Minor final Friday night COISTE NA NOG

THERE MAY be only eight finals to go in the Coiste na nÓg championships, but there’s a massive one in the offing on Friday night as St. Martin’s meet HWH-Bunclody for the Wexford People Premier Minor football championship title.

Having made the title decider by scraping past Glynn-Barntown last week, the Piercestown-based team have been waiting in the wings for their final opponent to emerge from the other side of the draw.

Starlights had done a superb job getting to the semi-final after dispatching Naomh Eanna in the quarters, but they found an unbeaten HWH-Bunclody side just a little too hot to handle in the last four in Craanford on Sunday.

The boys from Bunclody have looked excellent all season long. They won all seven group games, including the meeting with the county final opponents back in April, when they hosted and took a 1-14 to 1-12 victory.

As well as drawing with Starlights, that loss to Friday’s opponents was one of two St. Martin’s suffered in the group stages. The other was against Glynn-Barntown, but they managed to atone for the loss in the semi-final and will hope to do the same in Taghmon (8 p.m.).

Otherwise, this week is a little quieter than others recently. On Wednesday, Blackwater face Shelmaliers in the Wexford People Minor football Roinn 1 championship semi-final in St. Patrick’s Park (8 p.m.).

Both sides have had strong seasons to date, coming through the group stages losing just once each, so it’s anyone’s game. Ballinastragh Gaels, who beat Castle-Craan Gaels in the last four, await the winners in the final.

The last Enniscorthy Guardian Juvenile final is scheduled to take place in St. Patrick’s Park on Saturday (11 a.m.).

Ballinastragh claimed the Premier football shield last week and are going in search of a double against Oulart-The Ballagh. Two months ago these sides played out an entertaining draw in the round-robin stages, and this looks set to be equally as close.

Completing the line-up of games set for Saturday is the rescheduled meeting of Kilrush and Oylegate-Glenbrien in the Roinn 1 football shield final. Those sides were supposed to meet in Ferns at the weekend just gone, but Storm Brian made sure that wasn’t possible.

At the time of going to print, details of no other fixtures had been announced. There are more winners to be decided in the coming weeks, all at Minor level.

The Wexford People Premier Minor hurling championship semi-final between St. Martin’s and Naomh Eanna will take place next week, with Ferns St. Aidan’s still awaiting the winner.

In the Premier Minor football shield, St. Anne’s received a walkover from Dunbrody Gaels and will meet Sarsfields or Naomh Eanna in the final.

New Ross Standard Under-14 hurling Division 5 championship final: St. James’ 2-8, Kilmore 0-5.

New Ross Standard Under-14 hurling Division 5 shield final: Taghmon-Camross 5-9, Cloughbawn 0-2.

Gorey Guardian Juvenile football Premier championship final: Starlights 1-13, Naomh Eanna 2-7.

Gorey Guardian Juvenile football Premier shield final: Ballinastragh Gaels 2-15, Shelmaliers 2-4.

Enniscorthy Guardian Juvenile hurling Roinn 1 championship final: Blackwater 0-12, Rathnure 0-7.

Wexford People Minor football Premier championship semi-final: HWH-Bunclody 1-15, Starlights 2-10.

Wexford People Minor football Premier shield semi-final: St. Anne’s w.o., Dunbrody Gaels scr.

WEDS. OCT. 25

AT ST. PATRICK’S PARK: Wexford People Minor football Roinn 1 championship semi-final, Shelmaliers v. Blackwater, 8 p.m.

FRI. OCT. 27 AT TAGHMON: Wexford People Minor football Premier championship final, St. Martin’s v. HWH-Bunclody, 8 p.m.

SAT. OCT. 28

VENUE TBC: Wexford People Minor football Roinn 1 shield final, Kilrush v. Oylegate-Glenbrien, time TBC.

VENUE TBC: Enniscorthy Guardian Juvenile hurling Roinn 1 shield final, Oulart-The Ballagh v. Ballinastragh Gaels, time TBC.