ALLEY CHAT with Padhraic Roberts
National Level
Doyle seizes All Ireland Title …… Wexford’s Benny Doyle won the All Ireland 40 x 20 championship in the Emerald Masters ‘A’ singles on Sunday the 23rd of March at O’Loughlins, Kilkenny defeating reining champion Tom O’Brien from Limerick in a well deserved victory. Doyle settled more comfortably in the first game winning by a score of 21-4. However in the second the Shannon sider came more into the game as it progressed but Doyle used his experience and to the joy of the travelling Wexford supporter’s he finished the second game on a score line of 21-12. This victory has been forecasted by many handball followers as the Horeswood man has looked extremely impressive throughout the County 40 x 20 championships after returning from an injury late last year.
The second of Wexford interests in the finals stages was between Tanya O’Toole of Wexford vs. Martina McMahon of Limerick in the Ladies Junior Singles final also held at O’Loughlins, Kilkenny. O’Toole from the Coolgreany club knew going into this match she faced a rising star. The Limerick player dominated throughout this match and ended up winning on a score line of 21-0, 21-1.
Provincial Level
Wexford’s team of six marches on!! The Wexford U-12/U-13 boys 40 x 20 team of six cruised past their Carlow neighbours on Friday the 21st of March at Borris, Co. Carlow to secure a place in the Leinster final. First to enter the alley representing Wexford were Diarmuid Moore & Richard Lawlor who took on Eoin Hosey & Jack McLoughlin (Carlow). This turned out to be the closest contested match of the night with the young Wexford pair displaying a wide range of shot selection to overcome their opponents by a score of 15-7 and 15-7. The second set of doubles to represent Wexford was Josh McMahon & Cian Kehoe who faced Cormac O’Brien & Alen Curtis (Carlow). The game transpired to be somewhat more one sided and the Wexford pair showed very little mercy to their opponents as they defeated them 15-4 and 15-0. The final doubles pairing from Wexford were Glen Murphy & Josh Kavanagh who faced Patrick Kavanagh and Jack Murphy (Carlow). This proved to be a completely one sided affair with the Wexford boys easing past their Carlow opponents on a score line of 15-0 and 15-0. All three sets of Wexford doubles sending out a clear message of intention to their Leinster Final rivals, Kilkenny. The team was managed on the night by Gavin Buggy and awaiting their chance as subs were Dean O’Neill & Richard Browne. The Leinster final will take place on Friday the 28th of March at a venue to be decided, we hope the Wexford boys can dispatch the Kilkenny challenge in such a convincing manner as they did with the Carlow challenge.
Best of luck to the Wexford U-14 / 15 boys , William Murray-Byrne, Colm Parnell, Ciaran Power, Michale Curran, Adam Hanrahan, Jake Hendrick, Jason O’Neill and Adam Walsh who face Kilkenny in the team of six 40 x 20 Leinster Final on Friday the 28th of March. We wish both the team and their manager Martin Power all the best in the final.
Also best of luck to the Wexford boys U-16 / U-17 , Ciaran Busher, Laurence Dunne, Shane Murphy, Conor Nolan, Liam Rossiter and Darren Murphy who also face Kilkenny in the team of six 40 x 20 Leinster Final on Friday the 28th of March.
Best of luck to Billy Rossiter, team manager, and all the competitors in the final.
County level Results
Below are the results to date of our 40 x 20 County Adult Championship. Each result is of their respective County final and the next two week will finalise our County 40 x 20 championships for 2014. The championship was a great success with some top standard handball on show, with some of the best still to come next Wednesday the 26th of March in St. Josephs at 8pm when the County Senior doubles final takes place between Gavin Buggy/Daniel Kavanagh (St Josephs) and Micky Berry/Miley Cash (Barntown), a great night entertainment is anticipated.
Intermediate Singles – Peter McGrath (COG) dft Darren O’Toole (COG) 21-8, 21-6
Intermediate Doubles- Barry McWilliams/Benny Doyle (HOW) dft Keith Armstrong/Niall Maher (KIL) 14-21,21-6,21-19
Junior Doubles- Keith Armstrong/Niall Maher (KIL) dft Declan Hart/Paddy Cheevers (HOW) 21-10, 21-12
Junior ‘B’ Singles- Robert Byrne (BRT) dft Padhraic Roberts (KIL) 21-5, 21-6
Junior ‘B’ Doubles- Justin Heffernan/Barry O’Toole (OUL) dft James Nolan/John Murphy (KIL)
5-21, 21-5, 21-20
Junior ‘D’ Singles- James Stanners (SMT) dft David Stanners (SMT) 21-13, 16-21, 21-16
Over 35 Singles Barry McWilliams (HOW0 dft David Redmond (TLU) 21-4, 21-4
Masters ‘A’ Doubles Tom O’Shea/Pechelli English (DAT) dft Robert Doyle/Harry Lacey (STJ)
21-14, 21-19
Master ‘B’ Singles Damien Kelly (COG) dft John Roche (CAB) 16-21, 21-11, 21-18
Master ‘B’ Doubles Shane Rossiter/Phil Coleman (BAM) dft PJ Lacey/Mick Carty (STJ)
21-10, 21-7
Diamond Master Singles Jim Doyle (BAT) dft Harry Lacey (STJ) 21-11 21-13
Women Junior Singles Holly Hynes (STY) dft Tanya O’Toole (COG) 21-3, 21-9
