NEWS IN BRIEF

MINORS MAKE EXIT: The Wexford Minor footballers departed early from the race for Leinster championship honours when they lost their first round qualifier to home side Longford in Pearse Park by 2-12 to 1-7.

Wexford: Cormac O’Brien; Tomás Cullen, Páraic O’Leary, Eddie Hughes; Gavin Murphy, Graham Carty, Shane Griffith; Michael Bowler, Jonathan Bealin (0-5, 4 frees); Stephen Hughes, Glen Murphy (0-1), Aoidh Doyle; Graeme Cullen, Colm Kehoe, Seán Ring (1-1, 0-1 free). Subs. - Kieran Butler for Ring, Matthew Cody for O’Leary, Joe Ahern for Carty, Dean Wright for S. Hughes, Niall Moore for Doyle.

BASKETBALL BLITZ: The Acro Active Sports Centre in Enniscorthy played host to a veritable blitz of Community Games county finals, with five in total held over the weekend.

Kilmore beat Kilrush-Askamore in the Under-11 mixed decider, while the Under-16 girls from Ring of Hook denied the seasiders a double.

Kilmore also lost the Under-13 girls’ final, with Bannow-Ballymitty prevailing here, while the latter completed a double with success over Kilrush-Askamore in Under-13 boys.

Finally, defending champions Castlebridge/Crossabeg proved too strong for Ballycanew in the Under-16 boys’ contest.

LADIES EXIT LEAGUE: Wexford simply had no answer to a superb team performance from group leaders Cavan when they lost their ladies’ football National League Division 3 semi-final in Lorcan O’Toole Park, Dublin, on a 3-19 to 1-4 scoreline.

The gulf in class between the Junior side and the serious contenders for All-Ireland Intermediate honours was clear from the off, with Tara Moloney getting the losers’ consolation goal from a penalty.

Wexford: Mary Rose Kelly; Sharon Kehoe, Leona Tector, Aisling McNamara; Marguerite Doyle (capt.), Linda Casey, Niamh Leacy; Marcella Cullen (0-1), Aoife Waters; Emma Hore, Claire Finn, Maeve Quill; Fiona Rochford (0-1 free), Méabh Hughes, Lizzy Kent. Subs. - Deirdre Fox, Catherine Doyle, Tara Moloney (1-2, 1-0 pen., 0-2 frees), Deirdre McMahon, Lisa Goff.

NEW CAPTAIN: David Murphy was selected as the Wexford Senior football captain for the championship campaign.

The 28-year-old St. Mary’s (Rosslare) clubman was preparing to lead by example ahead of the Leinster quarter-final against Dublin in Croke Park.

WALSH THE WINNER: The last county 40 x 20 handball final of the year was played, with Martina Walsh from Coolgreany emerging with the ladies’ Senior singles crown when she accounted for Anne Boland from Templeudigan on a 21-10, 21-2 scoreline.

ALL-IRELAND HAT-TRICK: A hat-trick of successes on the All-Ireland stage crowned a very productive handball weekend.

Ger McWilliams (Horeswood) and Jim Bergin (St. Martin’s) beat a Kerry pair in the Diamond Masters ‘B’ final, while the Junior ‘B’ doubles title was annexed by Paul Lambert (St. Joseph’s) and Peter Hughes (Ballyhogue) against Cork rivals.

The treble was completed in the Silver Masters ‘B’ doubles grade when Fintan Doyle (Barntown) and Declan Hart (Horeswood) delivered in style.