Sport

Wexford hurling teams of the sixties fondly remembered in new book

In a book published last month, prominent Carlow businessman and keen hurling fan Tom Byrne sings the praises of the Wexford hurling teams of the sixties. Byrne’s book, entitled Three Miles of Road - Tales of Country Life in the Sixties, focuses on his memories of growing up in Graiguenaspidogue, including a local road sign pointing towards Wexford that evoked thoughts of Wexford hurling prowess. As he generously recalls, “At that stage in our young lives Wexford was a near mythical place populated by giants such as the Rackard brothers, Nick O’Donnell, Ned Wheeler, Hopper McGrath, Jim English and many others who played hurling for Wexford when they’d won the All-Ireland a couple of years previously. We listened regularly to Michael O’Hehir on a Sunday afternoon on our little Bush radio to hear the exploits of these men. We heard about clubs and places such as Buffers Alley, Oulart the Ballagh, Faythe Harriers, Rathnure, the Shelmaliers and the Rapparees.” Byrne also has fond memories of the Artane Boys Band playing ‘The Boys of Wexford’, ‘Kelly the Boy from Killane’ or ‘Boolavogue’ at Croke Park when Wexford were playing. As he puts it, “We had learned a lot of these songs at school, so when the band struck up ‘Kelly the Boy from Killane’ we were able to sing along with them. The Rackard brothers also hailed from the village of Killane, so we had our very own boy from Killane in the person of Nicky Rackard, the captain of that great Wexford team. He fitted the bill for us in almost every way with his dashing speed, and he almost matched the words of the song as we belted out “seven feet is his height, with some inches to spare and he looked like a king in command”. And when Nicky stepped up to take one of his frees and slapped the sliothar past the diving goalkeeper into the back of the net, he really was our very own king.” Three Miles of Road comes with generous endorsements from several literary figures, including Wexford resident Jackie Hayden, author of the number one bestseller My Boy, and whose editorial assistance and advice is acknowledged by Byrne in his book. n If you enjoy a great game of golf, don't miss the annual Ferns Village Golf Classic on Friday, July 8th. To book a place contact Tom on 087-2142339 or Teresa on 086-6049340. Book now to avoid disappointment. n

Lifeguard course in Enniscorthy

The Waterfront Pool & Leisure Centre in Enniscorthy will be hosting a National Pool Lifeguard Qualification from Monday 18th July - Friday 22 July 2022, 9am-6pm. For more information call 053 92 34443. n

Sports Hub update

Phase 2 of the Enniscorthy Sports Hub project consisting of a sports equipment storage area, changing rooms, toilets, showers and a small office was granted government funding of €300,000 in 2020. Approval of tender documents has eventually been received from the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media, so Wexford County Council advertised the contract on 8th June with a tender response deadline of 6th July 2022. So hopefuly work can now commence later this year. n Fitness visits to Co. Wexford schools

Another sign that life is returning to normal following a two-year break forced by the Covid-19 pandemic is seen in the announcement by Fyffes that it is to resume its programme of fitness visits to Wexford schools commencing in September. Since its launch just four years ago, over 720 Wexford pupils had been introduced to the Fit Squad programme before Covid and resulting school closures forced Fyffes to bring its message online. Delivered by Irish health and fitness expert Tom Dalton, each visit of 45-minutes duration includes an active workout designed to improve children’s general fitness through engagement and fun-filled activities, supported by talks and tips on healthy eating. Schools interested in participating are invited to register at www.fyffesfitsquad.ie/register n

Irish Olympic athletes David Gillick and Phil Healy are supporting the announcement by Fyffes that it is to resume its children’s fitness programme of live school visits in September.

Gaelscoil Inis Córthaidh soccer team with St Patrick’s School team and their manager John O’Rourke.

St Patrick’s emerges victorious

On 2nd June, the team in St Patrick’s school faced old rivals, Gaelscoil Enniscorthy, in the end-of-year league decider, on the campus of St Patrick’s. The two teams were level on points and faced a playoff. Tension was in the air and the referee James Fortune had a tough game on his hands. With supporters from both schools out in force, it led to a great atmosphere. St Patrick’s were first on the scoreboard with a brace from Shane Fortune, but Gaelscoil came back on the stroke of halftime with a goal from Blathnaid Cullen. After a stern team talk from coach John O’Rourke, St Pats made it 3-1 after the break. Gaelscoil responded with a goal from Saoirse Fortune but it wasn’t enough to prevent a St Patrick’s victory, and success for St Pat’s also in the league winning by 25 points to Gaelscoil’s 22. Huge thanks to Wexford County Council for its financial support. And thanks also to coaches Kevin Dugdale, Podge O’Toole, Sean Lambert, Brandon Mills, Miley Fortune and manager John O’Rourke. Thanks to the Gaelscoil and Youthreach Enniscorthy Plc students for participating during the season. All the partricipants are already looking forward to next season. n

Celebrating the big Five-Oh at Moyne Rangers

Moyne Rangers football club in Enniscorthy is closing in on its 50th anniversary. All members and former members are being asked to share any photographs they may have that could be used as part of the celebrations. Please email any photos to moynerangers@gmail.com or the organisers can collect from you, scan them and return the originals to you! The clubs’s 50th Anniversary Dinner Dance takes place on Saturday 30th July in the Riverside Park Hotel in Enniscorthy. See accompanying graphic for more details. n

Moyne Rangers remembering Joe Doyle

Back row L-R: Donal Donnegan (manager), Philip (Pip) Murphy, Matty Kinnaird, John Ormonde, Ricky Mitchell, Tom Hogan, Brian (Mouse) Davis, Mick Hughes, James Porter, Willy Browne (captain), Justin Kehoe, Anthony Breen, Keith Kelly, Ger Mitchell, Merdith Porter (manager), John Foley, Paul (Titch) Mitchell, Michael Foley. Front row L-R: James Breen (manager), Ger Gartland, John Murphy, Aidan Browne, Sean (Remo) Redmond (captain), James (Joc) Kehoe, Dan Cogley, Anthony Grant, David Connolly, Thomas Redmond, Derek Hendrick, Darren Quinn, Joe Doyle.

Lisa Browne McDonald and Sinéad Browne operating the BBQ. On 3rd July 2022, Moyne Rangers in Enniscorthy held a Family Field Day at its pitch in town, with planty of food options, games, activities and DJs. One of the main activities was a match between the club’s ‘A’ and ‘B’ teams of 1998/1999 in memory of the late Joe Doyle, a loyal and dedicated member of the club, and a great colleague of ours here in the Slaney News.

Our photo above shows the teams from 1998/1999 who reassembled for Joe’s match (see photo below). The benefiting charity is Cystic Fibrosis – a cause very close to Joe's heart. Well done to the organisers for celebrating Joe's life in this very appropriate way. n

3rd July 2022 in memory of Joe Doyle. Back row L-R (red players): Willie Peare, John Courtney, Brian Davis, Tom Hogan, Michael Hughes, John Timmons, Willie Browne, Keith Kelly, Anthony Breen, John Ormonde, Ciaran Breen, John Foley, Aidan Browne Snr, Aaron Davis. Front (blue players) L-R: Robbie Walsh, Ger Gartland, Damien Breen, Brian O’Neill, Darren Quinn, Aidan Browne, Sean Remo Redmond, David Connolly, Colm Redmond, Andrew Browne, Darragh Breen, John Murphy, Stephen Tyrrell, Anthony Grant.

WEXFORD’S MENAPIANS ATHLETIC CLUB RECEIVES TEXACO SPORT FUNDING

Wexford’s Menapians Athletic Club, county winners in the recent Texaco Support for Sport initiative, has been presented with a cheque for €5,000 which will be used to reserve venues and fund equipment for its proposed Wexford Summer League, an undertaking aimed at getting young athletes involved in the sport. Established in 2001, Menapians AC is a progressive athletics club with a diverse membership in terms of age and ability ‘from young to old, from joggers to Olympians’. With training provided at various locations – including Rosslare Strand, Wexford CBS and Enniscorthy Sports Hub – the club maintains a prominent presence across the county. Under the scheme – similar to that which proved successful last year when the Wexford county award was presented to Kilmore United FC – the presentation was made to the Club by Valero Energy (Ireland) Limited, the company that markets fuel in Ireland under the Texaco brand. Now in its second year, the Texaco Support for Sport initiative sees an annual fund of €130,000 set aside for allocation in equal amounts of €5,000 to successful applicants chosen on a county-by-county basis. Overseeing the adjudication process is Texaco Support for Sport ambassador, former Irish rugby international and broadcaster, Donncha O’Callaghan. Entries to the Texaco Support for Sport 2023 initiative will open this Autumn. n

The presentation to Wexford’s Menapians Athletic Club members Mick McKeown, Catherine O’Connor, Oliver Stack, Margaret Malone, and Roisin O’Reilly and Padraig Kelly (both front), was made at Boggan’s Service Station, Wexford. Pictured with them was Texaco Dealer Mark Boggan (centre) and Valero Area Sales Manager, Niall O’Rourke (second from right).