NEWS IN BRIEF
POOLE’S MAGIC BOOT: Ivan Poole’s magic boot turned what looked like defeat into victory as his 35-metre kick soared over the crossbar and between the posts to give Enniscorthy a 9-8 win in the Provincial Towns Cup final against Kilkenny in Kildare.
His decisive strike came with just one minute of normal time remaining, and it was one of three he nailed on an afternoon when the Ross Roaders led 6-3 at half-time.
It was their seventh cup success, with the super-human performance of Declan O’Brien earning him the coveted man of the match award.
Enniscorthy: Paddy Waters, Davy Murphy (Angelo Todisco), James Doyle, Tomás Stamp, Declan O’Brien, Tom Ryan (Alan Jacob), Timmy Morrissey, Seán Wall (Damien McCabe), Evan Lett (Hughie O’Neill), Ivan Poole, Ivan Jacob, Daniel Pim, Killian Lett (capt.), Paul Bolger, Ross Barbour. Unused - Robbie O’Connor, Mitchel Dalton, Jack Kelly.
SHUTTLES SUCCESS: The annual county Juvenile badminton championships took place from Ramsgrange, with players from Gorey, Monaseed, Taghmon, Shelburne and Terrerath clubs taking part.
Some notable individual achievements were recorded, such as Sarah Doyle from Monaseed winning all three girls’ Under-11 titles: singles, doubles with Leah Canavan from Gorey, and mixed doubles with David Remenyik, also from Gorey.
In the Under-13 category, Evan Byrne and Aine Crowe from Gorey both won three out of three events, and they also added a fourth title apiece in the Under-15 grade.
The boys’ doubles was one of three Under-15 titles secured by Jack Nolan, while Ryan Cogley from Taghmon was a triple winner in the Under-17 category.
A NEW DIRECTION: There was a real change of direction for Wexford racecourse on April 20 as horses raced anti-clockwise for the first time in the 61-year history of the Bettyville track.
Organisers, trainers, jockeys and punters alike deemed the experiment a resounding success, with racecourse manager Michael Murphy saying: ‘It was very positive. There wasn’t one complaint.
‘The flights in front of the stand brought the people closer to the action. They could see the skill the jockey produces to get the horse over the fence.’
FORTH FLYING: Forth Celtic wrapped up the Wexford and District Schoolboys League Under-11 Division 1A trophy with a classy 7-1 win away to St. Cormac’s.
North End laid claim to the Under-15 Division 1 crown with three matches to spare, while Glynn Barntown stormed to the Under-11 Division 2 title.
Gorey Celtic were crowned Under-12 Division 2 victors, while St. Joseph’s got their hands on the Under-13 Division 2 silverware.
Eoin McLoughlin captained Taghmon United to Under-16 Division 2A honours, while Wexford Celtic and Camolin Celtic led the way in Under-11 Division 1 and Under-13 Division 3 respectively.
CIARA CROWNED: Ciara Rossiter of Wexford Youths Women was crowned national young player of the year, and she was chosen on the team of the year too along with Mary Rose Kelly, Nicola Sinnott, Kylie Murphy, Claire O’Riordan and Carol Breen.