Glynn-Barntown secure vital win in Minor battle

THE WEXFORD People Minor football championships moved just a little further along last week after the bulk of the fixtures were postponed due to the county Under-17 side being in action against Carlow on Tuesday.

A couple of important games went ahead in Roinn 1B where the congestion at the top of the table is no closer to resolving itself.

Blackwater were able to get the better of Castletown in Tomahely to move joint top of the table with inactive Ballyhogue.

There was an even more important game down for decision in Killurin where Glynn-Barntown took a critical victory against Cloughbawn in the battle for quarter-final places.

The loss doesn’t take the Castleboro side’s destiny out of their own hands but they are going to have to quality the hard way, by getting results against high-flying Ballyhogue and Crossabeg-Ballymurn.

The draw in our feature game between Hollow Rovers and Réalt na Mara was a decent result for both sides.

Monageer-Boolavogue are into the quarter-finals after a walkover against Shamrocks. Kilrush beat Craanford to keep their hopes alive, and they will look for Buffers Alley to fail in both their remaining fixtures so they can nip in and snag a knockout spot in Roinn 2.

Meanwhile, over in Group B, Kilross Gaels were already secure in the last eight but they didn’t let that stop them from picking up another win.

This time it was 4-10 to 2-14 against Moguegeen Gaels, who should make the knockouts with victory over a Geraldine O’Hanrahans side which hasn’t fielded in the championship yet.

Both Duffry Rovers and Bannow-Ballymitty had already qualified for the New Ross Standard Under-13 football Division 2 championship semi-finals so they played off their concluding game in the round-robin stages during the week.

The Coolree side have been sensational all season long and there was no stopping them in this game either. A 3-14 to 4-6 win means they will play the bottom-placed finisher from Division 1 in the quarter-finals, while Bannow-Ballymitty with face the team in seventh position.

Because there is a ninth team in Division 4, there was an extra round of fixtures that needed to be slotted in to last week.

There is still no halting the top two, as Ballyhogue got a walkover from Gusserane while St. Mary’s beat St. Joseph’s. Maudlintown did their hopes of a top four finish the world of good with victory over the Geraldines.

There are some very interesting games ahead in Division 5 of the New Ross Standard Under-13 hurling championship.

Clonee kept their hopes of nabbing top spot alive with victory over Naomh Eanna ‘B’, but their chances might hinge on who wins this week when the unbeaten duo, Clongeen and Our Lady’s Island/ St. Fintan’s, meet.

The big game in the Enniscorthy Guardian Under-15 hurling Premier championship saw Naomh Eanna travel to Piercestown and come away with the spoils.

The Gorey boys have now won all four of their games so far, after beating St. Martin’s by 2-16 to 0-8.

While Gorey and Glynn-Barntown are favourites for the top two spots, the battle for quarter-final places for those finishing third to sixth is really heating up.

Faythe Harriers and HWH-Bunclody both picked up their first wins of the season last week and are now right in the mix to qualify.

The most incredible anomaly has occurred in Roinn 1A where after just four games the four quarter-finalists are already confirmed.

That’s because wins for Davidstown-Courtnacuddy, Oulart-The Ballagh, Blackwater and Monageer-Boolavogue means that all four have won their four games to date.

On the other hand, the losers of those ties, Ferns St. Aidan’s, Duffry Rovers, Askamore and Craanford, have lost all four of their games and will have to settle for a place in the shield, regardless of the results in the final three fixtures.

Things are a little more complex in Roinn 1B where the top two, unbeaten sides Rathnure and Shelmaliers, met in Hollymount on Thursday. Winning by 7-6 to 3-10, the visitors went back home with the spoils and sit confidently at the top of the table.

As well as the top two, Horeswood are closing in on a quarter-final spot.

They fired 8-25 past neighbours St. James’ to move on to three wins from four games. The last spot is destined to be tight, with either the Ramsgrange club or Oylegate-Glenbrien the most likely to take the position.

A walkover for Ballygarrett has them moving towards a last eight spot in Roinn 2.

They lead Group A after that win, while Ballinastragh Gaels got themselves back into the reckoning with a classy win against St. Patrick’s.

Taghmon-Camross are out on top of Group B after a hard-earned victory against Kilmore.

Clúain O’Rahilly’s are also unbeaten after getting a walkover off the withdrawn Bannow-Ballymitty, while Rathgarogue-Cushinstown and St. Mary’s (Rosslare) also picked up wins.