Sport

Enniscorthy track –running behind schedule!

The first phase of the Enniscorthy Sports Hub consisting of an international standard running track was constructed in 2015. Phase 2 of the project consisting of a sports equipment storage area, changing rooms, toilets, showers and a small office was granted funding of €300,000 from the Department of Tourism, Transport and Sport in 2020 with construction work due to start in late 2021. That timeline is unfortunately well behind schedule. Approval of tender documents has been received from the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media, so Wexford County Council is now proceeding with that tender. The Sports Hub facility is being well used by individuals and sports clubs around the county who appreciate the benefits of this international-standard facility here in Enniscorthy. n

Still time to row in with Edermine Ferry

Soccer success Niall wins national rugby award

These longer evenings are the perfect time to head down to the river and get some fresh air in your lungs. Edermine Ferry Rowing Club is back in the full swing of training and eagerly looking forward to the long-overdue return of regattas this summer. This welcoming club is still accepting new members so please feel free to fill in the membership form on the link below: https://linktr.ee/edermineferry n

Congratulations to Shamrock Rovers Youths who won the Wexford Youth Cup Final last month. Congrats also to Ajax – winners of division 2. And to Bree United who were 2-1 winners, after extra-time, over Ballymurn Celtic in the Billy Browne Cup. Congrats to Moyne Rangers’ Conor Bruce on winning the Wexford Premier Division Player of the Year Award. This is the fourth year in a row that a Moyne Rangers player has won that award following James Peare (twice) and John Peare. Conor was recognised by his peers for his ability, work rate and commitment over the season. n

Congrats to Enniscorthy’s Niall Parker who received the AIL 2C Player of the Year at the Energia Awards last month. Niall is pictured receiving his award from Ireland’s rugby manager Andy Farrell.

Look out for the special tribute video to mark the 100th anniversary of the birth of Nickey Rackard. It was published on all Wexford GAA social media channels on April 28th (Rackard's birthday). Great credit due to all involved in the making of it. n

Co. Wexford to make it 3 in a row?

Ireland’s Fittest Family 2022 – applications are now open until 20th June. Can your family follow in the footsteps of the last two seasons' winners from Co. Wexford (The Mahoneys in Season 8, and the Kinsellas in Season 9)? And not forgetting the Hogans from Enniscorthy who came within a whisker of winning it in a previous season. Now in its tenth series, this year will see the competition be more challenging than ever before! The show's producers are scouring the country to find the fittest, fastest and strongest families to be coached to victory by the super competitive coaches. Last year, camogie star Anna Geary coached the Kinsellas from Enniscorthy to victory, this year it might be your family’s turn to win the €15,000 cash prize and be crowned Ireland’s Fittest Family. So, apply now!

Requirements: Minimum age is 14 years old by 01 July 2022. Each family must be comprised of 4 immediate members. Series will be filmed between July – September, 2022.

More information and the link for an application form can be found at www.rte.ie/irelandsfittestfamily

If you have any questions, call the production team on 083 013 6814 or email: fittestfamily@animotv.ie n

The Kinsella family from Marshalstown, Enniscorthy, winners of Season 9 of Ireland’s Fittest Family.

Below: Ireland’s Fittest Family presenter, Mairead Ronan. Right: The Mahoneys, Glynn-Barntown, winners in Season 8.

A link to Ireland’s Fittest Family 2022 promo video is on the RTÉ One Facebook page: https://fb.watch/cPCdcl3q7S/

Glitz, glamour and gladrags at Rapparees/Starlights dinner dance

It was a marvellous occasion for Rapparees/Starlights GAA Club as it held its Dinner Dance at the Riverside Park Hotel on Saturday 30th April. Having been postponed due to Covid, the long awaited and much anticipated event was well worth the delay as the Club saluted Senior Football Champions 2020, Senior Hurling Champions 2021 and Junior Ladies Football Champions 2020 and Junior Camogie Champions 2021. MC for the event, Club PRO Maria Nolan, began by applauding the players, ‘You have walked the walk, you have made your mark, you have achieved, you have made memories, you have made history and you will be remembered forever.’ Club Chairman Ger McVeigh welcomed the large attendance and special guests: County Chairman Miceal Martin, Minister James Browne, Club Sponsor Sam McCauley, CEO of McCauley Pharmacies Tony McEntee, Wexford Camogie Star Aoife O’Connor, Club President Larry Byrne and his wife Betty, and sponsors of commemoration sliothar and souvenir brochure Brian and Wendy Walsh. County Chairman Miceal Martin said it was a privilege to attend such a prestigious function. ‘It is imperative for the County that hurling and football are thriving in our County towns’, he said. Aoife O’Connor presented football and camogie medals to the ladies saying how important it was for them to keep striving for success, recognition, and equality on the fields of play. n

Hall of Fame Award

Huge congratulations to Margaret Lacey on receiving the Camogie Hall of Fame Award at the Gaelic Writers Association Awards last month in the Iveagh Garden Hotel, Dublin. It was hugely deserved for the massive contribution that Margaret has made to Camogie for both the Oulart The Ballagh club and county for over fifty years. The club is extremely proud of Margaret and all her achievements. n

Cairde Loch Garman Race Day

The Cairde Loch Garman Race Day, proudly sponsored by Molloy Metals, will take place on Friday 1 July 2022 in Wexford Racecourse. It promises to be a great day out, and the Wexford GAA social event of the year. Early bird tickets will cost just €10 each, admission on the day will be €20, and online ticket sales will open soon. There will a full National Hunt race card, as well as fringe events including competitions for Best Dressed Lady and Best Dressed Gentleman and a raffle, all for attractive prizes. After racing, there will be entertainment and music until late with lively band The Waxies, and all who attend are welcome to stay on to enjoy the fun. n Margaret Lacey with her Hall of Fame Award.

The Esmonde Cricket Cup

Above: Gorey Community School winners of the first ever Gorey District inter-schools competition.

Above right: Creagh School who finished third. Right: Edgar Marque (Gorey Community College coach),

Al Fitzgerald (tournament organiser), Cllr Joe Sullivan,

Herbie Honohan (Gorey Cricket Club, organiser), and

Ann O’Leary (Gorey Community School, winners).

Far right: Gorey Educate Together secondary school who finished fourth. Below right: Coláiste an Átha, Kilmuckridge, runners up. Below far right: Caragh Bernie, Captain Gorey Community

School, being presented with the cup by the sponsor Bartle Esmonde.

Above left: Charles Last, Gorey Community School, won the man of the match award.

Left: Cian McDonald and Caragh Bernie, the two captains of Gorey Community School, winners of the competition.

The renovated Town Park, Gorey, was a bustling hive of activity on 10th May as firstyear pupils and staff from Creagh College, Coláiste an Átha (Kilmuckridge), Gorey CS and the town's newest school, Educate Together, competed in The Esmonde Cricket Cup, a name synonymous with Gorey's 400year history, The organisers of this significant event were Al FitzGerald, Chairperson of Gorey Cricket Club, Stephen Hadley, Enniscorthy CC coach and umpire, and Wexford CC’s famous exponent of cricket – Herbie Honohan. n

Enniscorthy CBS wins Leinster’s Larry Doyle Cup

St. Mary's CBS (Enniscorthy) 5-17, Mullingar CBS 4-19. St. Mary’s CBS, Enniscorthy, emerged victorious last month in the Top Oil Leinster Schools Larry Doyle Cup – a competition for first year students. Victory was only achieved after a hard-fought contest which went all the way to extra time. Eoin Redmond, Crossabeg-Ballymurn, struck the decisive point as Enniscorthy emerged one-pont winners over a gallant Mullingar CBS outfit in the final played in Laois. Laurence Cloke, Davidstown-Courtnacuddy, was the goalscoring hero for Enniscorthy helping himself to three goals and three points. n

Enniscorthy Rugby Club underage awards night

The Enniscorthy Rugby Club underage awards were presented for the 2020-2021 and 2021-2022 seasons at a special awards night in Enniscorthy Rugby Club on 20th May. The awards were presented by President Pat Kelly and special guests: James Doyle, Orla Wafer and Temi Lasisi. Senior player Niall Parker presented medals to some of the winning teams.

2020 U14 Most Improved Rachel Murphy. Team Player of the Year Nessa Carty. U16 Most Improved Lilly Byrne. Team Player of the Year Fife Lasisi. U18 Most Improved Mia Kelly. Team Player of the Year Anna Nolan. U13 Most Improved Jack Redmond. Team Player of the Year Ryan Donoghue. U14 Most Improved Cathal Kehoe. Team Player of the Year Cian Bolger. U15 Most Improved Josh Doyle. Team Player of the Year Dylan Purcell. U16 Most Improved Laurence Power. Team Player of the Year James Kalyta. U17 Most Improved Evan O’Connor. Team Player of the Year James Doyle. U18 Most Improved Mikey McVeigh. Team Player of the Year Jim Doyle.

2021 U14 Most Improved Jenny Nolan. Team Player of the Year Emily Murphy. U16 Most Improved Danielle Cloney. Team Player of the Year Eva Nolan. U18 Most Improved Fife Lasisi. Team Player of the Year Flora Doran. David Murphy Perpetual Trophy Orla Wafer. U13 Most Improved Matt Butler. Team Player of the Year Cillian Higgins. U14 Most Improved Luca Todisco. Team Player of the Year Ronan McGrath. U15 Most Improved Isaac Kearney. Team Player of the Year Ryan Donohue. U16 Most Improved James Leech. Team Player of the Year (Michael Foley Award) Mikey Reck. U18.5 Most Improved Lee Quigley. Team Player of the Year (Alfie Walsh Cup) Laurence Power.

Outstanding Achievement Awards: Ireland 7s - Katie Whelan. Ireland Senior & 7s - Aoife Wafer. Ireland u18 - Orla Wafer. Leinster u19 Interprovincial Champion & Ireland U19 Cap James Doyle. Ireland u20 Grand Slam Champion - Charlie Tector. Ireland u20 Player 20-21 & 1st Leinster Senior Cap - Temi Lasisi.

Temi Lasisi also presented his Irish jersey to President Pat Kelly. n Enniscorthy Rugby Club presentation of underage awards in the clubhouse on 20th May. Top pic: Alfie Walsh Cup winner for the Team Player of the Year under 18.5 Laurence Power (right) receives his award from James Doyle. Above: Danielle Cloney and Katie Collins at the awards night. Below: Some of the attendance at the awards.

Shamrocks GAA Club committee, players and new sponsor Brian McGee of Fresh Today

Shamrocks GAA Club – taking a ‘Fres

It was smiles all round from underage, senior and committee members on 24th May 2022 as Managing Director Brian McGee, Lynnsie O'Donoghue and Brendan Robinson from FRESH TODAY presented the club with the first set of sponsored kit in what is promised to be a long-term commitment by FRESH TODAY to the Shamrocks’ club in Enniscorthy. FRESH TODAY is an amazing local success story – a little over ten years in existence and now employing 85 people and producing 80,000 hot and cold meals a day for schools all over Ireland. Brian McGee and the team are keen to support local clubs and charities and the Slaney News has frequently highlighted their contribution to the Wexford People Helping People charity. The company is also a major contributor to the national charity As I Am, and is a corporate sponsor of Wexford GAA and the Wexford fittest school competition. Born and bred in the vicinity of the Shamrocks’ pitch, Brian McGee is delighted to sponsor the club’s kit and looks forward to a long and successful partnership into the future. The Club is delighted to have secured this sponsorship with a spokesperson saying, “Massive thanks to Fresh Today for sponsoring our club in a longterm agreement which begins with new jerseys for our Intermediate Hurlers, our U-11s and our U-7s. Our new jersey sees a return to our faithful hoops and also stylishly incorporates our county colours, Purple and Gold, on the shoulders. This is alongside a range of equipment such as hurling balls and footballs for all of our teams in the club. We are humbled by such support from Brian McGee who is a life-long member of the club. Thank you Fresh Today and thank you Brian.” n Shamrocks’ U-7 and U-11s are delighted with their new Fresh Today gear.

Brian McGee of Fresh Today presents Martin Sheehan of the Shamrocks with their new sponsored gear.

L-R: Seamus Wallace (President) and Stephen Casey (Treasurer) with some of the senior team.

Happy committee members with Brendan Robinson and Brian McGee of Fresh Today.

sh’ approach

Rapparees/Starlights Update

Rapparees/Starlights GAA Club would like to extend its most sincere thanks to all who participated recently in our annual Golf Classic.

Approximately 43 teams of golfers took to the fairways of Enniscorthy Golf Club for this most lucrative fundraiser and enjoyable social occasion.

Huge credit is due to the organising committee Richie Peare, Pat Dempsey, Ed Doran, Tommy Foley, and Brian Hogan for pulling together over 180 golfers and approximately 100 sponsors who very generously financed teams, tee boxes and winners prizes and raffle prizes. Thank you to Enniscorthy Golf Club for the use of their excellent facilities and to Gareth Kavanagh and Kavanagh Meats for their sponsorship of succulent steaks for everyone at the event. Presentation of prizes was made by Club Chairman Ger McVeigh who expressed his thanks to all who had any hand, act, or part in making the day such a huge success. ‘As we go forward we need to capitalise on our recent senior successes taking the football title in 2020 and the hurling title in 2021 and we need to be continually upgrading our facilities for the further enhancement of all our members at Bellefield GAA and to achieve these

Minister James Browne with Matt Browne and John Browne at the Rapparees/Starlights Golf Classic.

ends we need fundraisers such as this not alone providing necessary funding but enjoyable activity and coming together.’ Another event was planned for Sunday 5th June at Bellefield GAA Grounds in memory of a loyal and true clubman who was taken from us too soon – the Robert Tex Byrne Memorial Cup – a charity event involving an U-15 hurling blitz between Rapparees/Shamrocks/Duffry Rovers, followed by the main event when the hurlers of Enniscorthy would take on the hurlers of Wexford. But as a mark of respect to the Cullen Family, we are postponing the Robert Tex Byrne Memorial Cup. We will let you all know the rescheduled date as soon as possible and we look forward to seeing everyone in the near future.

We extend our deepest sympathy to the Cullen Family and friends and our thoughts and prayers are with you all. RIP Karl.

Above left: Brendan O’Connor’s team of Butch O’Connor, David Murphy, Brendan O’Connor and Nicky Murphy. Above right: Jim Nolan’s team of Ger Collins, Jim Nolan, Joe Murphy and Martin Collins. Below left: Chairman Ger McVeigh and Pat Dempsey present non GUI winners to Billy Redmond and Kyle Foley. Below right: Club Chairman Ger McVeigh and Pat Dempsey present prize for nearest the pin to Ed Doran.