Sport

Slaney aDSlaney SpORt Kickboxing success for local club

Wexford-based Dynamic Kickboxing Academy, under coach Robbie Sludds, had eight fighters representing Ireland at the recent World Kickboxing Champioships held in Killarney, and secured an impressive medal haul. Coach Robbie says, “I am so proud to be the coach of these wonderful, inspiring and dedicated group of young fighters who brought their A GAME to the mats... and fought their hearts out to be champions.” Mia Byrne: 2 Gold and silver Alfie Murphy: Gold and Bronze Breanna Sludds Keane: Silver and Bronze Shauna Hume: Silver and Bronze Abby Dooley: Silver and Bronze Cora Harris: 3 Bronze Kelly Dooley: Bronze Evelyn Walker: Bronze The coach also thanked the families of the fighters, “Most of all to the families who travelled down to support us. Dy-

Dynamic Kickboxing Academy team representing Ireland

namic Kickboxing Academy wouldn’t be where it is without your continuous support and help all year round not just at these tournaments. Thank you from the bottom of my heart because ye are the backbone of our Kickboxing Academy and ye should all be given gold medals as the best supporters in the land, I am so grateful and blessed for everyone of ye. THANK YOU.” n

Enniscorthy greyhound track news

Racing is on Thursday nights only in November and December with first race off at 7.30pm. The Track is now taking bookings for Christmas Parties. See ad on page 10. The recent Lord of Charity Event was a huge success with over €3,000 being raised for local charities. More details in next month’s issue. n

Slaney SpORt Enniscorthy’s Paul Conroy wins in the US

Enniscorthy hit a purple patch last month in the US with success for two of the town’s young sportsmen. On the day after Jordan Gainford rode Hewick to victory in the Grand National at Far Hills, Enniscorthy Golf Club member Paul Conroy won the Wolfpack Intercollegiate golf tournament in Raleigh, N.C. The Chattanooga second-year student won by two strokes for his first collegiate victory. Opening rounds of 70 and 74 had him back in the pack before a sensational 62 saw him top the leaderboard, going out in 29, including a hole-in-one, and coming home in 33. Afterwards Paul said, as reported in The Echo, “It feels great to finally get over the line... I’ve been close a lot of times. I battled at the finish. I was 2 over on the closing holes yesterday and got two birdies today, which turned out to be the

Conroy won first collegiate with final round 62

difference. I hit every shot where I wanted it to go today. It was a pretty enjoyable round with everything going the right way.” n

Ross Road astro pitch

The eagerly awaited new Astro Pitch project at Ross Road, Enniscorthy, is expected to come before the elected members of Enniscorthy Municipal District later this month.

The Part VIII planning process has been completed, the appointment of project managers is imminent and the procurement of a suitable contractor is expected to commence later this month. The project should be completed by April 2023. The question of a playing pitch at the centre of the running track at the Enniscorthy Sports Hub came up at the October meeting of Enniscorthy Municipal District. The District Manager and Cathaoirleach informed the meeting that it is under review. We’ll keep our readers up to date on this story. n

World champion visits Leinster House

World Kickboxing Champion and Creagh College student in Gorey, TJ Redmond, visited Leinster House recently for a tour and met with Senator Malcolm Byrne and Sports Minster Jack Chambers to discuss the future of the sport and support for young athletes.

Sports snippets...

Congratulations to Enniscorthy’s Charlie Tector on winning his first Leinster senior rugby cap last month. Congrats to jockey Jordan Gainford on his victory last month in the USA Grand National.

Congrats to Mike Morrissey of Enniscorthy’s Sacre Coeur boxing club on becoming All Ireland Senior Champion. Hard luck on Wexford Youths Women on narrowly missing out on being national league champions losing at home to Shelbourne on the final day of the season. The Waterfront Pool and Leisure Centre and The Slaney Sharks Swimming Club would like to thank everyone who volunteered and participated in their first triathlon on Sunday 9th October. It was a fun filled day with friendly competition. The organisers would like to thank all the sponsors of the event and look forward to doing it all again next year. Shamrocks GAA club’s video is worth checking out 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. See: https://www.facebook.com/103532402110364/videos/5853 24419927102

We omitted to include in recent issues that Enniscorthy Athletic Club women’s team were crowned National League Division 1 Champions back in August. A huge achievement. n

Official opening of new community facilities at Ferns GAA

Minister Heather Humphreys officially opens the new community gym and recreation facilities at St Aidan’s GAA centre, Ferns, on 6th October 2022. L-R: Cllr Barbara-Anne Murphy, Cllr Jackser Owens, Cllr Cathal Byrne, Cllr Oliver Walsh, Cllr George Lawlor (Cathaoirleach Wexford Co. Council), Minister Humphreys, Minister James Brown TD, Club Chairperson Eoin Gethings, Brian Kehoe (Wexford Local Development), Paul Kehoe TD, Johnny Mythen TD, Cllr Kathleen Codd-Nolan, Tom Enright (CEO Wexford Co. Council). Pic: Mary Browne. Below left: Minister Heather Humphreys testing out the new facilities with, standing L-R, Paul Kehoe TD, Minister James Browne TD, Cllr George Lawlor and local woman Theresa Bailey. Pic: Mary Browne. Below right: Johnny Mythen TD and Club Chairperson Eoin Gethings with the Dr. R.J. Bowe Cup.

Above left: Cllr Jackser Owens with the Dr. R.J. Bowe Cup. Above right: Minister Heather Humphreys with club Chairperson Eoin Gethings and Tom Enright, CEO Wexford County Council. Pic: Mary Browne. Below: Cllr Barbara-Anne Murphy with Minister James Browne TD.

Maria at the GAA’s grassroots

What a night in Croke Park as GAA President Larry McCarthy launched Grassroots – a compilation by PJ Cunningham of GAA stories from every corner of Ireland. I am so proud to have my story about Bellefield included and mentioned by both PJ and President McCarthy in their speeches. What an honour it was to hear my name and Bellefield and my story about the day BBC Presenter Terry Wogan came to Bellefield with Billy Rackard to film a hurling match for a programme going out on the BBC called My Ireland. What an honour also to to meet the great Brian McEniff, Gerry McLoughlin and hear his wonderful poem The Song of a Hurler and Mai Leonard and her nostalgic story about Arthur Guinness, and thank you very much to Mai who presented me with a copy of her book. A truly memorable evening and thank you to PJ Cunningham and the GAA for making it all possible. The book Grassroots - The Second Half is available at all bookstores and, as President McCarthy says, is a history of the GAA for the generations to come – so very proud to be part of that.

– Maria Nolan

Grassroots people in the spotlight

GAA President Larry McCarthy said “grassroots people” seldom got the spotlight for what they do but by writing their own accounts as part of this series of books, their storytelling would become part of the social and cultural history for the present and future generations. The President was speaking as he launched ‘Grassroots -The Second Half, Stories from the heart of the GAA’ at Croke Park which was edited by author and journalist, PJ Cunningham. It features amusing, entertaining and dramatic tales from members and followers of the GAA at every level with gripping contributions also from such well-known sportspeople as former Antrim All-Star hurler, Sambo McNaughton, former rugby star Ollie Campbell, snooker star Ken Doherty, Kerry playwright John B Keane and Galway All-Ireland winner John Connolly. Among the Wexford stories were amusing and gripping tales told by Maria Nolan, Davy Donohoe and the late Kilmore Quay native Matthew Maddock. “I’m not sure if there is some poetic licence in some of them,” the President joked, “but I do know I’ve enjoyed the two volumes that I’ve read and I hope there is more to come because these books are shining a mirror into how and why the GAA has become such a pillar within Irish society. “The reach and influence of the GAA and the focal point it provides in so many communities ensures it has attained a special status in the lives of so many. The GAA is essentially about people and places and these two powerful ingredients feature in many of the stories submitted for publication.” Editor PJ Cunningham said it was fitting that Croke Park was the setting for the launch because the writers’ stories were being acknowledged at the very highest level by the GAA. “The contributors have unearthed a treasure trove of local stories which would die out if not put in book form and these can broaden the understanding of what the GAA means. “They used to say it was the Catholic Church, Fianna Fáil and the GAA which was at the core of Irish life – the first two have shrunk in terms of influence but the GAA continues to grow,” he emphasised. The stories are a treasure trove of memories, tales and incidents reflecting the emergence of Irish nationhood in all its guises. ‘Grassroots - The Second Half’ is published by Ballpoint Press and retails at €19.99. It is available online and in all good bookshops nationwide. n

Editor PJ Cunningham and GAA President Larry McCarthy with Noel Barry and his son Peter, Drinagh, Wexford town, at the launch of 'Grassroots - The Second Half' last month.

WEXFORD APPLICATIONS FOR TEXACO ‘SUPPORT FOR SPORT’ FUNDING INVITED

Applications from sports clubs in Co. Wexford and beyond are now invited under the third Texaco Support for Sport initiative in which a fund of €130,000 will be divided in €5,000 amounts and distributed to successful applicants in each of the twenty-six counties.

Over the past two years, a gross figure of €260,000 has been divided amongst 52 sports clubs across Ireland, of which €5,000 each went to two successful Co. Wexford clubs: Kilmore United FC (2021) and Menapians Athletic Club (2022).

Open to all sports clubs irrespective of sporting discipline, size, membership, age, cultural appeal or gender (including clubs that may have made an unsuccessful application previously), the initiative is one that ‘recognises and supports the valuable contribution that sports clubs make to communities and throughout Irish society’.

Launching the 2023 programme, James Twohig, Director of Ireland Operations, Valero Energy (Ireland) Limited – the company that markets fuel in Ireland under the Texaco brand – described the initiative as one that “opens up an avenue to funding for those clubs and communities that need it most.”

Following lines similar to that which proved successful over the past two years, clubs wishing to apply should first register their interest on www.TexacoSupportforSport.com, followed, before closing date, by a completed application that should include details of their sporting activity, the importance of the club in their local community, the purpose for which the funding is sought, and the use to which the funds will be put.

A sole qualifying requirement is that clubs must be properly constituted and supply confirmation of a valid Games & Sports Exemption number (GS number) issued by the Office of the Revenue Commissioners.

Closing date for applications is 31st January 2023 with adjudication taking place thereafter. Leading the process once again is Texaco Support for Sport ambassador, broadcaster and former Irish rugby international, Donncha O’Callaghan. Clubs that received funding to date span the spectrum of Irish sporting activity – athletics, badminton, basketball, boxing, camogie, climbing, cricket, diving, gaelic football, golf, handball, hockey, hurling, rowing, rugby, soccer and tennis amongst them. n

Enniscorth

A ‘gatheration’ of hurlers came together from both sides of the town and from Wexford town for the Robert Tex Byrne Memorial challenge, where a combination of Rapparees/ Shamrocks took on the Faythe Harriers at Robert’s home club, Bellefield, on Sunday 30th October.

At 2pm on the rather clement October day, Under 15s from Rapparees and Faythe Harriers gave a fine display in the curtain raiser suitably whetting the appetite for the main event sponsored by MRA Electrical and Malocca’s Fine Foods.

With the huge crowd hungry for hurling (it seems like a very long time since the Championship) a decent dish of it was served up with the Harriers getting off to an amazing start but the combined efforts of Rapps and Rocks pulling back the lead and advancing to take the spoils. In the packed clubhouse Seamus Byrne, brother of the late Robert, thanked everyone for coming, along with the sponsors and the organising committee, on behalf of his parents Larry and Betty and sister Sue.

A presentation was made to the Harriers in appreciation of their participation and a trophy presented to joint winning captains Ben Edwards, Rapparees, and Bob Jacob, Shamrocks.

Special recognition was given to Paul

hy’s unique hurling occasion

Scott for his great score of a point and the referee Eamonn Furlong was presented with a cake and a rendition of Happy Birthday as he celebrated his 40th on the day.

Then it was all hurls blazing, as the young and not so young hurlers gathered in groups all around the Bellefield function room to revive old friendships, relive old rivalries, remember old friends and relate many tall tales and believe me as the evening grew longer the tales grew tails.

It was nice to see hurling back at Bellefield, but it was even nicer to see the camaraderie, respect and friendship that the game of hurling generates in our community and uplifting and inspiring to see how it unities us and bonds us forever despite world pandemics and the trials and tribulations of life.

Robert would indeed have been smiling down on all and would have been delighted to see so many of his old friends and clubmates relive, reminisce and reiterate how important this amazing game is in all our lives, and what a legacy it leaves.

All monies collected will go to local charities – Meals on Wheels and St. Mary’s Cemetery. It was a beautiful occasion and one that no-one wanted to leave.

– Words and pics by Maria Nolan

Top left: Joints Captains Ben Edwards (Rapparees) and Bob Jacob (Shamrocks) receiving trophy from Seamus Byrne.

Above left: Larry Byrne, Willie Walsh and Eddie Kelly.

Far left: Adrian Fenlon, Larry O’Gorman, Declan Ruth.

Left: Liam Ryan and Lee Chin.

Top right: Tomas Mahon, Paul Scott, Padge Walsh, Jason Russell, Anthony Russell.

Above right: Tony Sack Walsh, Adrian Fenlon.

Right: Declan Ivers, Fiacre Ryan, Jim Holden and Brian Ivers

Rugby Round Up by Tomás Herlihy Enniscorthy Rugby Club Senior XV Enniscorthy - 12, Dungannon - 32

On a miserable day at Alcast Park on Saturday 29th October, Enniscorthy’s first half lead could not be held as Dungannon scored four consecutive tries to get the win by a score of 32 to 12.

The home side looked the part in the first half, with Nick Doyle getting a try in the opening ten minutes of the game that was converted by Ben Kidd before Dungannon put up three points on the board from the boot of fullback Ben McCaughey from a penalty.

Enniscorthy answered back with another try, this time Ben Kidd finished off in the corner following some exceptional play from scrum half Arthur Dunne and winger David O’Dwyer down the left flank to put Enniscorthy ahead by nine, but the young outhalf was unable to convert the tough kick from the touchline. Dungannon responded well, with Alex Kennedy getting over for the visitors before the end of the half, Enniscorthy led by four going into the break.

The second half was a different story, with Dungannon pressing against the Enniscorthy defence for the opening minutes before getting over. Matthew Montgomery went over for the visitors, which was converted, followed by Aaron Nelson’s effort which was also converted, before a penalty try wrapped this fixture up with 15 minutes to go, which was also converted.

The tale of the tape for this game, from an Enniscorthy perspective, will be the issues in the scrum, with the front row being put under pressure all game long, as a result of injuries.

Within the first 20 minutes of the first half, Angelo Todisco was taken off after trying to play on with an ankle injury and was replaced by Irish under-19 prospect Grant Palmer, who was also forced out of the game as the second half began with a suspected shoulder injury, being replaced by Andrew Redmond. had three players sent to the sin bin over the course of the game.

Speaking with head coach Declan O’Brien after the game, this was the area that he saw as the turning point in the game.

“A snapshot of what happened in the game is that we were probably dominated in the scrum a bit, and then sustained a good few injuries with Angelo getting injured and then after coming on, Grant got injured as well, so we couldn’t really find traction in the scrum for the most part.”

With moving Nick Doyle to the back row, Enniscorthy were competitive in lineouts, with the versatile player as the first jumper using his six-foot seven frame and explosive leaping ability to try to intercept any ball thrown in by the Dungannon hooker, which the head coach noted as a bright spot in the game.

“I will say that from a set piece point of view, I felt that we won the lineout battle, we were really good in that space, but ultimately, we gave away too many penalties and had three players put in the sin bin, so you can’t expect to win games when these things happen, but look we will keep pushing on and we will go again next week.”

The outlook for the month ahead sees Enniscorthy first travel to the West of Ireland, as they face the Galway Corinthians in Corinthians Park on Saturday, November the 5th, followed by a return to Alcast Park in Enniscorthy to host Belfast Harlequins before commuting to Connacht again, this time making the trek to Hamilton Park in Sligo to face Sligo RFC.

Enniscorthy XV vs Dungannon RFC:

1: Angelo Todisco. 2: Jamie Barron. 3: MJ Doyle. 4: Tom Ryan. 5: Liam Stamp. 6: Nick Doyle. 7: Niall Parker. 8: Timmy Morrissey. 9: Arthur Dunne. 10: Ben Kidd. 11: David O’Dwyer. 12: Daniel Pim. 13: Hughie O’Neill. 14: Sebastian Pim. 15: Michael Farrell.

Subs: 16: Andrew Redmond (on for G. Palmer, MJ Doyle {blood sub}). 17: Grant Palmer (on for A. Todisco). 18: David Farrell (on for L. Stamp). 19: Fiachra Hourihane (on for B. Kidd). 20: Jim White (on for S. Pim). n

Club of the Year!

Enniscorthy Rugby Club awarded ‘Club of the Year’, represented by last year's captain Tom Stamp, this year's captain Timmy Morrissey, and club PRO Liam Spratt. Congrats to Enniscorthy Rugby Club on being awarded "Club of the Year" by the Guinness Rugby Writers of Ireland, a first for a provincial club in the history of these awards. The award recognises the club's achievement in winning Division 2B of the Energia Men's All Ireland League last season in their first season following promotion.

The credit for this award is down to the players, coaches, volunteers, officers, committees and all members not just of last year but for many years to build the club up to its present status. A huge number of volunteers over the decades kept the club going through thick and thin and this award is testament to all their input. At the awards the club was represented by last year's captain Tom Stamp, this year's captain Timmy Morrissey, and club PRO Liam Spratt. n

€122k for Sports Active Wexford

Wexford TD and Minister of State for Law Reform James Browne (pictured above) has confirmed that Sports Active Wexford will receive €122,000 in funding as part of Sport Ireland’s Dormant Accounts Funding Scheme. Tranche One of the funding scheme aims to engage with County Wexford communities, focusing on people living in disadvantaged communities, people with a disability, women and girls, and people who are educationally disadvantaged. Inclusion is a core value within sport, with sports inclusion disability projects also being prioritised within the funding. €60,000 will go towards a Round One Allocation for community sports and physical activities hubs. €23,000 will be dedicated to Sports Inclusion Disability Projects. €20,000 will assist with volunteer supports for County Wexford’s sports volunteers. €10,000 will assist with a Get Girls Active campaign while €9,000 will support the rollout of youth leadership training in County Wexford. Welcoming the funding, Minister Browne outlined how the allocation of Dormant Accounts Funding will make a real difference in County Wexford communities: “Today’s funding announcement will result in targeted measures to encourage the participation of sport in all communities, especially within disadvantaged communities. It is great to see that the funding will be directed towards programmes that promote physical activity, making sport and physical activity accessible to people from diverse backgrounds, people with a disability and the development of programmes to address transitions and drop out from physical activity. “Today’s funding announcement will help to address inequalities in sports participation, in particular among those experiencing socio-economic disadvantage. There is a wide variety of measures being implemented and I am especially pleased about the initiative to get girls more active in sport, too many of whom are still dropping out of sport in their teenage years. I encourage all concerned to actively engage with Sports Active Wexford, who will use the funding to further the aims and objectives of these programmes”, Minister Browne concluded. n