FOLLOWING ON from last week's report on the success of teams from Wexford in the Leinster outdoor team competitions, this week's report centres on soccer, tag rugby, hardcourt tennis, girls' football, pitch and putt and Olympic handball. Again you will see how well Wexford competed in atrocious weather conditions. Perhaps that is a good omen for us.

GIRLS' UNDER-15 SOCCER

Bree-Davidstown took on Cushinstown of Meath in the first semi-final. After looking like it was going to be a game where Bree-Davidstown had all the possession without the scores, a run along the end line by Shonagh Spratt-Murphy that saw her nearly walk the ball to the net started the scoring for the Wexford girls.

Shonagh went on to score five more goals, with another from Mary Tyrrell to leave the final score 70. In the other semi-final, Mount Temple-Baylin (Westmeath) defeated St. Conleth's (Kildare) on a 3-1 scoreline to take on Bree-Davidstown in the final.

The Wexford team could have been two up in the first three minutes were it not for the upright, and then in the fourth minute Ciara McKelvie took a shot that ended up in the net. This was to start a barrage of shots from the Wexford girls which saw Ciara score two more as well as a hat-trick from Shonagh Spratt-Murphy, two from Mary Tyrrell and another from Hannah Sullivan.

Westmeath got a consolation goal from a free to leave the final score 9-1. Overall the Wexford girls played as a unit with some nice passing football and running off the ball.

The panel was Aisling Byrne, Annie Stafford, Chloe Morrissey, Gráinne Byrne, Dervla McCabe, Mary Tyrrell, Shonagh Spratt-Murphy, Ciara McKelvie, Kim Horan, Hannah Sullivan, Jo Murphy, Bríd Byrne. Team manager was Betty Kelly who wishes to thank all the supporters who braved the rain to shout on the girls.

GIRLS' UNDER-12 SOCCER

In the Under-12 girls' soccer competition, BreeDavidstown were also in action. In their semi-final match they took on Summerhill, Co. Meath, and ran out easy winners on a 7-0 scoreline. Goalscorers were Katelyn Furlong, Moya Neary, Louise Butler (three) and Aoife Rochford (two).

Their opponents in the final were St. Brigid's of Kildare who had a bye in their semi-final. Again the team from Wexford was on top form and completely took control from the outset, running out easy winners and scoring seven goals yet again with no relpy from their opponents. This time the goals were scored by Louise Butler (two), Sophie McCabe (two), Aoife Rochford, Gina Murphy and Moya Neary.

The Bree-Davidstown panel included Sophie McCabe, Kasey Doyle, Aoife Rochford, Moya Neary, Aoife Codd, Lauren O'Leary, Sinéad Kinsella, Louise Butler, Caoimhe Kehoe, Carrie Power, Gina Murphy, Aideen Byrne, Katlyn Furlong, Katie Humphrey, Katie-Mai McCabe and Megan ButlerCarroll, with Lar Rochford as the team manager.

UNDER-14 TAG RUGBY

Glynn-Barntown faced Killoe, Co. Longford, in their semi-final. Brionn Coffey was quick off the mark, scoring in the first minute, but Killoe were to be no pushover.

They were fast and nippy and soon led 2-1. Matthew Joyce and Connor Fenlon started to gel and the tries came. The conditions deteriorated and Killoe hit the front again and led 5-4 at half-time. In the second-half, Glynn-Barntown fell further behind.

Matt Doyle was then introduced and added fire to the line and, with quick tries from Kim Brazil, Kevin Mahoney and Connor Fenlon, they went in front. Killoe responded but quick hands from Matthew Joyce sent Kevin Mahoney over again and Brionn Coffey sealed it with a late try for Glynn-Barntown to win by the narrowest of margins (10-9) and put them into the final.

The final featured Glynn-Barntown versus St. Brigid's of Kildare. This was a real cut and thrust affair with both teams matching each other score for score .

The girls shone with their tagging skills - of note were Aisling Fagan, Róisín Hayden, Róisín Kavanagh and Kim Brazil. Just before half-time, Matthew Joyce spun a sublime pass to Neil Beaver out on the right wing to score in the corner to leave Glynn-Barntowm leading 6-5.

The second-half was a very tense affair. Twice Glynn-Barntown broke through, only to be hauled back for infringements. Then Brionn Coffey put on his sprinting shoes and tore through their defence and the scores came.

Glynn-Barntown led 12-10 with two minutes to go but St. Brigid's scored again. The supporters and the coaches were bursting with tension and the score narrowed to 12-11 .The whistle went and much to the relief of the Glynn-Barntown team and their supporters, they were the Leinster champions. Well played everyone.

Their panel consisted of Matthew Joyce (capt.), Brionn Coffey, Connor Fenlon, Kim Brazil, Róisín Hayden, Kevin Mahoney, Daire MacCormack, Aisling Fagan, Róisín Kavanagh, Matt Doyle, Neil Beaver and Stephen Lyne. Team coach and manager was Kieran MacCormack.

PITCH AND PUTT (BOYS)

We had a team from Kilmore competing in the boys' competition. Alas, the team did not finish in the top three placings and thus did not earn the right to proceed to the national finals.

The team had only three players (due to overlap with Olympic handball), with all three scores having to count. David Bates, Mark Moore and William Carley performed very well wiith a combined score of 181 to leave them in fifth place overall. Team manager was Nick Hayes.

PITCH AND PUTT (GIRLS)

The girls' Under-16 team of Leanne Murray, Kasey McGrath, Sarah Lacey and Clodagh Kent from the Taghmon Area are through as of right to the national finals, as there were just three counties entered in their competition. Good luck to them.

OLYMPIC HANDBALL

A boys' Under-14 team from the Kilmore Area competed. They took on Carlanstown, Co. Meath, in their semi-final and in a close game they defeated them on a 6-4 scoreline. In the other semi-final, Kilnamanagh, Co. Dublin, had a bye to the final to meet the Kilmore boys.

The Dublin side meant business and quickly got into their stride and took control to run out comfortable winners on a 17-4 scoreline. The boys from Kilmore gave it their all but bowed to the more experienced Dublin side who had the advantage of playing the sport regularly.

The panel of players featured David McDonnell, Thomas Byrne, Ryan Bates, Aaron Wright-Power, Greg Troy, Stevie Lawlor, Liam Shannon and Jack Devereux. Team manager was Richard Martin.

UNDER-12 GIRLS' FOOTBALL

Kilmore represented the county in the girls' Under-12 football competition. They got off to a great start by defeating Dunboyne, Co. Meath, in the semi-final on a 5-3 to nil scoreline. In the other semi-final, Monasterevan, Co. Kildare, had an overwhelming 9-8 to nil victory over Rhode, Co. Offaly.

Kilmore knew they were up against it in the final with confidence soaring in the Kildare team at this stage. Kildare began this game as they did their semi-final and ran out easy winners on a 6-6 to 0-3 scoreline.

The girls from Kilmore gave it their all but had to bow to the superior strength of their opponents. Their panel consisted of Isobel O`Neill, Rebecca Sheil, Niamh Berry, Rebecca Burke, Emily Bates, Emma Cousins, Cora Millar, Rachel Rafter, Grace Barry, Chloe Bates, Megan Scallan, Abbey Troy, Rebecca Furlong, Emma Bates, Megan Benson, Rachel Brady, Sophie Tierney, Clare Barry, Cathy O'Connor and Sarah Kennedy. Team manager was M.J. Barry.

HARDCOURT TENNIS UNDER-13

A team of Andrew Hooke, Robert O'Connor, Conor Berney, Michelle Dunne, Aoife Hughes, Rachel Neville, Billy Dunne and Orla Crowe took on Cushinstown, Co. Meath, in their semi-final and they took the match on a 2-1 scoreline.

They then took on Two Mile House, Co. Kildare, in the final but alas this time lady luck (not to mind the atrocious weather conditiions) did not shine on them and they lost out on a 2-1 scoreline.

HARDCOURT TENNIS UNDER-16

Yet again a team from the Gorey Area was in action for Wexford. They took on Moynalty, Co. Meath, in the final and had a comfortable 6-0 victory over them.

The panel consisted of Mark Berney, Robert Harrington, Dermot Wildes, Caleb Dowdall, Aoife Crowe, Clodagh Dunne and Mairéad Cunningham. Good luck to them in the national finals.

NATIONAL FINALS

A reminder to all Area Secretaries to make sure that all relevant paperwork for the children from their Areas who are travelling to Athlone in August is with the county Secretary as soon as possible. The deadline is fast approaching.

Please also notify her of those who will be resident or non-resident and the names of managers travelling with them. Names of workers for the nationals should also be sent in by the area Secretaries.