Cillian on a winner
Curracloe snatch a crucial success
CILLIAN O’LEARY scored a last-minute winner as Curracloe United snached a crucial victory in the Wexford and District Schoolboys Soccer League Under-12 Division 1A on Saturday.
The dramatic late salvo added to an earlier Max Roche goal as the seasiders edged a gallant Gorey Celtic to move six points clear at the top of the table.
Neither of their nearest rivals - Wexford Albion or Glynn Barntown - saw action at the weekend, and it meant St. Joseph’s, who were 2-1 victors over Wexford Celtic, closed the gap on second place to just four points.
Forth Celtic kept the Wexford flag flying in the S.F.A.I. Skechers Under-12 Cup with a 2-1 win against Limerick side Rathkeale. Dan McGrath scored a winner in the dying seconds to send the Murrintown-based team into the last 16 of the competition.
While the Division 1 league leaders were away, Cloughbawn were at play as they beat Bridge Rovers 5-1 to close the gap at the summit to three points.
North End picked up their first point of the season with an away draw with Gorey Rangers, a result that dented Rangers’ hopes of taking the title.
Bunclody continue to rack up the points in Division 2. They beat fellow title contenders St. Cormac’s 3-1 to move within a point of the Boolavogue club with three games in hand. Newpark kept their own bid alive with a smashing win at Courtown, while Ferns also claimed the spoils.
The status quo remained in Division 2A where the top three all won.
Leaders Corach Ramblers had a comfortable home win against Rosslare Rangers, second-placed New Ross Town B edged St. Leonards, while Oylegate came out on top of an eight-goal thriller (5-3) against a gallant Camolin Celtic.
The top two in Division 3 are threatening to run away with it after both won while keeping clean sheets at the weekend.
Table-toppers Ballagh United needed all their grit to see off Tombrack by a single goal, while second-placed Shelburne had enough to edge past Campile 2-0.
Rathnure took full advantage of Shamrock Rovers’ inactivity in Division 3A when they beat Gorey Celtic B 2-1 to move three points clear at the top of the table. In the only other game in that league, Forth Celtic B went away to Killenagh and came back with the points, winning 3-2 in a cracker.
Blackwater have wrapped up the Division 4 title with a couple of games to spare.
They beat Bunclody 5-1 to remain perfect through six games and they will collect their trophy in the coming weeks.
Taghmon look good to secure third spot after beating Kilmore 4-1 at home.
Gorey Rangers B suffered their first loss of the season against Bridge Rovers in Division 5, and it gave Glynn Barntown the chance to push on at the top of the table. They beat Gorey Celtic C with a little to spare and are now three points clear of Rangers and Rovers at the summit.
It was a disappointing week in cup action for Wexford Celtic Under-14s. They put in a strong performance but came up a little short against St. Joseph’s Boys in the S.F.A.I. Skechers Cup, while their B team exited the Wexford Cup against Duncannon.
Elsewhere, Moyne Rangers will play All Blacks in round two after they overcame Camolin Celtic. Oylegate also had a strong victory against St. Joseph’s B and they will now play Wexford Albion in the last 16.
In League Division 1, Fethard continued their perfect start to the season with a 5-1 win away to Shamrock Rovers.
Gorey Celtic kept pace in behind with a 4-0 victory against Glynn Barntown, while Wexford Albion edged past All Blacks.
St. Joseph’s made no mistake with fellow table-toppers Forth Celtic out of action as they beat Bridge Rovers to move three points clear at the summit.
Bunclody also picked up a morale-boosting victory in Division 1A, beating St. Leonards.
The battle of the top two in Division 2 ended in a crushing victory for Curracloe. The seasiders came into the game one point behind Shelburne but disregarded that stat by scoring seven times on their way to the summit.
With leaders Gorey Celtic B’s game against New Ross Town B postponed, Killenagh took advantage by joining them at the top of the Division 2A table with victory against Corach Ramblers.
Shamrock Rovers B moved nine points clear in Division 3 with a 4-1 win away to Gorey Celtic C.
The Under-16s seemed to take the brunt of the weather, as only five games were played across the divisions.
In the Cup, Curracloe booked a second round encounter with Forth Celtic after beating Camolin.
The Murrintown boys were in league action and they moved seven points clear at the top of Division 1 with victory over St. Joseph’s.
Corach Ramblers slipped in their chase to catch Campile after they were held to a draw by St. Cormac’s in Division 2, while Enniscorthy Town moved within a point of Cloughbawn with victory over Adamstown in Division 3.
Finally, Rathnure are going all out looking for the Division 4 title and they did themselves no harm at all as a brace from A.J. Redmond and a goal from Seán Moran helped the Blackstairs boys to a 3-1 win against Shelburne.
They are now just three points behind Curracloe at the top of the table.