Recent report on key dates, results and other important information from Wexford Community Games

LEINSTER INDOOR TEAM FINALS

These semi-finals and finals were held in Carlow recently.  Wexford had a large number of teams competing on the day, but for once lady luck did not shine on any of them as they failed to come through the finals and earn that place in the national finals in Athlone in May. Quite a few reached their respective finals only to see it being snatched from their grasp. But well done to all who competed so well for Area and County.

RESULTS FROM LEINSTERS

In the Chess finals, Castlebridge/Crossabeg took on Beechpark/Coosan, Co. Westmeath in the semi-final and defeated them 3-2.  They then faced up to Ashbourne, Co. Meath in the final.  This was a marathon of a final, with the teams level at the end of the first round. Wexford had only 4 players available on the day and well done to them on their excellent performances.  The team was very knowledgeable and nothing seemed to faze them.  After a short break the teams sat down once more to decide the winner, but with Ashbourne having that advantage of already being a point up, they emerged as the winners.  Even the Referees were very impressed with the standard in the finals.  Well done to Eoin Larkin, Evan Kinlough, Polly Maher and Declan Quinn.  Missing on the day was Katie-Anne Neville.  The team was coached by Judy Neville.  In the Draughts under 12 semi-final, a team from the Bannow/Ballymitty area took on a strong experienced Delvin, Co. Westmeath side and went down 19-1 with Delvin going on to claim the Leinster title.  A team from Castlebridge/Crossabeg were competing in the Indoor Soccer girls under 13 competition.  Their came through their semi-final match against Gainstown, Co. Westmeath and defeated them 2-0.  They took on a team from Longford South in the final.  The team did not play up to the same standard as in the first match and they went down on a 3-2 scoreline. Ballycanew were the county representatives in the girls Indoor Soccer under 15 category. Lady luck did not favour the girls who lost their semi-final match (3-2) against a team from Killeigh, Co. Offaly.  Enniscorthy were competing in the boys under 13 Indoor Soccer competition.  At the county final and indeed in the earlier rounds of the Leinster competitions, they boys from Enniscorthy showed great promise.  They came through their semi-final match against a team from Emo, Co. Laois on a 3-2 scoreline and then took on a team from St. Brigids of Kildare in the final.  St. Brigids proved to be the stronger side and they came through on a 2-0 scoreline.              

Bannow/Ballymitty had three teams competing in the Table Tennis competitions.  In the boys under 13 event, they faced a team from Ballyroan, Co. Laois in the semi-final but lost out on a 6-0 scoreline, while their under 13 girls team also lost out their semi-final match to a team from Mountrath, Co. Laois on a 6-0 scoreline. Their under 16 girls team took on Mountrath, Co. Laois in their semi-final and lost out on a 4-2 scoreline.  Bree/Davidstown were the countys hopes in the boys under 15 Handball category.  They came through their semi-final match against Birr, Co. Offaly on an 80-65 scoreline to face a team from Shillelagh, Co. Wicklow in the final where they lost out on a 94-54 scoreline.  Bree/Davidstown were also competing in the boys under 13 category, taking their semi-final on a 105-34 scoreline against a team from Birr, Co. Offaly.  Kells, Co. Meath, an Area steeped in the game of handball, then took Wexford on in the final and came out victorious on a 75-16 scoreline.  A team from the Glynn/Barntown Area competed in the under 13 girls Handball competition and they totally overwhelmed a team from Birr, Co. Offaly in the semi-final, taking it on a 105-28 scoreline.  But Leixlip, Co. Kildare were waiting for them in the final and they in turn defeated Wexford on a 105-14 scoreline.

OUTDOOR TEAM EVENTS

Outdoor team events are now underway.  Please ensure that you forward your panel sheets to the County Co-Ordinator of the event in which you are competing.  This information should have been passed on by all Area Secretaries.

AREA REGISTRATION FORMS

Your Area Registration is now overdue.  As the outdoor events are getting underway, your Area needs to be insured.  There are still a number of forms outstanding.  Area Secretaries are reminded to forward same to Anne Cowman, Monmore, Crossabeg, Co. Wexford immediately.  Areas have already been notified in connection with same on a couple of occasions.  Please ensure that the Area secretary signs at the bottom of the form, and it is also very important that someone from the Area (be it secretary/chairperson etc) signs in the space opposite.  Community Games is a registered company and each Area is part of that company, hence the area must nominate someone to represent them. Area population, number of children catered for and number of adults working in the area must also be filled in.  Any problems call Anne on 086-1980775.  Please attend to this request in the next couple of days.

NATIONAL FINALS

All the relevent data for the national finals in May has been forwarded to headquarters.   Anyone under the age of 18 years and willing to work for the national committee should submit their name to their Area Secretary on the relevent form and they in turn should forward same to Anne Cowman, Monmore, Crossabeg, Co. Wexford. Adults willing to work for national should also forward on their names.  All names to be forwared by the end of April.  The fees for all residents in May is €105 and €25 for non-residents. Fees should be paid to county before anyone travels to Athlone.

ID BADGES

The Identification/Registration System will be maintained for the current year. The Identification cards issued previously are still valid as per the expiry date on the card. Only new personnel registering need to submit photographs and birth certificates to the county.

ONE DAY EVENTS

Birth certs for all teams competing in one day events in the  county ( ie. Tag Rugby, Futsal, etc) must be brought along on the day. Area Secretaries are urged to make sure that their team managers are aware of this rule.

DIARY DATES

• Saturday, April 21 - Pitch and Putt finals in St. Patricks P & Putt grounds in Enniscorthy. Registration is at 9.30 a.m. and event starting at 10 a.m. sharp.
• Sunday, April 22 -  County Swimming finals in New Ross - 10 a.m. sharp start.
• Sunday, April 22- County Basketball finals in Acro Sports centre in Belfield, Enniscorthy 3 p.m. start.