Districts finalising Junior ‘B’ matters
DON’T BE surprised to see an influx of players to the Junior ‘B’ ranks in the weeks to come. The pandemic has convinced many to make the most of whatever chance they may get to play some competitive sport, and we are hearing reports of some individuals returning to the fold after many years of inactivity.
And if you want to train or play hurling or Gaelic football in a less intense environment, then the Junior ‘B’ grade has its advantages.
The county quarter-finals will be played on October 10/11 (hurling) and 17/18 (football), followed by semi-finals on October 24/25 and October 31/November 1. The hurling final is pencilled in for November 7/8, with the football set to bring the curtain down on the domestic games programme one week later.
Districts must complete their finals on or before Sunday, October 4, and they have also been instructed to provide a full schedule of Junior ‘B’ hurling championship fixtures prior to next Friday, July 10.
The New Ross championship will start on July 26, with Fethard, Taghmon-Camross, Gusserane and Horeswood in Group A, while St. James’, Geraldine O’Hanrahans, Clongeen and Rathgarogue-Cushinstown will form Group B.
Their football pairings are Fethard, Bannow-Ballymitty, Rathgarogue-Cushinstown and Horeswood in Group A, and St. James’, Taghmon-Camross and Gusserane in Group B.
The eight teams entered in Enniscorthy District are split into two groups of four.
The sequence of games in Group 1 will be Ballyhogue v. HWH-Bunclody and Cloughbawn v. Duffry Rovers (round one); Duffry Rovers v. Ballyhogue and HWH-Bunclody v. Cloughbawn (round two); Ballyhogue v. Cloughbawn and HWH-Bunclody v. Duffry Rovers (round three).
In Group 2 it will be Monageer-Boolavogue v. Oylegate-Glenbrien and Shamrocks v. Rapparees (round one); Rapparees v. Monageer-Boolavogue and Oylegate-Glenbrien v. Shamrocks (round two); Monageer-Boolavogue v. Shamrocks and Oylegate-Glenbrien v. Rapparees (round three).
Meanwhile, the Gorey District draw, with eight teams entered, will take place on Wednesday. There will be two groups of four, and last year’s finalists (St. Patrick’s and Naomh Eanna) will be seeded number one in each group. An open draw will take place to fill the rest of the places.
The top two teams per group will advance to the semi-finals, with the side finishing in pole position earning home advantage. It is hoped to start the championship on the weekend of July 24/25.