Interesting omens ahead of novel tie in football quarters

KEEN OBSERVERS of club football in Wexford may be aware of two interesting facts ahead of the novel Tom Doyle Supplies Senior championship quarter-final meeting of Kilanerin and St. James’ in Innovate Wexford Park on Saturday (4 p.m.).

Firstly, on the two occasions prior to last year when the Gorey District side won the Intermediate crown, they went on to add Senior honours at the first attempt (1973 and 1974, and 1992 and 1993).

Will history repeat itself for the third time? Certainly Kilanerin have momentum on their side, but they’ll be taking it step by step and the next obstacle in their way is a formidable one.

St. James’ have form in this area too, as they were the most recent club to complete an Intermediate/Senior double, in 2014 and 2015.

And if you believe in fate, how about this for a coincidence? Three years ago, they only qualified for the quarter-finals courtesy of a two-point win over Starlights in the final round, relegating Gusserane to the no man’s land of fifth spot in the process.

What has happened this year? Yes, they beat the Enniscorthy men once more, this time by one point, and who lost out as a result? It was the O’Rahilly’s yet again!

It’s a very unusual pairing, given that the two clubs’ first teams haven’t met at any level of championship football in my memory.

I think the merger of Kilanerin and Tara Rocks is a significant factor. Their team last time out featured Rhys Owley, Ben O’Connor and Niall Breen from their ertswhile neighbours, so think of it along these lines: imagine if Shelmaliers could call on the best three Crossabeg-Ballymurn footballers, or if St. Anne’s had the services of the Kilmore contingent, like in 1968.

Think of Taghmon-Camross with help from Adamstown, or Glynn-Barntown utilising some Ballyhogue players.

It goes without saying that such additions would strengthen any team, and I feel it will be one of the reasons why Kilanerin clear this hurdle.

Holders Starlights will put their title on the line against nearly men Castletown directly afterwards, at 5.30 p.m. It will be their fifth meeting in four years, with the most significant clash coming in last year’s semi-final when the Enniscorthy men won by 2-12 to 1-12.

Of course, they went on to win the crown just one year after surviving a relegation final, whereas Castletown have now come up short in the penultimate round for four years on the trot.

Starlights will need to hit their best form to get over this challenge and, given the club has genuine designs on a Senior hurling title, the more football-orientated Castletown might end their reign.

I won’t be surprised by the outcome, regardless of how this game goes, because these teams are always difficult to separate.

I expect the quarter-final double bill at the main county ground on Sunday to be more clearcut in terms of the results, with St. Martin’s and Shelmaliers expected to dismiss Glynn-Barntown and St. Anne’s respectively.

The Killurin men, let’s not forget, romped to a 2-12 to 0-9 win against the same opponents in the 2016 semi-final, but their District rivals gained revenge in last year’s quarter-final (0-18 to 2-6).

When St. Martin’s won the title in 2013, it was predicted in many quarters that they would be regular winners.

It hasn’t worked out that way though, finishing as runners-up in 2015 and 2017 while losing a quarter- and semi-final in that period too.

Glynn-Barntown might never get a better chance to win the Senior crown after Gusserane pipped them at the post in 2016, and I think the all-round strength of St. Martin’s will prevail.

It will be a sixth meeting in as many years between Shelmaliers and St. Anne’s. Two of those games were at the knockout stage, with the Over The Water side winning the 2013 quarter-final by 2-12 to 1-11, while their Rathangan rivals won the following year’s semi-final by 0-9 to 0-7.

Shelmaliers have qualified from their group every year since their Intermediate success in 2007, but to date they have lost six semi-finals and four quarter-finals.

St. Anne’s were champions in 2014 and haven’t reached the last four since, and I expect that trend to continue on this occasion.