Sport

Wexford Handball Féile Softball

Above: President Dessie Keegan presenting cup to Talbot’s Inch, Kilkenny. Left Below left: Taghmon Girls. Below: Clogh (Kilkenny), Moycullen (Galway) and with mentors and GAA Handball President Dessie Keegan (centre b Right: Cian Cassidy, Cllr Jim Codd, Natalie Dunne Sweeney, Helen Doyle, Dessie President), Sharon Murphy and Tony Reid (Wexford Handball Sec Below right: St Mary’s Club, Mullingar, presentation to St Mary’s Handball Club, Wex the presentation from Cathal Flanagan of the Mullingar clu

Wexford GAA Handball hosted the 2022 National Softball Féile on 21st August at three venues –Castlebridge, St. Mary’s and Taghmon. The last time this competition was run was in 2019, also in Wexford, so it was great for all involved to get back to some normality by hosting this event again. Wexford’s only representatives this time around were Taghmon in Division 2 and both their Boys and Girls teams were based in their home club. They both did their club and county proud with great performances throughout the day, as both reached their respective finals. The Boys (Jack Breen, Barry Foley, Nathan Lawlor and Conor Doyle) had a brilliant win in the final against Kells, Kilkenny, to win the title. The Girls (Mikaela Kavanagh, Zahara Dunne Sweeney, Ellie Murphy and Boo Murphy) also did really well and were in a good position at one stage to win but agonisingly lost out to Kells in a very exciting final. Conor Doyle completed a great day for Taghmon by winning the skills competition, with Conor Deegan (Talbot’s Inch) runner-up. In the Girls skills competition the winner was Shauna Hayes (Kells) with Stephanie Walsh (Moycullen) runner-up. At the other venues, Castlebridge hosted the Boys and Girls Division 1 teams with Talbots Inch, Kilkenny, taking the Boys title, while Loughmacrory, Tyrone, won the Girls Division. In the skills competitions there were wins for Anthony Clifford (Talbots Inch) and Katie Jordan (Kilfane, Kilkenny). The Boys Division 3 was held in St Mary’s and four teams competed. After a series of group matches, Ballydesmond (Cork) and Cullohill (Laois) qualified for the final with Ballydesmond going on to take the title. Both teams had the winner and runner-up in the skills competition with Ryan Linehan (Ballydesmond) winning and Ethan Lafferty (Cullohill) runner-up. The organisers thank the three host clubs for making it a very enjoyable day for everyone, and thanks to the three skills judges and their teams for doing a very good job. Thanks also to GAA Handball President Dessie Keegan for taking the time out to travel to Wexford and visit the three host clubs. n

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t: Taghmon Boys team.

Taghmon (Wexford), back row). e Keegan (GAA Handball cretary). xford – Mick Flood receiving ub.

Wexford girls’ U-19 success

Wexford girls' U-19 – winners of the All Ireland FAI Inter League Cup.

Enniscorthy Basketball Club news...

Enniscorthy Basketball Club coach Jim Byrne has been busy preparing things to start back training this coming Saturday, September 3rd. Jim hopes to see everyone back, and new members welcome too. The venue is still Enniscorthy Community College, and the age groups are as follows:

Age 7 -10 from 1-2 pm Age 11-14 from 2-3 pm Age 14 -17 from 3-4 pm Age 17+ from 4-5 pm

Everyone is asked to please attend whatever sessions your age corresponds to. Cost still €3 per session. Any questions or queries contact Pat Morris on WhatsApp 0876523209. The club is looking forward to seeing everyone again.

Enniscorthy Basketball Club would like to thank Grants Pharmacy, Enniscorthy, for sponsoring the club’s new first aid bag and kit. Pictured receiving the kit from Glenn Nolan in Grants are coaches Jim Byrne and Fergal Morris and U-10 players Aisling Byrne and Cathal Morris. n

Bellefield will never be the same again

It was with tremendous excitement that the Committee of Rapparees/Starlights announced that on Monday 15th August 2022 work would begin on the eagerly awaited Development Plan for two new pitches, car park, walking track and hurling wall on the back field, which is now a building site and is closed to all.

PRO Maria Nolan says, “We thank all our members and supporters and the people of the town of Enniscorthy and the clubs of the county for their wonderful support over the years and we apologise in advance for any inconvenience that may be caused and we ask that you will bear with us and indeed journey with us on this most challenging and innovative initiative for Bellefield GAA.”

Follow the Facebook page ‘RappareesStarlights GAA Club’ for regular progress reports. n

Festy makes Serie A debut for Udinese

Well done to former Moyne Rangers player FESTY EBOSELE who made his debut for Udinese on 13th August in a 4-2 defeat to AC Milan as the new Serie A season in Italy got underway.

Coming off the bench in the 83rd minute as a substitute in the San Siro, he became just the fourth Irishman to play in the Italian Serie A league. The last being Robbie Keane in 2001! n Above: Maria Nolan at Bellefield. Below: First of the machines arriving and getting to work on Rapparees/ Starlights new development on the back field, 17th August 2022.

Enniscorthy’s Festy Ebosele (right) tackles former Liverpool forward Divock Origi who was playing for AC Milan.

Above left: Paul McGrath and Mary Lee at the Paul McGrath Golf Classic in Rathaspeck Manor golf course, Wexford, in aid of Acquired Brain Inj 20th August 2022. Above: Matt Powell, Paul McGrath and Jonathan Power.

The annual Paul McGrath Golf Classic on 20th August 2022 in Rathaspeck Manor, Wexford, in aid of Acquired Brain Injury Ireland. Above: Patrick Sheridan, Paul McGrath, Liam Sheridan and David Franklin. Right: Peter Carney, Linda Ward, Paul McGrath, Audrey Carney and Angela O’Grady.

The Paul McGrath Golf Class

in aid of Acquired Brain Injury Irela

The annual Paul McGrath Golf Classic took place on 20th August 2022 in Rathaspeck Manor, Wexford, in aid of Acquired Brain Injury Irel The response from the public was amazing with all available spaces selling out weeks in advance of the event.

Above left: Eoghan Bennis, Nigel Carey, Paul McGrath and Ciaran Carey. Above right: Paul with Philip Murphy. Below: Paul with hard working staff, Tim O’Donnell, Marie Louise Hore, Paul McGrath, Tracy Jennings and Orla O’Donnell. Bottom: Davy Howlin, Paul McGrath, Alan and Niall Howlin.

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Limerick’s hurling domination continues as they win Michael Foley tournament

Above: The Limerick team who beat Wexford in the Michael Foley U-16 Hurling Tournament staged at the Ferns Centre of Excellence on 27th August, and below, Waterford, who beat Kildare in the Shield. Pictured right: Terri Foley, wife of Michael, presenting the cup to Limerick’s captain with Andrew Egan, Wexford County Board, also in picture.

Terri Foley, wife of Michael, presenting the Shield cup to the joint Waterford captains.

For the first time in three years the Michael Foley U-16 Hurling Tournament was staged at the Ferns Centre of Excellence on Saturday 27th August. The tournament, in the memory of the late Michael Foley of Rapparees/Starlights, was established in 2008 by group of his close friends and teammates but over the years has grown to become a most prestigious hurling competition now run by Wexford County Board under the auspices of Croke Park. Michael was an all-round sportsman playing gaelic football and rugby, but it was the game of hurling that stole his heart and became the love of his life after his wife Terri and his family –Michelle, Ciara, Kevin, Eimear and Meadhbh, and this U-16 tournament has proved to be a most fitting tribute to him. It has treated us to a feast of hurling, glimpses of future stars and moments of greatness over the past years, none better than 2010 when Wexford beat Kilkenny in the final and Kevin Foley, Michael’s son and Wexford’s captain, lifted the cup to the joy and delight of all. The standard of hurling in this year’s competition was top drawer with Wexford beating Waterford in the first round by two points, and Kildare in the second to secure their place in the Final against Limerick, who had beaten both Dublin and Tipperary. It was an uphill battle for Wexford from the get go in the final, battling hard, with many fine individual displays against an awesome Limerick team portraying many of the characteristics of their All Ireland winning senior side, securing the title. The physique and skill of the Limerick champions testament to the tremendous work being done for hurling in the county and most certainly setting the yardstick for the rest of us. Lots to work with from a Wexford point of view with I’ll wager many of the stars of the future getting their start here.

Cairde Loch Garman Annual Golf Classic

With approximately fifty-four teams in this year’s very popular Cairde Loch Garman Golf Classic, it was staged over a two-day period at the exquisite Bunclody Golf & Fishing Club. The weather couldn’t have been more conducive for this wonderful event organised by the Cairde Loch Garman Committee under Des Croke, Jim Byrne, and David Doc O’Connor, along with Gavin O`Donovan, CEO, Wexford Park.

A sincere thank you to all who participated and to main sponsors Trinity Motors and Fresh Today who very generously donated goodie bags for all the golfers. Well done to Jim Magee and his team who took the title of this year’s Cairde Loch Garman Golf Classic winners.

– Words and Pics by Maria Nolan

Above: Maria Nolan

Right: Angela McCormack and DesCroke

Shamrocks GAA

Check out the club’s video featuring committee member Derek Long talking about the major investment the club has made in new facilities – fencing, better access paths, new walking track, new floodlights, second pitch development, and there are more plans in the pipeline. https://www.facebook.com/103532402110364/videos/5853 24419927102 n

Young Enniscorthy Stars

Well done to Scott O’Connor (above) who was part of the recent Leinster U-18s rugby squad which beat Munster on a scoreline of 36-15. Congrats to Ruairi Cooper (left) – Boys U-11 All Ireland Champion. n