Oulart-The Ballagh claim first Division 1 semi spot

THE RACE for semi-final spots in the New Ross Standard Under-13 hurling Division 1 championship is hotting up after the penultimate round of games took place last week.

Oulart-The Ballagh are the only team assured of a last four spot, but wins for St. Martin’s and Buffers Alley mean both clubs will join them if they can navigate tricky home ties in their last game.

St. Anne’s also control their own destiny, knowing a win against Oylegate-Glenbrien will see them into the semi-finals. Should any of the three slip up, Naomh Eanna and Glynn-Barntown could nip in and make things even more complicated.

When they bottom four in Division 1 drop into the Division 2 quarters, they will be joined by the top four already plying their trade at the second tier.

Rathnure won the battle of the top two by beating HWH-Bunclody but both are safely through. Duffry Rovers are set to join them while Faythe Harriers did their hopes no harm with victory over Ballinastragh Gaels.

Our feature game came from Division 3 were Ferns St. Aidan’s and St. James’ both remained in position to make the quarters.

Bannow-Ballymitty will be there but a loss to Davidstown-Courtnacuddy last week gave the Boolabawn boys renewed hope. Askamore will aim to repeat that trick when they travel to Grantstown next week and cement their own last eight place.

There’s a little less suspense in Division 4 but it’s still set to go to the wire. Wins for Liam Mellows and St. Mary’s (Rosslare) see both into the quarter-finals.

Crossabeg-Ballymurn and Monageer-Boolavogue are also in position but Ballyhogue can still have a say in the final round of fixtures.

Ballygarrett will play the bottom place finisher from Division 4 in the Division 5 quarter-finals after topping their group and, despite losing to the table-toppers, Craanford will join them in the cup knockouts.

Clongeen, winners of the 13-a-side section, and Our Lady’s Island/St. Fintan’s, will also follow them into the last eight.

St. Martin’s are certain of a place in the Wexford People Minor hurling Premier championship semi-finals after beating Rapparees last week.

With two games to play, either Faythe Harriers or Naomh Eanna will take the other automatic spot. The Páirc Charman boys took an important step towards that place by winning a match-up between the two last week.

Whoever misses out on the automatic spot will drop into one of two quarter-finals with the Rapparees, plus the top two in Premier B, Na Piarsaigh and Blackwater, who played out a close encounter last week which the Davidstown-Courtnacuddy and HWH-Bunclody double-act edged.

Cloughbawn are assured of a quarter-final spot out of Roinn 1A after a draw with Crossabeg-Ballymurn last week. Otherwise, the biggest result of note was Ballinastragh Gaels’ success against Craanford.

Meanwhile, in Roinn 1B nobody is yet secure with two games left. Glynn-Barntown and Horeswood both moved closer to booking their spots with impressive victories over Kilross Gaels and Rathnure respectively.

Bannow-Ballymitty, Adamstown and Moguegeen Gaels are all through to the quarters in Roinn 2A, and the final spot is up for grabs with Hollow Rovers, Geraldine O’Hanrahans and Ballyhogue all battling it out.

On the other side of things, Buffers Alley, Ferns St. Aidan’s, St. Patrick’s and Askamore are all in the cup knockout spots.

The battle to join Naomh Eanna in the semi-finals of the Gorey Guardian Under-15 football Premier championship will go down to the last game.

A Glynn-Barntown win against Ballinastragh Gaels will secure it but Sarsfields, already guaranteed a quarter-final berth, can nab it if they slip up.

Leaders in Roinn 1A, Ballyhogue, had a free passage to cement top spot in the table with a walkover against Crossabeg-Ballymurn last week.

They will play the fourth place side in Roinn 1B once the group stages end.

HWH-Bunclody will be there with them but the last two spots are down to a battle between three clubs - Monageer-Boolavogue, Davidstown-Courtnacuddy and Oylegate-Glenbrien.

Elsewhere, in Roinn 1B St. Anne’s are flying on their way to a top spot finish. They beat Clúain O’Rahillys by 7-4 to 3-10 for their sixth victory in a row last week, but the Gusserane/Clongeen duo are themselves hopeful of wrapping up a knockout spot with a victory in their final game.

Shelmaliers, St. Mary’s (Maudlintown) and Horeswood are battling for a spot too.

Castletown are going to finish at the top of Roinn 2A after accepting a walkover last week. Cloughbawn will join them in the last eight after a hard-fought win against Craanford.

The Gorey District club, Duffry Rovers and Blackwater are all right in the mix to qualify with a game to go.

Finally, in Roinn 2B there is no real suspense heading into the final games.

Taghmon-Camross and Adamstown will battle it out to decide who finishes top while Rathgarogue-Cushinstown and St. Mary’s (Rosslare) will join them in the quarter-finals.