Five champs crowned on perfect day for football

THERE WERE winners aplenty found in the Wexford and District Schoolboys Soccer League at the weekend, with no fewer than five new champions being crowned on a perfect day of summer-like football.

Curracloe United had their toughest game of the season in Under-11 Division 2A against Caim United on Saturday morning, but their 1-0 win was enough to see them crowned league winners with three games to spare.

The seasiders have won all eleven matches on their way to the title, scoring 63 goals in the process with an impressive show of strength.

With games against St. Cormac’s, Fastnet and St. Leonards still to come, Curracloe will be aiming to complete the perfect season in the coming weeks.

Ballagh United probably wouldn’t have been expecting to wrap up the Under-11 Division 3A title on Saturday, but their 8-1 win away to Rosslare Rangers ‘B’ turned out to be enough to guarantee the silverware.

Runners-up Wexford Bohs’ draw with Kilmore ensured that the win, United’s sixth in seven games, was enough to give them the title with a match to spare. Apart from their two tight matches with their title rivals, Ballagh have been racking up big wins and are worthy champions.

Wexford Celtic ‘B’ let a two-goal lead slip against Shamrock Rovers ‘B’ in Under-13 Division 3A, but it mattered little in the grand scheme of things as the Sinnottstown Lane side secured the point they needed to take the title.

It has been an epic campaign of improvement for the champions, having finished at the foot of the standings last season. They have won seven of their ten games, none bigger than the return fixture against Rovers which they took 6-3.

Ballymurn Celtic will play in the top division next season after taking the Under-15 Division 1A title with another big win, this time 6-1 away to local rivals Blackwater.

The victors have been in a back and forward battle with neighbours Bridge Rovers and it finally came to a conclusion on Saturday.

Rovers needed to beat St. Joseph’s, which they failed to do, meaning Celtic were certain to be champions. Their eight wins this season are impressive and, with a cup quarter-final against Bree to come, the double is not out of the question.

New Ross Celtic were the fifth team to secure a league title although a facile win against an undermanned Glynn Barntown side probably wasn’t the way they wanted to do it.

They have won all nine league fixtures this season, scoring 54 times in the process while conceding just eleven.

They will receive their trophy at their final home league game, against Camolin, in the coming weeks.

Elsewhere, Wexford Albion moved twelve points clear in Under-13 Division 1 but, with so many games outstanding, S.F.A.I. Regional Cup finalists All Blacks and Wexford Celtic still have a real chance to claw in the gap.

Fethard need just a point in their final game of the season, away to Shamrock Rovers, to take the Division 1A crown.

In Under-15 Division 3, Gorey Rangers ‘B’ will host Kilmore in the coming weeks, with the victor taking the title.