NEWS IN BRIEF
EASY IN LONDON: The Wexford Senior footballers erased any bitter memories from their loss to Dublin with an easy 4-22 to 0-9 dismissal of London in their All-Ireland championship first round qualifier held in Ruislip.
Corner-forward P.J. Banville proved the star of the show as he ripped the home defence to shreds with a sparkling display of attacking football, finishing with a personal tally of 2-4.
SUPER SILVER: Francesca Reville of Menapians A.C. continued her strong return to form, taking a fantastic silver in the national Under-23 100m with a time of 12.65, one of her fastest of the season.
She was just outside the medals in the 200m, filling fourth spot.
YOUTHS HELD: Wexford Youths squandered a chance of improving their position in the First Division table when they were held to a scoreless draw away to Salthill Devon in Drom.
Manager Noel O’Connor was in the early stages of trying to cope with the loss of two key players: David Breen, the current coach in Ferrycarrig Park, who had retired from League of Ireland football, and popular midfielder enforcer Paul ‘ Patsy’ Malone, who had emigrated to Paris.
TEE TO GREEN: The lady Captain’s prize of Paula Reidy in New Ross Golf Club was won by Eileen Howlett (30) with an overall haul of 136 points, leaving her six ahead of Eileen Kinsella (20).
Jimmy Kenny (18) took the President’s prize in Tuskar Rock with 41 points on countback, while the Captain’s prize to the ladies in Wexford was captured by Richella MacCarvill (14) with 68 nett.
The prize of President Tommy Byrne to the ladies in Rosslare went to Chris White (23) with 69 points.
Pat Daly (10) was best with 106 strokes in Nicky Murphy’s Captain’s prize in Wexford, while Marie Dunphy (19) won Bernie Whelan’s lady Captain’s prize in Enniscorthy with 69 points, pipping Jennifer King (5) with a better back nine score.
SWEEPSTAKES WIN: New Ross woman, Mairéad Crowe, was the talk of the town after she won half a million euro with Brushed Aside in the National Lottery Sweepstakes race over six furlongs at the Curragh.
The three-year-old Oasis Dream filly, trained by Dermot Weld, owned by Khaled Abdullah, and ridden by Pat Smullen, was selec ted as Mairéad’s horse in the first running of the National Lottery Sweepstakes.
The winning ticket was purchased for €20, and her selection guaranteed her €100,000 irrespective of where her horse finished.
PIPPED AT POST: Substitute Jessica Gill broke Wexford hearts with a scarcely-deserved goal three minutes into added time to give Galway a 1-8 to 0-10 victory in the All-Ireland Senior camogie championship round two clash held in Kenny Park, Athenry.
It was a more fruitful trip for the county Intermediate team, as they booked their place in the All-Ireland semi-final with a 6-5 to 1-6 success in the curtain-raiser.
NEW BOSS: The Wexford ladies’ football team had a change of manager six days before the championship started, with selector Marie Thorpe replacing Jim McGovern who resigned owing to health reasons.