Oulart lead the way
Group stages draw to a conclusion
THE GROUP stages of the New Ross Standard Under-13 hurling championship ended last week after the final round of games were completed with plenty of thrills and spills.
It was going to take a big effort for one of the sides not occupying a top four spot in Division 1 to force their way into the semi-finals, and in the end the status quo remained.
Oulart-The Ballagh were already assured of a place in the last four but they didn’t take their foot off the gas when they faced Naomh Eanna, winning by 2-13 to 1-6 to finish top of the table.
Behind the pace-setters, Buffers Alley, St. Martin’s and St. Anne’s all won to advance on the same number of points from their seven games.
Glynn-Barntown put up a gallant effort against St. Martin’s, scoring 5-1 in a five-point defeat. They will lead the Division 1 teams dropping into the Division 2 championship and they will be joined by Gorey, Oylegate-Glenbrien and Blackwater.
Rathnure topped the Division 2 table with a perfect record and will take on Blackwater in the quarters, while HWH-Bunclody lost only to the Blackstairs boys and they will meet Oylegate-Glenbrien in the knockouts.
Shelmaliers are though after defeating Ballinastragh Gaels, and Duffry Rovers will join them as they came out on top of a winner-takes-all contest with Faythe Harriers.
Dropping into the Division 3 championship will be the Harriers, Ballinastragh Gaels, Rathgarogue-Cushinstown and Rapparees.
The Bellefield side will face-off against high-flying Bannow-Ballymitty in the quarters. St. James’ also advanced with a win against Cloughbawn while Ferns St. Aidan’s, Askamore and Davidstown-Courtnacuddy are all deadlocked for the final two spots.
One of those will drop into Division 4, and they will be joined by Cloughbawn, Fethard and Horeswood.
On the other hand, soaring high out of that group are Liam Mellows, the round robin winners, as well as St. Mary’s (Rosslare) and Monageer-Boolavogue. One of Crossabeg-Ballymurn and Ballyhogue will also make those quarters.
Marshalstown-Castledockrell, Kilmore and Gusserane go back into the Division 5 quarter-finals.
Ballygarrett and Craanford had already booked their spots in those last eight clashes, as had the 13-a-side representatives, Clongeen, who, along with their fellow group-mates, will have to play with 15 in the knockouts.
Nothing is certain in the Enniscorthy Guardian Under-15 hurling Premier championship with one round to go.
Naomh Eanna hold top spot in the table, despite losing to Fethard last week, and they will book an automatic semi-final place with a victory over Rapparees on Thursday.
The battle is on for the other spot, with Buffers Alley and Glynn-Barntown holding the aces at present, but Fethard could sneak in there if they win in Killurin this week and they get the right result in the contest between the other two contenders a couple of days later.
All of those are assured of at least a quarter-final spot, and the rest are battling it out for two final places.
Faythe Harriers and St. Martin’s meet in Páirc Charman, and if the hosts can avoid a defeat they will take one of those spots, while HWH-Bunclody would then likely take the other.
In Roinn 1A, Davidstown-Courtnacuddy, Oulart-The Ballagh, Blackwater and Monageer-Boolavogue have all been qualified and playing for position for the last couple of weeks, and that will continue this week when the round-robin comes to an end.
There is a little meat left on the bone in Roinn 1B where Shelma- liers and Rathnure are both safely into the knockouts.
Horeswood will join them if they avoid defeat against Adamstown, while either St. Anne’s or Oylegate-Glenbrien are likely to take the final spot, despite pressure from behind.
Ballyhogue are into the quarter-finals of the Roinn 2 Cup after flying though the group stages, and three of Marshalstown-Castledockrell, Liam Mellows, Ballygarrett and Ballinastragh Gaels will join them in the next few days.
Clúain O’Rahilly’s and Taghmon-Camross are safely into the last eight in Roinn 2B. Rathgarogue-Cushinstown will join them with victory against St. Mary’s (Rosslare) on Thursday, but the Tagoat boys could nab a spot with a win.
Cloughbawn are also in the mix and should beat Geraldine O’Hanrahans to keep their bid alive.
The group stages of the Wexford People Minor football Premier championship are now only slated to finish on September 3, the date in the master fixture plan for the hurling semi-finals.
Shelmaliers and Na Piarsaigh will both be in the last four after winning last week.
Meanwhile, Starlights, St. Martin’s and Volunteers will be in the quarters, with Naomh Eanna set to join them.
In Roinn 1A, St. Joseph’s are now top of the table after a cracking win against Sarsfields. However, they are not assured of a quarter-final spot just yet with five other sides within two points.
Blackwater, Glynn-Barntown and Ballyhogue are all through from Group B.
Finally, Monageer-Boolavogue, Buffers Alley, Réalt na Mara and Hollow Rovers have all advanced from Roinn 2A.
Kilross Gaels, Moguegeen Gaels and Bannow-Ballymitty are the top three in Group B, with Oylegate-Glenbrien and Adamstown in behind in the race for quarter-final slots.