CLUB CALL
KUNG FU, KICKBOXING
The members of the Wexford Kung Fu and Kickboxing Centre got 2019 off to a winning start last week at the new year open kickboxing tournament.
Held in City West sports stadium, Dublin, this is one of the biggest tournaments on the Kickboxing Ireland calendar.
The Lau Gar fighters took no fewer than five gold, four silver and three bronze medals from this prestigious event. A mixture of new talent and seasoned competitors all had to work hard to reach the medal stages, with a record-breaking attendance present.
As several of the Wexford team have their sights on qualifying for the W.K.C. world championships in Niagara Falls later in the year, this was a good indication of form.
The team travel to U.C.D. for their next competitive outing before the first national qualifying rounds start in March.
The club trains in Image Health Studios, Westpoint, Wexford, and new members of all ages are always welcome.
As kickboxing has recently gained Olympic status, efforts to promote the sport for future generations have intensified in Ireland and, as part of this programme, the club is starting a new ‘family class’ to encourage participation from a young age with the support of older family members.
This new class will start on February 23 in the club premises.
WEXFORD HOCKEY
Wexford hockey ladies’ firsts continued their winning ways on Saturday when they recorded a 2-0 win against Weston 1.
Loreto Kilkenny was, once again, used as a home venue for the club who were missing three regular players from their panel. Wexford had suffered a last-minute defeat to the Lucan-based club in their away fixture and were hoping to make amends.
The ‘home’ team started brightly, launching rolling attacks through their midfield line of Avril Jones, Leonie Grant and Muireann McCarthy, while Ciara McGrath was lively on the right wing.
Weston threatened the Wexford goal in the first minute but the crossgoal shot went mercifully wide.
From there on, however, Wexford took control and made a number of circle penetrations through Sally Bruen and Leonie Grant, with shots from McCarthy and Miriam Lambert just missing the target.
Wexford’s break came about halfway through the first-half when McGrath ran a good ball along the wing, striking a cross into the circle that was finished to the net, at the back post, by Catherina Corcoran to give the team a deserved lead.
Shortly afterwards, Corcoran was the victim of a shoulder charge that wouldn’t have been out of place in Croke Park, and Weston found themselves down to ten players for two minutes.
Wexford failed to capitalise on the numerical advantage however, despite having chances, including one audacious volley from Lambert that blazed wide.
The second-half began in the same vein as the first, with Wexford piling the pressure on the Weston backs and winning a short corner inside the first five minutes.
From Laura Gibney’s injection, Lambert took the ball, stepped it around an advancing defender, and fired it to the back of the net.
Wexford continued to hunt for further scores with good running from Gibney, McCarthy and Corcoran, but Weston also applied pressure, deploying long balls into the Wexford half.
While their forwards were lively, Wexford’s back line of Chloe O’Connor, Anna Corcoran, Jo Grant, Ciara McGrath, as well as Avril Jones and rotating defender Isobel O’Connor, held firm in discipline and tackling.
Weston won two short corners which were saved by ‘ keeper Anna Hayes: the first off the pads and the second with a hairline glove save, while defenders were quick to make the clearances.
Wexford’s defence were kept busy for the remainder of the half but held firm to nab the vital three points and keep a clean sheet.
Wexford: Anna Hayes, Chloe O’Connor, Anna Corcoran, Jo Grant, Ciara McGrath, Avril Jones, Leonie Grant, Muireann McCarthy, Laura Gibney, Miriam Lambert, Sally Bruen, Catherina Corcoran, Isobel O’Connor. Sideline: Therese Finan.
On Sunday, after a long break, Wexford seconds were back in action, meeting Enniscorthy thirds in their first match of the round robin campaign of the Sunday League Cup.
Despite not having a competitive game since December 3, there were no cobwebs evident and Wexford started brightly with some great passing between Glenda McKeown, Aoife Bolger, Cora Raftery and Charlotte Breen to break into the Enniscorthy circle.
The first-half saw both sides string together some great attacking plays. The Wexford defence of Edel Moran, Emer O’Driscoll, Aisling Alouf and Clodagh Walsh held strong and linked up well with the midfield of McKeown, Bolger and Fiona McDermott to pressurise Enniscorthy.
However, against the run of play, in the final quarter of the first-half Enniscorthy were awarded a free just outside the Wexford circle which they took quickly, catching the defence off guard and converting to put them 1-0 up.
Wexford were fortunate not to find themselves another goal down when a blistering shot from their opponents went narrowly wide.
Substitutes Jeannine Dunne, Rosie O’Brien and Eileen Rowe all played their part when introduced, with Rowe having a solid performance at left back.
Midway through the half, Enniscorthy were awarded a penalty corner which they converted to go 2-0 up. Wexford kept up the pressure with Walsh, Bolger, Alouf and O’Driscoll working tirelessly and breaking forward.
O’Driscoll made a blistering move from the back line, up the right wing to link with Orla Parle, only to be denied by a solid Enniscorthy defence.
One of Wexford’s best moves in the game saw O’Brien lay the ball off to Breen on the left-hand side, and she managed to sidestep two defenders but her final shot was well saved by the Enniscorthy ‘keeper.
The game finished 2-0 in favour of Enniscorthy.
Team: Dot Byrne, Edel Moran, Emer O’Rourke, Aisling Alouf, Clodagh Walsh, Aoife Bolger, Glenda McKeown, Fiona McDermott, Orla Parle, Charlotte Breen, Cora Raftery, Eileen Rowe, Jeannine Dunne, Rosie O’Brien.
KILMORE A.C.
Well done to all those who competed in the national Masters and Juvenile ‘B’ cross-country in Dundalk on Sunday.
Nicky Foley and Michael O’Flaherty competed in the Masters race, with a massive field running.
Kate O’Flaherty was a fantastic 14th in the Under-14 race, while Katie Foley was 65th in the Under-12 girls’ race.
Well done to Fiona Kehoe who was second in the Senior women’s 800m race at the the A.A.I. Games in Abbotstown, Dublin, on Saturday.
Fiona ran a time of 2:09:55, finishing just behind Nadia Power of Tempelogue A.C. Fiona now turns her focus to the Irish Life Health national Senior championships in two weeks’ time.
A miserable, wet and bitterly cold day greeted hundreds of students as they got off their buses at Carlow Town Hurling Club. The South Leinster secondary schools cross-country championships had arrived in time.
Questions had been raised as to whether the races would go ahead as temperatures plunged and the heavy rain swept in but, being cross-country, no one was all too surprised when it went ahead. Six of our members represented their schools in the races.
First out were the Minor girls over 1,500m. Arwyn Thompson (Presentation) and Kate O’Flaherty (Loreto) were always expected to be in the mix.
The leaders set a scorching pace but Arwyn and Kate hung on in there. The top 15 would qualify for the Irish Life Health Leinster schools cross-country, so stakes were high.
With only metres to go, Kate swooped past Arwyn to finish 13th, while Arwyn finished 14th - super performances by the two first year girls. They can look forward to the Leinster schools on Wednesday, February 13, at Santry Demesne.
Next up in the Intermediate girls was Eimear Fortune (Loreto). They had to cover 3k. Eimear was always in the mix for one of the coveted top 15 places.
She was running excellently around the course. In the end she just came up short, finishing 18th. This was great running by Eimear who still has two years left in the Intermediate age group.
In the Intermediate boys, Cian Doyle (Bridgetown) and Ross O’Flaherty (St. Peter’s) were in action. A high-quality field lined up with a hot pace being set from the gun.
Cian and Ross found themselves amongst the action. Both put in good performances but unfortunately didn’t qualify for the Leinster schools. Cian came in 40th with Ross not too far behind.
Lastly, Rory Cassidy (Bridgetown) was in action in the Senior boys’ 6,000m. This was the last race and pretty much everyone on the line was beginning to freeze! Rory ended up coming 32nd and can be happy with his performance.
As mentioned already, Arwyn and Kate will race again for their schools on February 13 in the Irish Life Health Leinster schools cross-country. Good luck to both of them!
Good luck also to all our Juveniles competing next Saturday and Sunday in the Leinster Juvenile indoor championships in Athlone I.T. international arena.
Senior training is in Kilmore G.A.A. grounds at 6.30 p.m. on Tuesday, and in Enniscorthy Sports Hub on Saturday at 10 a.m. All adult members are welcome, as well as experienced runners.
Juvenile training is in Kilmore G.A.A. grounds on Mondays and Thursdays at 6.30 p.m. We also train on the track in Enniscorthy on Saturdays at 10 a.m.
Strength and conditioning with Fiona is on Wednesday in Kilmore G.A.A. Centre at 6.30 p.m. for Juvenile members. See the training programmes for details.
Young runners must be seven years old already this year to qualify under Athletics Ireland rules. New members are welcome, and parents can contact us by e-mailing kilmoreathleticsclub@ gmail.com
Was one of your new year’s resolutions to improve your health, fitness and well-being? Well, if so Kilmore A.C. has got you covered.
Every Tuesday at 7 p.m. in Kilmore G.A.A. grounds we will hold our Couch to 5k programme. It would be great to see you come along and improve your fitness!
WORKMAN SNOOKER
Despite conceding 13 points in each frame, the steady and experienced Liam Connolly added to his snooker laurels last week when he defeated Declan Ryan by three frames to nil in the Albatros Cup final.
Connolly broke off in the first frame, and Ryan went for a red and missed an easy pot.
Liam took advantage and had a 30 break to put him 17 ahead with three reds left and, as hard as Ryan tried, Connolly won the first frame 97-56.
Ryan broke off in the second frame, and everyone expected this to develop into one of the best finals for years.
Declan was after beating John Hearne 3-2 in the semi-final with a 66 break, and things looked good. He went 22 points ahead with four reds and the colours left.
Connolly tightened up his game, with some snookers which Ryan failed to get out of, and Liam went on to win the frame, now going 2-0 up.
All the pressure was on Ryan, as Connolly broke off the third frame and left the cue ball on the bottom cushion.
Declan went for a pot and missed, which left Liam in for an 18 break. The harder he tried, the more he missed, and Connolly took the frame and match 3-0.
A special word of thanks to our sponsor, Mr Oil, and our referee, John Bennett.
Members please note: your membership for 2019 is now due.
NEWBAWN DARTS
Week four saw another different winner, with 29 throwers in action again.
A couple of surprises were recorded, with a few not making it out of their groups, losing out by one leg or the head-to-heads.
Some good pairings in the last 16 included Jack Farragher and Keith Turner, with Jeff Nolan taking on fellow county team-mate Andrew McCormack.
Alan Bennett got the better of P.J. Byrne to secure some vital points. John Sinnott Snr., who was in a hurry to get home due to work early next morning, got the better of Paul Cooper.
The semi-finals saw Paul Murphy take on Jack Farragher, and Peter Waters met Alan Bennett.
Jack and Peter got to the final, with Peter winning in a close contest. Peter had his lovely wife pick him up - think it was a bit chilly for the bike.
John Sinnott won spot the dart but got nowhere near the bull. See you again on Wednesday.