Martin’s Minors straight back to winning ways
THE WEXFORD People Minor football Premier championship kicked back into gear after the exam break and St. Martin’s got straight back to winning ways with a lop-sided success against St. Anne’s in Piercestown.
Starlights also kicked off the second half of the season with a strong win against Naomh Eanna, while Glynn-Barntown were gifted the points against Dunbrody Gaels. The three winners, along with HWH-Bunclody, currently take up the top four spots in the table.
Castle-Craan Gaels remain out in front in Roinn 1A after a convincing victory over Kilrush. However, relative surprise packets Blackwater kept up their impressive run of results to move second alone, while Cloughbawn and Réalt na Mara also tasted victory.
Volunteers and Shelmaliers remain unbeaten in Roinn 1B after the fourth round of fixtures. The Vols got a concession off Rathgarogue-Cushinstown while Shelmaliers were made to fight for their victory against Geraldine O’Hanrahans. Gusserane lost their perfect record to Our Lady’s Island/St. Fintan’s while Oylegate-Glenbrien beat St. Mary’s (Maudlintown).
In Roinn 2A, Davidstown-Courtnacuddy won a high-scoring battle against St. Joseph’s to remain perfect after three games. Ferns finished out their group stage with a big win against Shamrocks.
Meanwhile, Rathgarogue-Cushinstown inflicted some payback on Shelmaliers in the Enniscorthy Guardian Juvenile hurling Premier B championship last week, winning by 5-12 to 0-10 to move level with their opponents at the top of the round-robin table.
When the sides met in the first week of the season, back in April, the Hollymount club took the spoils but a blitz of Rathgarogue-Cushinstown goals overturned that form. Otherwise both sides have been unbeaten this season.
Craanford have put in decent performances against the top two but have been unable to get the better of them. They did beat Liam Mellows for the second time last week (9-16 to 2-7) to solidify their hold on third spot in the table.
Rathnure and Slaney Gaels (Oylegate-Glenbrien and Monageer-Boolavogue) met in a top of the table clash in Roinn 1A on the foot of the Blackstairs and it was the deadly double act that came out victorious.
HWH-Bunclody are now level in second in the table with Rathnure after coming out on top of an epic battle, 2-13 to 1-14, with Blackwater. Buffers Alley and Ferns St. Aidan’s remain at the bottom after falling to Oulart-The Ballagh and Ballinastragh Gaels.
In Roinn 1B, Horeswood remain at the top of the table with four straight wins. Just behind the seasiders, Glynn-Barntown put up a mammoth score against St. Anne’s in Killurin and they look like a likely challenger coming down the stretch.
The other two games in the group were absolute crackers. The meeting of Gusserane and Cloughbawn produced a 4-12 apiece draw. Crossabeg-Ballymurn needed most of the 6-11 they scored against Our Lady’s Island/St. Fintan’s to get past their plucky visitors.
The top three in Roinn 2A are starting to separate themselves from the pack. Unbeaten Kilross Gaels weren’t in action last week but Taghmon-Camross were and their success against Geraldine O’Hanrahans can be read about in these pages.
St. James’ continued to motor too. They are also now unbeaten in three games after they eased their way past Bannow-Ballymitty. The Ramsgrange boys are battle hardened at this stage and should provide a good test for Taghmon-Camross and Kilross Gaels in the coming weeks.
St. Patrick’s have been superb so far in Roinn 2B and their impressive season continued with a 1-19 to 2-9 victory against a Davidstown-Courtnacuddy side which has won two of its four games to date.
Askamore have only lost to the Camolin side this season and they proved way too strong for Ballygarrett. Their credentials will be tested further this week when they host Davidstown-Courtnacuddy in Ballyroebuck.
With the Minor footballers bravely going down to Louth last Tuesday, just two games were played in the Wexford People Minor hurling championship, both in Roinn 1A.
Rathnure have a classy squad and their win against Hollow Rovers is covered in this section. Elsewhere, Fr. Murphy’s (Buffers Alley and Monageer-Boolavogue) got their first win of the season, beating Oulart-The Ballagh in a high-scoring game by 6-10 to 2-15.