NEWS IN BRIEF
NECK AND NECK: An intense battle for the point-to-point national trainer’s championship was being fought out by two of Wexford’s top handlers, and near neighbours, Colin Bowe from Kiltealy and Donnchadh Doyle of Ballindaggin.
Bowe scored in Galway and Cork on May 3 to lead the table on 24 winners, just two ahead of Doyle who also won in Cork and was very unlucky with a last-fence faller up north on the previous day.
FURLONG ON FIRE: Wexford Youths’ in-form striker, Danny Furlong, struck for a further two goals in an emphatic 4-1 victory over Waterford United in the southeat derby in the R.S.C. on May 1.
An own goal, plus an Aidan Keenan strike, completed the visitors’ tally, and the outcome left them in second place in the Division 1 table, just three points adrift of Finn Harps.
HEAVYWEIGHT CLASH: The Pettitt’s Senior hurling championship group stages started with a clash of heavyweights in Bellefield, as holders Shelmaliers were beaten by the side they succeeded as county title winners, Oulart-The Ballagh, on a 0-17 to 0-13 scoreline.
Faythe Harriers pipped Ferns St. Aidan’s by 1-9 to 0-11 in the same group, with Rhys Clarke grabbing the all-important goal, while Buffers Alley were comfortable 3-15 to 0-5 victors against Shamrocks.
On the other side of the draw, St. Martin’s saw off Rapparees by 3-12 to 1-9, while the spoils were shared in the other two contests: Mark Furlong’s late point led to parity for St. Anne’s with Rathnure (0-10 to 1-7), while it was 1-13 to 2-10 at the end of the meeting of Cloughbawn and Glynn-Barntown in Clongeen.
SIMPLY AMAZING: Slaney Olympic athlete Marie Chapman earned praise for her amazing determination and resilience when she took part in an epic one hundred mile challenge, following the River Thames, and with a cut-off of only 28 hours to complete.
In her first-ever attempt at the distance, Marie completed the course in a time of 23 hours.
This qualified her for an exclusive ‘1 Day Buckle’, which is awarded to those who complete the course in 24 hours or under.
GLORIOUS GOLD: Anna Kavanagh from Bunclody won gold in the 50m rescue tube and fin swim at the National Nipper Pool Lifesaving competition held in Salthill, Co. Galway.
This was a first national title for Anna, with a fantastic winning time of 35.45, four seconds faster than in the qualifiers.
COOL FARRELL FINISH: Jessie Farrell brightened up a dismal Ferrycarrig Park on May 2 with a cool finish that captured the Wexford Youth Cup for North End United at the expense of Moyne Rangers on a 1-0 scoreline.
And it capped a fine week for the club, as their adult firsts had advanced to the cup decider on the previous Tuesday in Curracloe, courtesy of a Gary Dempsey goal that gave them victory over the same opponents, and by the same margin.
IRELAND’S CALL: A glorious year for the Wexford Youths Women’s team got even better when Ciara Rossiter, Nicola Sinnott and Jessica Gleeson were included on manager Sue Ronan’s international squad for the first time.