ENNISCORTHY RUGBY

Enniscorthy 25, Kilkenny 11: Enniscorthy had an impressive win in their opening home match of the new season in the South-East League. They have some new faces this season and it took them a while to get going. In fact, Kilkenny led 6-5 after 20 minutes.

Enniscorthy were without captain Graham Murphy (holidays) and 'Nipper' Howe (injured). They eventually got going and their enterprising play was rewarded with tries from Decky O'Brien who finished a fine move instigated by the forwards, Shane Dalton and Luke Goff. Ivan Poole kicked two conversions and two penalties.

Team: Andrew Frazer, Luke Goff, Ciarán Murphy, Brendan Kelly, Johnny Leech, Decky O'Brien, Bernie White, Niall Cummins, Shane Maguire, Ivan Poole, David O'Dwyer, Ronan McCabe, Shane Dalton, Timmy Morrissey, Ross Barbour. Sub. used - Frank Morris.

The women's team will recommence training on Wednesday,September 1, at 8 p.m. We hope to enter the team in the Women's Leinster Development League.

New players are needed so please spread the word. We will also welcome any other support that can be given.

GOREY RUGBY

Mini training for all children between six and 12 years will start on Sunday, September 5, at 10 a.m. at our grounds in Clonattin, Gorey.

We are looking forward to welcoming as many players as possible and look forward to meeting all those new players who will be joining us this season.

ENNISCORTHY HOCKEY

Enniscorthy Senior ladies' hockey training is on Monday from 7-8 p.m. and Wednesday from 6.30-8 p.m. in the Astro Centre, Enniscorthy. All new players are welcome.

Further details are available from enniscorthyhockey.com or 0876493738.

SLIPSTREAM C.C.

The Betty D'Arcy Memorial Race shall be held on Sunday next in Gorey. Betty is the late wife of one of cycling's longest-serving sportsmen, not only in Wexford but from coast to coast, Sam D'Arcy.

Sam, a native of Dublin, got involved in cycling at the age of 16 in 1952 when he first joined the Irish Road Club. His mother, Margaret Walker, from Garden City brought Sam and his siblings down to the town every summer for their holidays and this is how he developed a love for the town and its people.

After a number of years cycling he thought it would be a good idea to bring a cycle race from Dublin to Gorey. This became the Gorey 3 Day event which is now staged every year over the Easter Bank holiday weekend, and it was in the early days of this race when he met and fell in love with a local girl, Betty Kealy of Pot Lane.

After marrying in 1965, Betty got involved in the organisation of cycling events and was well loved by all members of Cycling Ireland clubs across the country. She later became a founder member of the South East Road Club with her husband Sam, nephew Pat Maguire and a long-time cycling friend of the family, Michael Considine from Arklow.

It was soon after her sudden passing in 2005 that the S.E.R.C. staged the first memorial race to honour the hard work she did behind the sceens for promoting the sport of cycle racing.

The honours fall upon the Goreybased Slipstream Cycling Club now to promote this event which will start with a sign-on in the Christ Church Old School, Gorey, from 10 a.m. on Sunday, with the A2 and A3 combined race rolling out at midday for four laps of the Gorey-Craanford Hill-Camolin-Gorey circuit, followed by the A4 race starting a short time later.

All are welcome along to view the race along the roadway, and Sam asks locals along the route to drive with care and please try to keep their family pets in while the race passes by. He apologises for any inconvenience caused on the day.

GOREY CELTIC F.C.

The season is back again and the first team were home to St. Joseph's in Division 1. The lads got off to a winning start on a 4-1 scoreline. The scorers were Paul Timmins and Terry Carey with one apiece and Shane Roche with two.

The second team was also home last weekend to Ballindaggin in Division 3A. The lads played well but were pipped 32. The goals for Celtic came from Brian Maher and John Lavery.

We had two of our Under-10 girls' teams taking part in the Bunclody tournament last weekend. First of all we have to pay compliments to Bunclody on a well-run tournament, as the girls got plenty of football.

First up we had our new Under-10 team in their very first outing as a team, taking on the hosts in a very good game in which Bunclody edged out winners. Becky Yeats did a sterling job in the goal for our girls.

Our first team took on Forth Celtic in their first game and this was a cracker with chances at both ends. Neither team could finish them off until the Forth Celtic girl got a late winner, and our girls were unlucky to lose this one 1-0.

Both teams competed very well in each of their next games, with our fisrt team reaching the final of the shield against our neighbours, Courtown Hibs. The final was a very close affair in football terms, with both teams competing for every ball. Our Celtic girls took the lead through Courtney Masterson, but the Courtown girls hit back minutes later and then doubled their lead.

A quick reshuffle was in order for our girls, with Amy Wilson pushed up front on her own. Well, this was a turning point in the game, with Amy levelling after a brilliant through ball from Courtney. Amy soon added to her tally after another good move from the Celtic girls to put them 3-2 up with only a few minutes to go, but the girls weren't finished yet, with Amy finishing the game hattrick heroine after sloting home a superb strike to give the girls their first taste of sliverware.

It was a well-earned victory in the shield final and a big well done to Jason and Tina from all in the club.

Teams: Caragh Clarke, Katie Daly, Katie Murray, Caoimhe O'Sullivan, Molly Maher, Amy Wilson, Ella Rice, Stacey Lavery, Niamh Woolcock, Nikki Woolcock, Becky Yeats, Paige Tanner, Amber Donohoe, Romy Nolan, Kim Doyle, Courtney Masterson.

WEXFORD TENNIS

The Junior club tennis championships took place from August 4-6, and once again proved to be a great success. There were a huge number of entries and all events ran smoothly throughout the week. There was a great atmosphere around the club for the week, especially on finals day where there were so many close and intense matches which were gripping to watch.

Congratulations to all the winners and runners-up. A big thank you to all who helped out as there is a lot of work in organising these events. I don't have all the names but special thanks to Bríd McCormack and Rachel Geraghty as well as the Junior co-ordinators.

We would also like to thank our very generous sponsor, Dane Tyghe of Dane Tyghe School of Motoring, who provided fantastic prizes for the various competitions. In addition, the Sylvester O'Brien Cups were awarded to two Junior members who demonstrated qualities of enthusiasm, friendliness and co-operation, and who didn't try to nick any sweets from the tuck shop. They were Louise O'Connor and Carl Riordan. The Junior tennis coaching will be starting back with Ashley Wynn on September 4 - all details available on our website (http://www.whbtc.ie).

The annual Jerome Hynes Memorial trophy was held at the club on August 15, and was as usual a great success, with almost 60 players taking part. The winners were the infamous Jenkins cousins, Bjorn and Shane, while the runners-up were the Rossiter father and son combination, which mixed youth, i.e. Walter, with years of tennis experience ably provided by Jim. The weather was fantastic and provided a great opportunity to top up on the tans (you know who you are)! The evening ended with a sumptuous barbeque.

The annual Commodore's prize is due to be played on Sunday, September 5, with an 11 a.m. kick-off. As Miriam Geraghty is commodore this year, and given her incredible generosity, the rumours are already circulating that the first prize could be a two-week all expenses paid holiday in the Seychelles, so get your skates on and get down early to the club.

The 3-Tek club championships will be getting under way from Monday, September 6, with the finals scheduled for Saturday, October 2. Entries can be made online with a closing date of today (Wednesday).

CLAYTARGET SHOOTING

Thursday evening last saw Claytarget Sports Wexford host a 60-target practice shoot. The event was well attended and the weather was ideal.

Stands comprised three in woodcock, one at pond, one at gully, and one at car park. Gully stand proved to be the most difficult with a high curling away target and a fast-climbing inverted teal on report.

Club President and veteran shooter, Michael Kelly, put in a strong performance, scoring well in woodcock. Michael is shooting exceptionally well and has been accompanied lately by his new apprentice and grandson, Neil. It is good to know that the future of shooting is safe in the Kelly household.

Dr. Peter Bacon gave a display of his shooting skills on the car park stand. This stand had a very fast driven target that Peter demolished with spectacular aplomb. No doubt the pheasants at Shelton and Chargot will be in for a rough time this season.