Ballagh boys add to honours
Under-12 squad collect second league title on the trot
IT’S BEEN a great couple of weeks for Ballagh United Football Club, with their Under-12 side the latest to add a Wexford and District Schoolboys Soccer League title to the trophy cabinet.
Going into the weekend they were in pole position but Wexford Bohs still had an outside chance of pipping the Ballagh boys for the crown.
However, a 2-0 win over a gallant Fethard Rangers side, coupled with a loss by the same score for Bohs against Tombrack, means there can be only one winner of the Division 3 crown.
After winning the Under-11 Division 3A title in the 2016-’17 season, their first in competitive football, this was the second on the bounce for the champions.
Also wrapping up an Under-12/13 double last week were Bunclody. Their Under-13s proved too strong for Curracloe on Monday of last week, winning 5-1, and that put them in an unassailable position at the top of the table. They followed it with a win against Oylegate to finish the season as unbeaten champions.
While winning silverware with a walkover is a little bit of an anti-climax, Forth Celtic won’t mind too much. They are the Under-16 Division 1 champions having won all nine of their games this season to date, their latest a concession by Bridge Rovers, and they are now uncatchable at the summit.
The battle between Forth Celtic and Cloughbawn for the Under-12 Division 1 title took what could be a decisive turn on Saturday when the Murrintown side won a match-up between the two sides by the narrowest of margins.
The 2-1 win for the hosts means they are four points clear at the top with two games left. The clubs meet again on Monday of next week, but Forth Celtic will have the trophy in the bag if they beat North End on Friday evening.
More will be known about Division 2A on Friday evening too. Before Corach Ramblers played their final match last night (Monday), themselves and New Ross Town ‘B’ had one game each left and were deadlocked at the summit.
The odds were on a win for both and a play-off for the title, but that can only be confirmed if they match results this week.
It’s a similar situation in Division 4A where both Bridge Rovers ‘B’ and Gorey Rangers ‘B’ are deadlocked with a game left to play. The Bogside boys are scheduled to play Cushinstown on Friday but Rangers’ game against Fastnet ‘B’, scheduled for yesterday, was postponed.
A goal-less draw between Moyne and Gorey Rangers on Friday evening did little to separate the top two in the table. The Enniscorthy side have the bonus of having played an extra game, but if both win out they will play off for the title.
However, Forth Celtic also have their destiny in their own hands with a whopping seven games still to play.
There are plenty of games to come in Division 1A as well. This league was very congested a few weeks ago but the cream is rising to the top, with Blackwater and Wexford Albion both on a hot run of form that has seen them separate themselves from the pack.
Speaking of Wexford Albion, they are involved in one of the biggest games of the week when they face Fethard Rangers on Friday evening. If the seasiders can make the trip to Wexford and come away with a victory, they will pip Gorey Celtic for the Under-14 Division 1 crown.
Forth Celtic ‘A’ face Moyne Rangers on Friday knowing that victory will clinch the Division 1A crown. That was made possible by a solid victory over Bridge Rovers at the weekend, and should Celtic fall to Rangers they will still have another chance to wrap up the silverware when they face New Ross Town the following Monday evening.
Meanwhile, in Division 2A, cup finalists Forth Celtic ‘B’ remain on course for a double having beaten Corach Ramblers at the weekend. They are locked in a battle with Gorey Celtic ‘B’ that looks certain to go all the way to the last game.
After beating only remaining contenders St. Joseph’s by a goal to nil, North End United are just two wins away from taking the Under-15 Division 1 title. They have four games to play and it seems like it’s just a matter of time for a side that has a perfect six wins from six games.
A scoreless draw against cup finalists Shamrock Rovers meant Tombrack United moved top of the Under-16 Division 5 table. However, it was only partly good news because their destiny is now out of their own hands and Enniscorthy United will wrap up the title of they beat New Ross Town tonight (Tuesday).
Finally, there was disappointment for North End when they lost their S.F.A.I. Under-16 Regional Cup final 2-1 against Evergreen in Curracloe last weekend. They still have a Wexford Cup semi-final to come so they could yet end the season with silverware.