Strand enjoy two-goal buffer
Quarter-final line-up completed in the Under-12 Cup
THE QUARTER-FINAL line-up in the Wexford and District Schoolboys Soccer Under-12 Cup was completed at the weekend, with the five outstanding third round games all wrapped up.
As one might expect at this stage of the season, everyone can smell silverware which means things get a bit tighter.
That’s just what happened in these games, with no more than two goals separating the sides in any of them.
The side that had that two-goal buffer was Rosslare Strand, winners against Fethard Rangers, and they will now face Gorey Celtic, who themselves edged past Oylegate.
North End’s reward for winning the clash of the giants with Gorey Rangers is a home quarter-final against New Ross Celtic.
Shelburne edged past St. Leonards and will now face Bunclody while surprise package New Ross Town ‘B’ will go up against Cloughbawn.
Speaking of the Division 1 high-flyers, they took a big step in the right direction in the league with a 2-0 win at Bridge Rovers to close the gap on Forth Celtic at the top to one point. It is starting to look like a two-horse race now, but Gorey Rangers are not out of it completely.
Curracloe are still in pole position in Division 1A after beating St. Joseph’s 5-2. Glynn Barntown just managed to keep pace by edging New Ross Celtic while Wexford Albion maintained a slim hope with a victory against local rivals Wexford Celtic.
Despite not playing in the league, Bunclody remain just one win from the Division 2 crown. Their closest rivals, Newpark, beat St. Cormac’s 4-2 to keep their hopes alive, while Ferns also picked up a win.
Corach Ramblers took advantage of New Ross Town ‘B’s cup heroics by leapfrogging them in the Division 2A table. They went to Rosslare on Saturday and were able to put their hosts, Rangers, away without too big a scare.
Wexford Bohs secured an entertaining 5-3 win against Tombrack to close to within nine points of Division 3 leaders Ballagh United with two games in hand.
Meanwhile, in Division 3A, Gorey Celtic ‘B’ moved to the summit with victory against Killenagh but they have Rathnure breathing down their necks.
Glynn Barntown ‘B’s gallant race in Division 4A looks like it has run its course after Gorey Rangers ‘B’ went south to claim a vital three points. They look like potential winners, as do Bridge Rovers who beat Fastnet ‘B’ to remain in touch.
In the tie of the weekend, Forth Celtic ‘B’ stunned Forth Celtic ‘ A’ to move into the Under-14 Cup semi-finals. The Murrintown side’s second string scored the only goal of the game to book a last four spot against Shelburne, big winners against Gorey Rangers. The other two quarter-finals were called off.
Wexford Celtic’s chances of winning Division 1 of the Under-14 league had looked forlorn, but their second win in a row, this time against Glynn Barntown, has kept hopes alive.
Meanwhile, the Division 1A title is between St. Joseph’s, Moyne, both winners at the weekend, and Forth Celtic, all of whom have lost one game each so far.
Oylegate kept their charge in Division 2 going with a solid victory away to Campile. They sit five points behind Curracloe, and two behind Shelburne, but do have games in hand on both.
With Forth Celtic ‘B’ in cup action, Gorey Celtic ‘B’ and Killenagh took advantage by picking up victories to stretch their lead on them at the summit in Division 2A.
Division 1 side Bridge Rovers were the victors in an eleven-goal thriller in the second-last Under-16 round two Cup game at the weekend. They beat Corach Ramblers of Division 1A to book a last eight spot against Shamrock Rovers.
Two cup quarter-finals were down for decision and it proved to be a good day for Fastnet Rovers and Forth Celtic. The Rathangan side beat Shelburne 4-2 to advance to the final four while Celtic smashed seven past Duncannon to move on in style.
Campile and New Ross Celtic have made Division 2 of the league a two-horse race after both won their games at the weekend.
It’s advantage Campile, who hold a lead and have a game in hand.
Meanwhile, as can be seen in this section, Cloughawn claimed the Division 3 title last weekend by besting Glynn Barntown.
Curracloe retained their three-point lead over Rathnure in Division 4 after both won on Saturday. A.J. Redmond, Seán Moran and Owen Lennon were on target for the Blackstairs boys in a 3-0 win against Kilmore as they continue to hunt down the seasiders.
Tombrack’s away draw at New Ross Town was music to the ears of the idle Enniscorthy United lads in Division 5.
Just three points separates the top three, with Shamrock Rovers still holding out hope of slip-ups by the other challengers in the coming weeks.