Leinster football and hurling championships.
Having had a one hundred per cent success rate before the weekend, the clubs continued their assault on the provincial title race, with only Crossabeg-Ballymurn coming unstuck when they lost their Junior football semi-final by the minimum, 1-7 to 0-9, to Multyfarnham at Bellefield on Saturday.
However, Kilanerin maintained their fine form when qualifying for the provincial Intermediate football semi-final as a result of their 0-10 to 0-8 victory over Kildare side, Raheens, at Páirc Uí Shiocháin, Gorey.
They are due to meet St. Mary’s from Rochfortbridge in Westmeath in the semi-final at the same venue on Saturday.
On the hurling scene it’s Fethard who are keeping the purple and gold flag flying, recording their second victory away from home when defeating Erin’s Isle (Dublin) in their Leinster Junior semi-final, setting up a clash with Kilkenny side, John Lockes (Callan), at a home venue on Saturday.
Also listed for that day is The Courtyard Ferns Intermediate hurling final in Innovate Wexford Park, with St. Anne’s seeking an immediate return to Senior ranks when they play Crossabeg-Ballymurn in what is a highly attractive all-Wexford District final.
On Sunday afternoon, Enniscorthy Starlights return to provincial club football following a 13-year absence when they entertain the Meath champions, Simonstown Gaels, at Innovate Wexford Park in the quarter-final.
Starlights may have upset the formbook with their county final victory over St. Martin’s, but should they produce a repeat display it would leave them in with a real chance of advancing through to the semi-final.
Simonstown, managed by former Meath great and ‘Sunday Independent’ columnist Colm O’Rourke, managed to put Senior football titles back-to-back with an eight-point victory over Summerhill in the final, having won their maiden crown just twelve months previously.
Simonstown will be without outstanding young midfielder Conor Nash, who has returned to Australia. His partnership with Shane O’Rourke was so influential in their domestic campaign, while they have excellent forwards in Pádraig McKeever and Conor Sheridan.
Meath clubs have only won one game in the AIB Leinster Club Senior football championship in the last six years, so Simonstown will be seeking to end that statistic on Sunday.
Having said that, no Wexford team has been successful since Starlights themselves beat Rathvilly in a replay in 2004.
Meanwhile, Pettitt’s Senior hurling champions St. Martin’s know their semi-final opponents, as they have to travel to Parnell Park on Sunday week to take on reigning provincial and All-Ireland champions, Cuala (Dublin), who looked so impressive in dismissing Dicksboro from Kilkenny.