Several surprises as Under-14 knockouts begin
THE KNOCKOUT stages began in the New Ross Standard Under-14 football championships last week, and there was plenty of drama and several surprise results as divisions crossed over and teams found their level.
Information on the Division 1 semi-finals can be found in this section but the teams that finished in the bottom four dropped into the Division 2 championship which led to some interesting outcomes.
Fethard topped the Group 2 table and they dispatched Shelmaliers with a little to spare.
They will meet Horeswood in the semi-final after their neighbours went to Piercestown and edged past St. Martin’s in a thriller. The other semi-final will see Ballinastragh Gaels, who beat HWH-Bunclody, meet a rampant Buffers Alley side.
In the Division 3 quarter-finals the ‘authentic’ sides, the ones that started the year in that championship, had the better of it with three winning through to the last four. Oylegate-Glenbrien, Kilrush and Ballyhogue all advanced with St. James’ the only side able to buck the trend.
Kilmore and Ferns St. Aidan’s both dropped out of Division 3 but performed with distinction in their Division 4 quarter-finals to advance to the last four.
There they will be joined by Davidstown-Courtnacuddy, who got a walkover, and St. Mary’s (Maudlintown) who beat Blackwater.
Cloughbawn, Duffry Rovers, St. Mary’s (Rosslare) and Taghmon-Camross all advanced to the Division 5 semi-finals.
The penultimate round of the Wexford People Minor hurling Premier championship took place last week and there is a fierce battle for automatic semi-final spots going on.
Shelmaliers’ win over St. Martin’s leaves them in pole position to nab one while Naomh Eanna are a good bet to take the second, despite a loss to Oylegate-Glenbrien last week.
With Rathnure, Castle-Craan Gaels and Blackwater all assured of spots in the quarters from Roinn 1A, just one place remains and it will be filled by the winners of HWH-Bunclody and Ballinastragh Gaels, although a draw will see the former advance.
There is no such drama in Roinn 1B where Cloughbawn, St. Anne’s, Rathgarogue-Cushinstown and Gusserane are all qualified.
In Roinn 2, Moguegeen Gaels and Ballygarrett will battle it out for the last spot tonight (Tuesday). The other three semi-final positions are already filled by Askamore, who will play the winners of the deciding game in Fethard, plus Davidstown-Courtnacuddy and Crossabeg-Ballymurn, who will meet each other.
Rapparees joined Naomh Eanna as the two automatic qualifiers for the semi-finals of the Enniscorthy Guardian Juvenile hurling Premier championship with victory over St. Martin’s last week. The Piercestown and Murrintown boys, and Faythe Harriers, will join Shelmaliers and Rathgarogue-Cushinstown in the two quarter-finals.
The final round of the Roinn 1 championship will take place this week with HWH-Bunclody, Blackwater and Oulart-The Ballagh all still in contention to join Slaney Gaels and Rathnure in the quarters out of Group A.
There is no such drama in Group B where Glynn-Barntown, Crossabeg-Ballymurn, Cloughbawn and Horeswood are all sure of advancing.
Finally, St. James’, Taghmon-Camross, Kilross Gaels and Moguegeen Gaels are all through to the Roinn 2 quarters from Group A with a game to play. It’s all sorted in Group B too as St. Patrick’s, Askamore, Ballygarrett and Ballyhogue are assured of knockout spots.