U-12 trio unbeaten
Competitive start to league season
IT HAS been a competitive start to the Wexford and District Schoolboys Soccer Under-12 Division 1 season, with the vast majority of games close-run. There is, however, a little separation at the top of the table.
Glynn Barntown have been holding top spot since the start of the season but they were joined by a talented New Ross Town side last week. Wexford Albion are also unbeaten, with the winner likely to come from that trio.
Just four points cover the top five sides in Division 1A, with Courtown Hibs and St. Joseph’s currently on top of the tree.
New Ross Celtic are just a point back and All Blacks are in contention too, but unbeaten North End look particularly dangerous with a game in hand.
Two sides boast perfect records in Division 2 heading into February. St. Leonards have completed five fixtures and lead the way ahead of Newpark United, who have won the three games they have completed.
If defence wins championships, Corach Ramblers are going to be a tough nut to crack in Division 2A.
They currently sit three points behind Camolin Celtic at the top of the table but haven’t conceded in their four games to date.
Duncannon haven’t had things all their own way in Division 3, but they have perfected that winning habit so far.
They are on fire after four games, and lead Gorey Rangers B by three points and Tombrack by four.
It’s advantage Cushinstown in Division 3A after the first four games. They may be level with Forth Celtic B at the summit but have beaten the Murrintown boys this season and have a game in hand.
Wexford Albion B, who are third, are also unbeaten up to now.
With plenty of action in the SFAI Cup so far this season, Division 1 of the Under-14 league is a little skewed. Forth Celtic lead the way with eight points from five games but have teams behind with three or four games in hand.
Wexford Albion are one of those, sitting with two wins from two games in second.
Bunclody have five points from their three games but Gorey Rangers and New Ross Town, just behind, have played just twice and once respectively so far.
Both of those sides met in the SFAI Cup regional quarter-finals, a game which Rangers won. That victory advanced the Gorey boys into the regional semi-final against Cahir Park, a fixture to take place in the coming weeks.
While it’s great to have leagues coming down to the wire, the teams in Division 1A are going to have their work cut out for them to stay in contention.
That’s because North End, who have only played three games, are already at the top and dispatching opponents with big scores consistently.
Things are far from that straightforward in Division 2. Shelbourne currently lead the way with 13 points from their five games.
However, the two teams in behind, Cloughbawn and Adamstown, are a perfect nine points from nine and look set to challenge all season long.
Local rivas Duncannon and Campile are out in front in Division 2A.
The former have smashed in 22 goals in just three games to lead the way, but attention needs to be paid to Rathnure, winners of their two games so far, scoring ten and keeping two clean sheets in the process.
Sometimes anomalies happen at the top of the table where leading teams avoid playing each other in the early weeks of the season. That is currently the situation in Under-16 Division 1 where a clear divide splits the table in half.
It seems almost certain that the winner will come from the current top three. All three have perfect records at the moment.
Enniscorthy Town have the advantage of four wins on the board while North End and St. Joseph’s both have two and are still active in the SFAI regional cup.
The same can not be said for Division 1A. Gorey Celtic look a class apart at the moment in that league, as they are already four points ahead of Moyne Rangers and have a game in hand, having scored 16 times in their four games and conceding just three.
There has been a distinct lack of games, just eight so far, in Division 2 so it’s difficult to draw too many conclusions.
Ferns United lead the way, winning two and drawing the other of their three, while Adamstown, with two wins, are the only side with a perfect record in the league.
Plenty of goals have been scored in Division 2A so far. Glynn Barntown lead the way with four wins and 15 goals from their quartet of fixtures.
Wexford Albion look just as dangerous, as they have only played three times thus far, winning all three and banging in 23 in the process.