NEWS IN BRIEF
OSCAR HISTORY: It’s not often that soccer manager John Godkin is rendered speechless, but the outcome in Whitehall on April 10, 2010, left him struggling to find the right words.
A Wexford team including current hurling hero Lee Chin made history by qualifying for the final of the prestigious Oscar Traynor trophy for the first time, beating the Defence Forces 3-1 thanks to goals from Graham ‘Dax’ Howlin, Leighton Gleeson and Paul Murphy from the penalty spot.
‘It’s very special I must say, and difficult to put into words,’ Godkin said. ‘This was a supreme team effort both on and off the pitch.’
Wexford: Lee Walker, Lee Chin, Tomás Hawkins, Garrett Larkin, Graham Howlin, Kyle Dempsey, Seán Culleton, Leighton Gleeson, Paul Murphy, Michael Grangel, Eugene O’Brien. Subs. - Ricky Fox for O’Brien (53), Tom Elmes for Grangel (55), Anthony Hayes for Murphy (90).
MARTIN’S HIT BACK: St. Martin’s - down by five points with 14 minutes to go - staged a remarkable comeback to claim the Slaney hurling Under-14 title with a 3-5 to 0-6 win over Rapparees in Wexford Park.
Jake Firman captained the winning team, and his colleagues included fellow well-known current day Senior players Harry O’Connor, Aaron Maddock, Darren Codd, Joe Coleman and Joe O’Connor.
LADIES IN LAST FOUR: The Wexford Senior ladies’ football team qualified for the National League Division 3 semi-final when they beat a fancied Fermanagh team by 2-12 to 1-9 in Gorey.
The Slaneysiders had to win, while also hoping that Longford didn’t pick up two more points.
And their wishes were granted, as neighbours Wicklow did us a huge favour by holding the midlanders to a draw.
Wexford: Mary Rose Kelly; Sharon Kehoe (0-1), Shelly Doyle, Aishling McNamara; Marguerite Doyle (capt.), Linda Casey, Niamh Lacey; Marcella Cullen (0-1), Róisín Murphy; Emma Hore, Tara Moloney (1-2), Leona Tector; Fiona Rochford (1-2), Méabh Hughes (0-1), Lisa Goff (0-3). Subs. - Clare Finn (0-1) for Murphy, Maeve Quill for Hughes, Deirdre McMahon (01) for Hore, Aoife Waters for Moloney, Sandra Thorpe for Goff, Aileen Power for Rochford.
AWARDS TIME: Glynn-Barntown were presented with the club of the year honour at the annual Wexford District G.A.A. awards in the Riverbank House Hotel.
The individual club recipients included Paddy O’Connor (Blackwater), James Walsh (Glynn-Barntown), Joe Sheehan (Clonard), Johnny Doyle (St. Anne’s), Tom McDonald (St. Martin’s), John Savage (Faythe Harriers), Jim Doyle (St. Mary’s, Rosslare), Jackie O’Brien (Our Lady’s Island), Aidan Miskella (Kilmore), Seamus Turner (Volunteers), Grace Carty (St. Mary’s, Maudlintown), John Keane (St. Fintan’s), John Fenlon (St. Joseph’s) and Seamus Kehoe (Crossabeg-Ballymurn).
DOUBLE DOUBLE: Two Wexford boxing clubs were celebrating after winning a brace of All-Irelands apiece at the Boy and Girl 1, 2 and 3 championships in the National Stadium.
Conor Jordan and Lisa Bolger brought titles home to Ferns St. Aidan’s, while Niall Hunt and Tom Stevens of St. Michael’s (New Ross) were also successful.