NEWS IN BRIEF

MINE’S A DOUBLE: Local duo Colm Murphy and Michael Fogarty shared a double when taking the final two races at a sun-splashed Bettyville meeting on June 11, 2010.

The wins came in the Slaney Handicap Steeplechase and the Knockhouse Stud Mares’ Bumper, with Don’t Be Bitin and Luna Runner doing the business.

FURNESS TO THE FORE:

Captain’s prize in New Ross Golf Club was the proverbial game of two halves.

Alan Furness hadn’t been among the leading qualifiers, but the play-offs saw the eleven handicapper rise to the fore and take the honours with a combined tally of 134, just edging past Tommy Morrissey by virtue of a better back nine.

Club Captain Trevor Campbell was on hand to make the presentation.

ALBION ALL ROUND: The strength of schoolboys football in Wexford Albion was evident when their ‘A’ team defeated their ‘B’ counterparts 3-1 to claim the ever-popular Mini World Cup crown.

The eventual winners broke the deadlock just before the break courtesy of Dylan O’Regan, but Owen Reck drew the underdogs level with a wonderful strike from 20 yards out wide on the right.

The setback shook the ‘A’ team back to life, but their plucky rivals held out until the last minute of normal time when Dion Murphy broke their resolve with a longrange strike.

A further gloss was put on the scoreline one minute later when Luke O’Neill - later named as player of the match - finished with aplomb, before captain Ryan Busher was presented with the trophy.

BOUNCING BACK: The Wexford Intermediate camogie team bounced back after a nervy opening 20-plus minutes to defeat Offaly by 1-10 to 1-8 in their All-Ireland championship opener in Banagher.

The visitors dug deep after trailing by 1-4 to nil at the end of the opening quarter, with late points from Rathnure pair Ciara O’Connor and Evelyn Quigley proving crucial.

Wexford: Helena Jacob; Jean Hayden, Louise O’Leary, Colleen Atkinson; Frances Doran, Ciara Storey, Shelley Kehoe; Emma Moran, Evelyn Quigley (0-1); Ciara O’Connor (capt., 0-7, 3 frees, 3 ’45s), Síona Nolan; Fiona Rochford (0-1), Stacey Kehoe, Bridget Curran (1-1). Subs. - Karen Atkinson for Shelley Kehoe, inj., Fiona Kavanagh for Nolan.

MURPHY ON MARK: Paul Murphy - the star of Wexford’s Oscar Traynor Cup triumph - marked his debut for Waterford United in the League of Ireland with one of their goals in an 8-0 drubbing of Salthill Devon in their Division 1 game at the Regional Sports Centre.

Meanwhile, the good run of Wexford Youths was ended in Monaghan when they lost to the locals 4-2, despite goals from Shane Dempsey and Jimmy Keohane.

LEADING LIGHTS: The women’s soccer league held their presentation night in the Stanville Lodge Hotel, with player of the year awards presented to Ali Evered (Ferns United, Premier), Marian Kavanagh (Killenagh Wanderers, Division 1), Aine Hayes (Forth Celtic, Division 2A) and Gillian Sinnott (Courtown Hibs, Division 2B).