Only twelve games played in strangely quiet week
IT WAS a strangely quiet week in the People Newspapers Coiste na nÓg championships, with only twelve games making it onto the playing fields for completion.
While the clash between St. Martin’s and Faythe Harriers, covered opposite, didn’t have a direct influence on who qualified for the knockout stages, it did set the championship structure all the way to the final.
Third-placed St. Martin’s will meet the Páirc Charman boys again in the last six, with the winners of that tie advancing to a semi-final against Naomh Eanna.
On the other side of the draw, Ferns St. Aidan’s and Oyle- gate-Glenbrien, who drew earlier in the season, will face-off for the right to meet Shelmaliers in the final four.
While the Premier Minor football group stages lumber on unfinished, Glynn-Barntown solidified their spot in the top two, and therefore an automatic semi-final place, with victory over Starlights last week.
They and HWH-Bunclody are the qualifiers for the last four but the quarter-final line-up is not yet confirmed.
The Roinn 1 quarters lineup is still not complete either. Our Lady’s Island/St. Fintan’s booked their spot with a walkover against Geraldine O’Hanrahans in Group B.
They join Shelmaliers in the knockouts with the draw between Gusserane and Oylegate-Glenbrien leaving them tied and waiting for Volunteers to finish out their games.
In Group A, Hollow Rovers looked to have done their championship hopes serious damage with a draw against Kilrush. However, Cloughbawn’s surprise concession of their game booked the Marshalstown/Duffry combination a last eight spot with Castle-Craan Gaels, Blackwater and Ballinastragh Gaels.
The Roinn 2 quarter-finals were played last week as well. St. Joseph’s reward for their victory over Moguegeen Gaels is a tough assignment against high-flying Davidstown-Courtnacuddy in the final four.
In the other semi-final Ferns St. Aidan’s, big winners over Kilross Gaels, will face 2B table-toppers Fr. Murphy’s.
There was also a small handful of New Ross Standard Under-14 xhampionship games completed that were held over from the previous week.
In Division 3, Davidstown-Courtnacuddy and Oylegate-Glenbrien moved serenely through to the semi-finals. Duffry Rovers eased past Ballinastragh Gaels and into the semi-finals in Division 4, while St. Patrick’s received a walkover from Bannow-Ballymitty in Division 5.
Attention turns to the Enniscorthy Guardian Juvenile hurling Premier championship this week. At the time of writing, Faythe Harriers and Rapparees are scheduled to renew rivalries in their semi-final on Wednesday evening in St. Patrick’s Park. Two days later it’s the turn of St. Martin’s and title favourites Naomh Eanna at the same venue.
Also on Wednesday, Roinn 1 of the Wexford People Minor hurling championship moves into the knockout stages. Gusserane will host Ballinastragh Gaels while Cloughbawn and Castle-Craan Gaels will meet in Castleboro. Blackwater will welcome St. Anne’s on the same evening and Rathgarogue-Cushinstown travel to Rathnure.
Finally, the Roinn 2 championship goes from the group stages to the semi-finals with table-toppers Askamore going in as only warm favourites when they meet Ballygarrett.
There will be little to choose between Crossabeg-Ballymurn and Davidstown-Courtnacuddy in the other semi-final either as both look to reach the title decider.