NEWS IN BRIEF

CLASSIC DOUBLE: Aidan O’Brien and his Ballydoyle team burst back onto the world scene at Newmarket when he sent out the winners of the English 1,000 and 2,000 Guineas.

Solidifying a new partnership with Clare jockey Kieren Fallon, they carried off an historic double with Footstepsinthesand in the 2,000 Guineas and Virginia Waters in the 1,000 Guineas.

ANNE’S ACES: St. Anne’s overcame the strong challenge of Shamrocks in Wexford Park on a 2-3 to 0-1 scoreline to win the Slaney hurling Premier title and earn the right to represent Wexford in the national Féile na nGael in Cork.

They were captained by current county Senior hurler Aidan Rochford from centre-back, with Diarmuid O’Keeffe (1-1) at midfield, and Liam Og McGovern (0-2) at centre-forward.

DON’T FENCE ME IN: County G.A.A. Board officials warned that fencing would be erected around Wexford Park as a safety measure in the absence of an attitude change from the paying public.

Ongoing fears that a child would be seriously injured during the half-time intervals prompted the plea, with their concerns outlined in a colour brochure to be distributed at all future games, entitled ‘Wexford Park, The Pitch, Don’t Fence Me In’.

‘We appeal to our patrons to help us to keep safe the children attending our games in Wexford Park. We, like you, do not want to fence the pitch in,’ it stated.

‘The practice of children, sometimes up to 150, going on to the pitch before games, at half-time, and at full-time, is potentially dangerous.

‘Accidents will happen; parents and guardians have a responsibility to have an influential role to play in protecting and keeping their children safe. Nobody wants to see a child injured or possibly maimed.’

LORETO DOUBLE: With a Leinster Under-16 camogie title already in the bag, the Loreto (Wexford) Under-14 girls completed a fine double with a 5-4 to 3-3 win over Le Sainte Union from Banagher in the ‘C’ final held in Galmoy.

Natalie Power captained the team to success, and her colleagues included three future Wexford Seniors in Katrina Parrock and the Bolger twins, Linda and Lisa.

RATHNURE RULE: Eimear O’Connor’s goal was enough to give Rathnure a narrow 1-0 to 0-2 win over a Naomh Eanna side for whom Susie Griffiths and Ciara Doyle scored their points in the Slaney camogie festival final held in Monageer.

RAMPANT ROVERS: Shamrock Rovers captured the Wexford and District League Division 3A title with a 3-0 win away to Duncannon, pipping St. Cormac’s at the post to prevail by just one point.

Stephen ‘Star’ Dobbs, Johnny Rossiter and Alan Dobbs grabbed the all-important goals for the Enniscorthy men.

FETHARD FLYERS: In a match befitting the two best teams in the Under-12 girls’ soccer league, a five-goal thriller was served up in the cup decider in Curracloe when Fethard Rangers beat Ferns United 3-2.

Evelyn Power hit a hat-trick for the winners, with the runners-up replying courtesy of Ellen Kelly and Niamh O’Leary.