We’re coming into the business end of the Wexford Senior Hurling Championship…
With all group games finishing up and the preliminary quarter-finals concluding last weekend, attention now turns to the Wexford Senior Hurling Championship quarter-finals.
In the eyes of all major bookmakers, Naomh Eanna in Gorey are priced as slight favourites to win the Wexford SHC outright. They are followed closely by St Martins, priced at 3/1. With the form that Rory O’Connor is in, it can be hard to look past St Martins – as he looks to be unstoppable at the moment.
Meanwhile, the Shelmaliers could be an interesting punt. They were knocked out of the Wexford Senior Football Championship and their focus will now turn to just the hurling championship. With a relatively easier game against Crossabeg/Ballymurn up next for the Shels, they could easily reach a Wexford SHC final. Known winners, it would be typical Shels fashion to bounce back from their football misery and win the Wexford SHC.
It’s interesting to note that – despite their big hammering of Glynn-Barntown last week on a score-line of 5-25 to 1-07, Faythe Harriers are not given much of a chance, priced at 8/1 to win the Wexford SHC outright with betting sites like PaddyPower and Betfair.
Both the Rapparees and Crosabeg/Ballymurn, who did not win any group game but won their preliminary quarter-final clashes, are also not given a chance. The Rapparees are priced at 33/1, while Crossabeg are priced at 50/1 or above in most major bookmakers. Liam Ryan, who hobbled off with an injury in their preliminary clash, looks to be a doubt again – and it’s hard to see the Rapps progressing any further.
Betting odds: Outright winner 2024
Naomh Eanna 5/2
St Martins 3/1
St Annes 9/2
Shelmaliers 9/2
Ferns 6/1
Faythe Harriers 8/1
Rapparees 33/1
Crossabeg/Ballymurn 50/1
Vote:
Quarter-final pairings Wexford SHC:
St Annes vs Rapparees
Shelmaliers vs Crossabeg/Ballymurn
Naomh Eanna vs Faythe Harriers
St Martins vs Ferns
All quarter-finals are pencilled in to take place from Friday 4th October to Sunday 6th October.
Meanwhile, Cloughbawn and Oulart-The Ballagh will battle it out in the relegation final. The loser of that clash will be relegated to the Intermediate Championship in Wexford. The relegation final will be played on the same weekend as the quarter-final pairings.
Both Cloughbawn and Oulart may feel hard done by, being victims of the newly incorporated Wexford Senior Hurling Championship model. Even though the Rapparees and Crossabeg did not win any of their group games, they have still progressed to the quarter-final stages after winning their preliminary quarter-finals.
Jason Redmond
From Gorey, Jason is the owner of Wexford Weekly. He is also a post-primary English and History teacher.