Battle for Minor football spots goes down to wire
THE BATTLE for semi-final spots in the Wexford People Coiste na nÓg Premier Minor football championship will go down to the wire after last week threw up a surprise at the top of the table.
St. Martin’s lost their unbeaten record to Naomh Eanna (see above), meaning they, HWH-Bunclody, who beat Glynn-Barntown, and Mogue O’Rahilly’s, who sauntered past Dunbrody Gaels, are all in the running for the two automatic spots in the last four.
One of those three will drop into the two quarter-finals, contested by the teams finishing third to sixth in the table. Glynn-Barntown are assured of their place while Dunbrody, Shelmaliers and Naomh Eanna all have an opportunity to book their spots next week.
The only mystery heading into the last set of fixtures in Roinn 1, Group A, surrounds the final positions.
Shamrocks, Castle-Craan Gaels, Starlights and Ballinastragh Gaels are all into the quarters but will compete in the final round to decide finishing positions in the table.
Apart from Sarsfields, who have cemented top spot, things aren’t so clear in Group B. Crossabeg-Ballymurn sit second and will qualify if they avoid defeat in their final game. Volunteers, Rathgarogue-Cushintown, Oylegate-Glenbrien and Our Lady’s Island/St. Fintan’s are all still in the hunt.
Ferns St. Aidan’s are into the Roinn 2 semi-final after beating Kilrush last week.
Cloughbawn and Davidstown-Courtnacuddy join the Ballyroebuck side in the quarters. They will be met there by Group A table-toppers St. Anne’s, plus play-off winners, Geraldine O’Hanrahans and Kilross Gaels.
It’s all to play for in the Enniscorthy Guardian Coiste na nÓg Juvenile hurling Premier championship where only Oylegate-Glenbrien are assured of a semi-final spot.
Faythe Harriers meet St. Martin’s this week with the winner taking one place.
Bann Gaels can rubber-stamp their own place in the semis if they avoid defeat against Oylegate-Glenbrien, while Rapparees will go through should they beat, or draw with, Glynn-Barntown in Killurin on Thursday.
With Ballinastragh Gaels, Monageer-Boolavogue and Ferns St. Aidan’s all through to the Roinn 1 quarter-finals out of Group A, Askamore will follow them with a win on Thursday.
However, if they fail to get the better of Ballinastragh, Liam Mellows will join them in fourth with a victory over Ferns St. Aidan’s.
There’s no such queries to be answered in Group 2. Rathnure, Blackwater, Rathgarogue-Cushinstown and Shelmaliers are all into the last eight, and the only question left to be answered this coming week is in which order in the table will they finish.
It was quarter-final time in Roinn 2 last week. Gusserane proved too strong for Adamstown, winning by 5-13 to 1-6. Kilross Gaels edged their way past Buffers Alley by 2-12 to 0-14 while Cloughbawn were made to battle all the way by Our Lady’s Island/ St. Fintan’s.
Crossabeg-Ballymurn were too strong for Moguegeen Gaels and they will face Kilross Gaels in the last four, while Cloughbawn play Gusserane.
Finally, the action returned in the New Ross Standard Under-14 hurling championship last night where six teams were in the hunt to join Faythe Harriers in the Division 1 semi-finals.