ST. JOSEPH'S A.C.

The club's juvenile athletes really excelled last weekend in the Leinster indoor championships. It was in the sprint events that the club tasted most of its success.

Jack Saunders was the golden boy, winning three gold medals over the two days. He won the triple jump on Saturday and showed that he is one of the top sprinters in the country at Under-18 level on Sunday. He was the clear winner in the 200m and he also won the 60m in impressive fashion.

Fellow club athlete, John Murphy, narrowly missed out on a bronze medal, finishing in fourth place after a photo finish in the 60m. Murphy had to be content with the gold medal he won in 60m hurdles on Saturday.

Eoin Power was also a triple medal winner at the weekend. He won silver medals in the Under-17 60m hurdles, 200m and the high jump. Emma Fenlon was another athlete that picked up three medals - gold in the Under-18 shot putt, bronze in the shot and another bronze in the triple jump.

Her brother, Arron, also came home with two bronze medals, one from the Under-15 high jump and the other from the 60m hurdles.

Paul Manning impressively won the Under-14 60m by putting clear daylight between himself and the rest of the field. Richie Schoeman showed that he is quickly developing into a top-class 400m runner by winning a silver medal in the Under-18 400m.

Clara Kennedy showed great fitness, coming through three rounds of the Under-13 60m to win a very impressive bronze in the final. Clara was in great form at the weekend, also finishing fifth in the 60m hurdles and making the final eight of the long jump.

St. Joseph's had two athletes making the Under-12 600m final, with Helen Hoynes finishing fifth and Chloe Richardson finishing seventh.

The club was also successful in the walking events, with both Shauna Power in Under-18 1,000m and Claire Forrestal in the Under-16 1,000m putting in gold medal-winning performances.

For more information on the club, please look at the new website - www.stjosephsac.com.

NEWBAWN DARTS

P.J. Byrne took top points in the Newbawn Darts Club for week 14 to secure his place in pot one for the finals night. He beat an impressive John Sinnott in the final. John had a tough run to the final, with David Bradley, Charlie Delaney and Paudie Sinnott in the knock-outs, while P.J. had David Murphy, P.J. Stafford and Brian Kennedy.

With two weeks left in the club, things are really hotting up in the bottom half of the ranking list. David Murphy will surely be happy with his three points from the semi this week which should see him safe for the finals night.

However, Dick Stafford, Liz Byrne, Edward McDonald and John Paul Wickham all have their sights set on Niall Gaul and Jack Delaney for the last few spots as only three points separate them all.

With two weeks to go it's all to play for and the nerves will start to come into play. Who will be able to hold their nerve to qualify to the finals night?

The ranking list after week 14 is: 1, David Bradley, 42; 2, Garry Bradley, 34, 2, P.J. Stafford, 33; 4, P.J. Byrne, 33; 5, Alan Bennett, 23, 6, John Sinnott, 22; 7, Mick Clampett, 19; 8, Charlie Delaney, 18; 9, Charlie Bradley, 18; 10, Cathal Murphy, 17; 11, Tommy Elmes, 14; 12, Andrew Dwyer, 14; 13, Peter Waters, 13; 14, David Murphy, 12; 15, Jack Delaney, 11; 16, Niall Gaul, 10; 17, Dick Stafford, 9; 18, Liz Byrne, 8; 19, Edward McDonald, 8; 20, John Paul Wickham, 8; 21, Nicky White, 7; 22, Ted Foxe, 7; 23, Paudie Sinnott, 6; 24, Eoin Cashin, 6; 25, Andrew McCormack, 6; 25, Colm Kehoe, 6; 27, Caroline Bradley, 5; 28, Tom Bradley, 5; 29, Eamon Jones, 4; 30, Stephen Kennedy, 3; 31, Ann Sinnott, 3; 32, Brian Kennedy, 2; 33, Ian White, 1; 34, John Butler, 1; 35, Pa Nolan, 1; 35, Ollie Cummins, 1; 35, Tom Kent, 1.

NEW ROSS TOWN F.C.

New Ross Town soccer academy had a big turn-out on Saturday morning last. The Under-6 group seems to be getting bigger by the week, with four new additions.

Evan Katus was very impressive in goal, pulling off some excellent saves during the game. Josh Kehoe was on top of his game in his defensive role, clearing everything in his way. In midfield, Jack Morrissey pulled the strings in only his second week there.

In the Under-8 group, the game finished finished in a draw, with Edward Fitzgerald and Dylan Sinnott the best players on display. In the penalty shoot-out, Eoghan Bates scored the winning goal to clinch victory for his team.

In the Over-8 group, Kate Mackey and Zoe Rossiter were on top of their games, with Zoe scoring some nice goals.

Even with the big turn-out, there is still plenty of room available for extra children in Good Counsel College. The coaching is from 11-12 for Under-7, and from 8s over it's from 12-1. The cost is ¤3 per child and anyone interested, just simply turn up or you can contact Liam Rossiter at 087-9340968.

The men's team had no game on Sunday last, and the club would like to wish David Purcell the best of luck this Saturday in the Oscar Traynor quarterfinal against A.U.L.

HORESWOOD G.A.A.

The official opening of the Endesa-sponsored gallery in the Horeswood G.A.A. indoor complex will take place on Saturday, March 13, at 2 p.m.

The afternoon's events will feature exhibition games, music by local musicians and a cheese and wine reception.

The new gallery benefits the local community by providing a comfortable viewing point for parents of the numerous under-age teams while training and playing games on both the indoor and outdoor pitches.

Full programme of events: 2 p.m., outdoor, Under-14 boys v. Under-16 girls, hurling; 2 p.m., indoor, Under-7 and Under-8 boys, football; 2.30 p.m. to 2.45 p.m., official opening; 2.50 p.m., outdoor, Under-12 hurling; 2.50 p.m., indoor, ladies' football.

All are welcome!

ST. JAMES' G. A. A.

The Brandon House Hotel was packed to the rafters for the annual St. James' G.A.A. club dinner dance on Saturday evening last. Guest of honour and current Kilkenny hurling coach, Brian Cody, was on hand to present the multitude of medals to the various teams following a very successful 2009 for the club - the two highlights or which were the Junior 'D' hurling win and the ladies' footballers' memorable Leinster final win. Club Chairman Mattie Molloy thanked everyone in attendance for their continued support and work for the club.

The men's football side suffered a quick exit from the Tommy Murphy Cup at the hands of Adamstown on Saturday afternoon last in Newbawn. Despite a strong second-half comeback from St. James', the Senior side defended well to run out winners by 39 to 1-7. Co. Under-21 footballer Kevin O'Grady slotted home the goal in the second-half.

Men's football training has begun and will take place on Fridays at 8 p.m. from here on. Everyone is welcome and new members are encouraged to come along to Mersheen.

Club member Mark Molloy starred in the W.I.T. victory over D.I.T. in last week's Fitzgibbon Cup quarter-final. The side won out by 0-14 to 0-12. Mark was singled out for special praise in the national media and now heads to Galway for the semi-final against L.I.T. next week. Good luck Mark!

FETHARD G.A.A.

The Minor footballers played Ballinastragh Gaels, a combination of Tara Rocks and Kilanerin, in the final of the O'Loughlin Cup on Sunday last in Patrick's Park, Enniscorthy. The physically-stronger Ballinastragh enjoyed the better start against an understrength Fethard team, and a goal after five minutes set them on their way.

John Tubritt's accuracy from frees kept Fethard in touch, but a goal and two points in the last ten minutes of the first-half gave Ballinastragh Gaels a 2-5 to 0-2 lead at the break. Fethard looked to be in deep trouble facing into the strong breeze, but a goal from Conan Murphy in the first minute of the second period gave them a lift.

Eoin Travers then pulled off a couple of fantastic saves to keep Fethard in the game as the Gaels upped their performance. Points from John Tubritt and Garret Foley kept Fethard in touch and, when a long delivery into the opposition goalmouth was punched home by a Fethard player, it reduced the lead to just five points with ten minutes to go.

The Gaels then upped their game again to send over five unanswered points to give them a deserved victory by 2-15 to 2-5. Fethard had to give best against a strong Ballinastragh Gaels side but they can take comfort from their second-half performance and the fact that all but two of the team are eligible for this grade again next year.

Noel Colfer was Fethard's best player in an unfamiliar defensive position while Peter Mullan and John Tubritt worked hard in midfield. Rúairí Tubrid and Garret Foley when moved outfield had good second-half performances, while Josh Conway was the pick of the forwards, particularly in the first-half.

Team: Eoin Travers; Ciarán Furlong, Martin O'Hara, Cathal Walsh; Stephen Barry, Rúairí Tubrid, Noel Colfer; John Tubritt, Peter Mullan; Andrew Whelan, Graham O'Grady, Conan Murphy; Jeff Barry, Garret Foley, Josh Conway.

The Senior football team played their first game of the year on Saturday last against Geraldine O'Hanarahans in the Tommy Murphy Cup in Ramstown. Both sides fielded experimental teams, but Fethard enjoyed the better start and four first-half goals meant they had built up a commanding lead before the break.

As both sides used their full quota of substitutes, it took a while for the second-half to come to life, but a Diarmuid Bird goal ended the game as contest as Fethard went on to record a comfortable victory. Scorers were Mikie Banville (2-2), Christopher Colfer and Seán Foley (1-1 each), Brian O'Donoghue and Diarmuid Bird (1-0 each), Mark Wallace (0-3), Thomas Colfer (0-1).

No doubt the Geraldines will be looking for revenge when the sides play each other in the first round of the Foxe Cup shortly.

The new format for 2010 will make for a very competitive championship, and all players are looking forward to the challenge. The draws for the championships were made on Wednesday night last. In Senior football, Fethard have been drawn in the same group as defending champions Horeswood and Ballyhogue who qualified for the quarter-finals last year. The fourth team are District rivals Taghmon-Camross who had a narrow victory over Fethard last year.

In Intermediate hurling, Fethard have been drawn with DavidstownCourtnacuddy for the second year in a row, while the other two teams are last year's semi-finalists, Gorey, and Oulart-The Ballagh's second team.

The Under-14 hurlers travelled to Waterford on Sunday morning last to take on De La Salle in a challenge game. This was a thrilling and keenly-fought game, with Fethard winning by one point (2-7 to 3-3). The Juvenile team start their championship next weekend.

The fundraising committee of the Fethard St. Mogue's G.A.A. club are holding a fashion show in the St. Mary's Community Hall on Wednesday, March 24, at 8 p.m. A vintage tractor run is being organised for Easter Sunday, April 4, and all funds raised will be divided between the G.A.A. club and a local charity. Anyone interested in taking part can contact Nicholas Tweedy on 086-0566525 or Mattie Hyland (087-2860470).

The Under-14 camogie team played a practice match against Davidstown on Sunday last in Ramstown and ran out very comfortable winners. Training is now taking place for Under-10, Under-12, Under-14 and Under-16 every weekend. New members welcome. Registration nights will take place on Saturday, March 6, and Saturday, March 13, in the clubhouse from 7.30-8 p.m. The deadline is March 13 - registration must be paid no later than that date. Please contact Ann Whelan (086-7908578) or Lou Foley (087-6410858) for more details.

The club has a number of fundraising ventures for the coming year including a sponsored walk and a barbeque in Droopy's. More details later.

The next committee meeting will take place on Friday, March 5, in St. Mary's Hall at 8.30 p.m.