Tough Minor draw
THE WEXFORD Minor hurlers will have to hit the ground running in defence of their Electric Ireland Leinster championship title, won for the first time since 1985 last year.
An amended draw was made by the provincial council during the week, and it has pitted the holders against Kilkenny in a straight knockout semi-final, to be played on the weekend of October 31/November 1.
It will be the first time for the counties to meet at this level, without the losing team having a second chance via the back door, since 1997. On that occasion, Henry Shefflin scored two goals in a quarter-final clash in New Ross that our neighbours won by 5-11 to 3-9.
The other side of the 2020 draw features
Offaly against Laois, with the winners meeting Antrim or Kildare, while Dublin will take on the victors from Westmeath and Carlow.
The winners of the Leinster championship will qualify directly for the All-Ireland decider, with Galway to take on the Munster titleholders in a semi-final.
Meanwhile, the Wexford Minor footballers will be up against Louth in the first round on October 17/18, with the victors earning a quarter-final against Kildare on Wednesday, October 28.
The other last eight tie on Wexford’s side of the draw will be Offaly versus Longford or Wicklow.
Elsewhere, it will be Dublin or Meath against Westmeath, with Laois taking on Carlow.
The Bord Gáis Energy Under-20 hurling championship draw was also completed, with Wexford gaining a bye to the semi-final where they will meet one of five potential opponents.
First of all, Antrim will play Down to determine the guest representatives from Ulster, and the victors there will play Dublin on October 21.
Offaly will face Westmeath on the same date, with the winners of those matches clashing in a quarter-final on October 27. Wexford will then enter the action at the semi-final stage on November 7/8.
Galway will face Laois or Carlow in a quarter-final, with the victors playing Kilkenny in the penultimate round.
The final is on November 15, and this year the losers won’t get a second chance in the All-Ireland series.