Seven ties survive

ACTION IN the Wexford and District Schoolboys Soccer League was decimated by the weather at the weekend, with just seven games going ahead across the even age groups.

Of those seven, five came in the Under-12 section, including three cup ties.

Division 1 leaders Forth Celtic were shocked by a talented Bunclody side in round three of the cup, and that game is covered in full in this section. The Murrintown boys will now concentrate on the league, where they lead Cloughbawn by four points with four games remaining.

Things didn’t work out quite as well for Bunclody’s ‘B’ team. The Division 4 side hosted New Ross Celtic of Division 1A in the cup, gave it their best shot but came up a little short, falling 4-0 in the end. Ross will face the winners of Gorey Rangers and North End in the last eight.

The third cup game that took place saw Cloughbawn travel to an under-rated Newpark side. It was a really tough battle for the Division 1 title contenders but they eventually edged United 2-1 to set up a quarter-final clash at home to the winners of Rathnure and New Ross Town ‘B’.

While most of the league action was called off, a huge match did take place in Division 1A where the top two, both previously unbeaten, met. Curracloe were the hosts and lost 1-0 against Glynn Barntown but remain top of the table.

Down in Division 3, Campile and Tombrack are trying to avoid the drop down a level. They met on Saturday and it was the seasiders who came out on top with a hard-earned 4-1 away victory that sees them move five points clear of the bottom two.

Sandy Curracloe hosted a second game on Saturday afternoon, this time in Division 2 of the Under-14 league.

It pitted the hosts United against Rosslare Rangers and saw Curracloe run out 5-1 winners to move top of the table, two points clear of a Shelburne side which has played a game less.

It wasn’t all good news for Curracloe, as their Under-16 side exited the cup in the second round. They travelled to Murrintown at the weekend and came up against a Forth Celtic team bang in form. The runaway Division 1 leaders won 4-0 and will host Duncannon in the quarters.

There is an abbreviated fixture list next week, with mostly cup action in the odd age groups down for decision. In the Under-11 cup third round, the pick of the ties looks to be the meeting of North End United and New Ross Celtic.

The favourites all avoided each other in the Under-13 cup but a clash between Moyne and Cloughbawn could prove to be a cracker.

Division 1 of the Under-14 league is a little behind schedule so they have a full fixture list, with leaders Fethard hosting Wexford Celtic.

Meanwhile, Enniscorthy Town against Duncannon is the pick of the Under-15 Division 1 matches.