Ferns get required result to secure U-16 crown
FERNS UNITED are the Wexford and District Schoolboys Soccer Under-16 Division 1 champions after they beat Forth Celtic to claim the point they required for the crown. The table-toppers needed just a point to edge North End for the title but they got all three in Murrintown on Saturday.
With nine wins and a draw from their ten league games, they have certainly done it in style. Their loss to the same opponents in the cup semi-final will still sting, but they couldn’t have wished for a better season to end their schoolboy soccer days.
North End United claimed the Under-11 Division 1A title with victory over Bridge Rovers in Hollygrove on Saturday. The champions faced the Castlebridge boys in a winner-takes-all clash and held their nerve with a clinical two-goal win.
Having lost just one game all season, the away fixture against Rovers, North End have proved worthy champions. They have racked up a superb 68 league goals on their way to the crown, beating talented teams like Gorey Celtic, Wexford Celtic and New Ross Celtic along the way.
Meanwhile, in Division 1, Gorey Rangers won their final game of the season against St. Joseph’s to wrap up the runners-up spot in the table. A play-off will be required in Division 2 between Glynn Barntown, Rosslare Strand and St. Cormac’s to confirm the second place finish behind Curracloe.
Apart from the play-off and cup final, all the important action in the Under-11 league season is now finished. Likewise, after the weekend, the Under-15 leagues are also over with Cloughbawn wrapping up the last title during the week.
The Under-13 leagues are heading the same way. Division 1 is catching up, with wins for All Blacks and Wexford Celtic ensuring some interesting games lie ahead this week.
Celtic against Albion tonight (Tuesday) could prove to be a vital fixture in the title race, but All Blacks are still right in it and host Forth Celtic the same evening.
The play-off in Division 1A between Shamrock Rovers and Fethard will still have to be arranged.
In Division 2A, Oylegate claimed a huge win against Curracloe at the weekend. The result means that if they can dispatch Killenagh in their final game they will nip ahead of Shelburne and take the silverware.
The big game in Under-14 Division 1 pitted Gorey Rangers against North End on Friday, and neither side will be too disappointed with a draw. They both live to fight another day but the destination of the title looks set to come down to a meeting between the two in Ramstown in the near future.
Finally, the dates for the much-anticipated cup finals have been set. Forth Celtic and Gorey Rangers meet in the Under-16 Cup decider on May 19 in Hollygrove.
The following day at Bunclody, North End Under-11s face Cloughbawn and their Under-14s meet St. Joseph’s.
The following weekend Moyne Rangers face Curracloe in Ramstown in the Under-12 Cup final on Friday evening. On Saturday lunchtime in Curracloe, Wexford Celtic meet Fethard Rangers in the Under-13 decider, and Gorey Rangers battle North End for the Under-15 Cup.