Consistency in cup last four
Three of last year’s U11 semi-finalists advance at U12
THREE OF the four Under-11 Cup semi-finalists from the 2016-’17 season have made the last four in this season’s Wexford and District Schoolboys Soccer Under-12 competition after a set of entertaining quarter-finals at the start of last week.
Last season’s decider between North End and Cloughbawn will live long in the memory, and a re-match is on the cards after both won their quarter-final games and avoided each other in the last four.
North End’s reward for a 5-2 win against New Ross Celtic is an away clash against Bunclody, winners against Shelburne and one of the three semi-finalists last season.
Cloughbawn beat New Ross Town B 1-0 and will travel to Gorey Celtic, victors away to Rosslare Strand.
In Division 1 of the league, Forth Celtic took advantage of Cloughbawn’s cup appointment by beating New Ross Town A 4-0 to spring clear at the top of the table with three games left. Gorey Rangers picked up a solid win but the crown is realistically between the top two.
With Shelburne in cup action, Ballagh United moved into pole position for back-to-back titles in Division 3 with a hard-earned 1-1 draw away to Wexford Bohs. The result means a win at home to Bohs next time out will give them the title.
Despite an excellent 4-1 win away from home, Gorey Celtic B are still playing catch-up in Division 3A. Rathnure edged an eight-goal thriller 5-3 away to Caim and now need just win next time out against Celtic to secure the crown.
The thrills and spills continued in Under-14 Division 1 last week. The top two of Gorey Celtic and Fethard Rangers both won.
Their victories, coupled with a surprising loss for charging Wexford Celtic against Shamrock Rovers, means there is serious separation between the top two and the rest.
Moyne Rangers’ hopes of winning Division 1A took a heavy blow in a 1-0 home loss to Bunclody. They sit three points behind St. Joseph’s and Forth Celtic and still have hope, but the margin of error has shrunk for the Enniscorthy town side.
In Division 2, Curracloe moved five points ahead of Shelburne with a 3-1 win against Oylegate, however, the Ballywilliam boys do have two games in hand.
Meanwhile, in Division 2A one goal was enough to see Forth Celtic B maintain their challenge against Tombrack.
On Wednesday evening the Under-11 Cup quarter-finals took centre stage. Forth Celtic and New Ross Town both scored three times away from home and will face each other in the semi-finals, while in the other last four clash surprise package Camolin Celtic, winners against Moyne Rangers, will host North End.
On Friday the Under-16s played a round of league games. In Division 1, North End closed the gap on leaders Forth Celtic to eight points with a massive victory over rivals for second place Bridge Rovers.
Moyne Rangers took advantage of the fact that Gorey Rangers’ game against Gorey Celtic was postponed by beating New Ross Celtic 5-1 to move three points clear at the top of the Under-13 Division 1 table on Saturday morning.
Five teams remain in contention in Division 1A, but Wexford Albion made a big statement with a 4-3 win at home to North End.
They still trail Blackwater, who beat Bridge Rovers 4-3 themselves, by five points but they have four games in hand. Fastnet, who weren’t in action, are in a strong position too.
Bunclody took another leap towards the Division 2 title with a superb 2-0 win away to St. Cormac’s. Their push for the silverware was further enhanced by Shamrock Rovers beating nearest rivals Rosslare Rangers, meaning four points from their final three games will be enough to clinch the title.
The two-horse race continues in Division 4 where Ballagh United need just a point from their final game to take the title.
They still have Campile tugging on their coat-tails after the seasiders went to Stoney Rovers and came away with a hard-earned 2-0 win.
A 2-0 win for North End United against Peake Villa means that the Belvedere club are into the S.F.A.I. Under-15 South East Regional final. In the decider they will play Hanover Harps, victors against Villa.
A day later their Under-16s followed them into the final with a 1-0 win against Ferrybank, and they will play Evergreen or Piltown in the decider.
In Division 1 of the league, St. Joseph’s kept up their push for the title with a 1-0 away win against Gorey Rangers. Despite being leaders, Enniscorthy Town are unlikely to hang on to top spot for much longer after they were held by Duncannon.
Wexford Celtic took a huge step towards the Division 1A title with a 3-1 victory against St. Leonards, and three wins in their final four games will cement the silverware.
Meanwhile, Shamrock Rovers’ win against Rosslare Strand means there’s plenty of life left in the Division 2 title race.