Final five titles to be decided in coming weeks
WHEN FINALS season commenced in the People Newspapers Coiste na nÓg championships just over a month ago, there were 44 winners to be crowned overall.
Well, after plenty of drama and copious amounts of competitive, sporting games, just five remain to be decided in the next couple of weeks.
With all due respect to the other competitions, things don’t get any bigger than the Wexford People Minor hurling Premier championship, and the second finalist should be known this weekend.
Taking anything tangible from a game played in early March is foolhardy at the best of times, but there’s probably very little that can be learned from Naomh Eanna’s solid victory over opponents St. Martin’s in Piercestown back in the first game of the round robin stage.
Now, almost eight months later, they face-off in search of a place in the decider opposite Ferns St. Aidan’s. Making it a little easier for the finalists to get some scouting in, the game is scheduled for their home ground and a decent following of supporters and curious neutrals is expected for the 12.30 p.m. throw-in on Saturday.
At the moment, the Wexford People Minor hurling Premier championship final is expected to take place either Saturday or Sunday, November 11 or 12, with a decision on the date and venue to be made in the coming days.
One decider that is scheduled to take place this week is the Wexford People Minor football Roinn 1 championship final between Ballinastragh Gaels and Shelmaliers. The Gorey District side have been waiting for an opponent after dispatching neighbours Castle-Craan Gaels in the last four.
The other semi-final was only played last Wednesday evening and pitted another set of local rivals in Shelmaliers and Blackwater.
The game was pretty close throughout as, despite a Jake Nobbs goal, the Hollymount side went in at the break leading by 0-7 to 1-2.
It was a tough, defensive battle throughout but Shelmaliers managed to keep the scoreboard ticking in their favour a little better than their opponents.
Driven on by an in-form Adam Howlin and a clinical Kyle Roche, they eased through, winning by 0-11 to 1-4.
Their reward, the county final against Ballinastragh, is scheduled for St. Patrick’s Park on Saturday with an 11 a.m. throw-in. It promises to be a close, hardfought title decider with either side capable of finding the big performance to take the crown.
Also on Saturday morning, Wexford People Minor football Premier champions HWH-Bunclody take on Oulart-The Ballagh for a place in the Roinn 1 hurling shield final. Bunclody had their moments in the group stages and will fancy their chances but their opponents shouldn’t be underestimated.
Whoever does advance to the final, where Hollow Rovers await, will not have too much time to think about their achievement. The shield decider is scheduled to take place in St. Patrick’s Park five days later, on Thursday, with an 8 p.m. throw-in.
Finally, on Sunday in Oylegate, the hosts meet Rapparees for a place in the Wexford People Minor hurling Premier shield final. Waiting for the winners are Glynn-Barntown, with that tie scheduled for a week later.
Enniscorthy Guardian Juvenile hurling Roinn 1 shield final: Oulart-The Ballagh 4-3, Ballinastragh Gaels 2-9.
Wexford People Minor football Premier championship final: HWH-Bunclody 2-9, St. Martin’s 1-10.
Wexford People Minor football Roinn 1 championship semi-final: Shelmaliers 0-11, Blackwater 1-4.
Wexford People Minor football Roinn 1 shield final: Oylegate-Glenbrien 3-15, Kilrush 3-8.
SAT. NOV. 4 AT FERNS: Wexford People Minor hurling Premier championship semi-final, St. Martin’s v. Naomh Eanna, 12.30 p.m.
AT ST. PATRICK’S PARK: Wexford People Minor football Roinn 1 championship final, Shelmaliers v. Ballinastragh Gaels, 11 a.m.
AT OULART: Wexford People Minor hurling Roinn 1 shield semi-final, Oulart-The Ballagh v. HWH-Bunclody, 11 a.m. SUN. NOV. 5 AT OYLEGATE: Wexford People Minor hurling Premier shield semi-final, Rapparees v. Oylegate-Glenbrien, 12.30 p.m.
THURS. NOV. 9
AT ST. PATRICK’S PARK: Wexford People Minor hurling Premier shield final, Hollow Rovers v. Rapparees or Oylegate/Glenbrien, 8 p.m.
Weekend of November 11-12: Wexford People Minor hurling Premier championship final, Ferns St. Aidan’s v. St. Martin’s or Naomh Eanna. Wexford People Minor hurling Premier shield final, Glynn-Barntown v. Rapparees or Oylegate-Glenbrien.
Date TBC: Wexford People Minor football Premier shield final, St. Anne’s v. Sarsfields.