The handball courts of Wexford are alive with action as the Wexford farmers Co-op 60 x 30 singles and doubles finals continue all over the county during the past week.
This week saw the intermediate singles and doubles finals take place. In a very entertaining singles final between Peter Hughes ( Ballyhogue) and Darren O’Toole (Coolgraney) it was to be a three set thriller as the Ballyhogue man came from behind after losing the first set 11-21, he won the next two 21-17, 21-14 to make the move to the senior grade in the big court.
The doubles final was won by Castlebridge pairing Malachy Whelan and John Roche as they packed too much punch for Paddy Haughton and Matthew Hynes from St Mary’s with the men in black and amber winning 21-7, 21-10.
Michael Goggins from Barntown collected the gold medal in the Junior B singles as he got the better of county chairman Alan O’Neill from Ballymitty on a 21-12, 21-9 score line. The junior C singles final was an all Ballymitty affair with Paul Cleary winning the all blue and white clash on a 20-21, 21-18, 21-16 score line in a fascinating final.
Billy Rossiter and Eugene English (Ballyhogue) more known for their powers in the small court proved they had the winning formula in the big alley also to win the Junior D doubles as they beat Timmy Farrell and Tommy Murphy from Kilmyshall 21-13, 17-21, 21-17.
In the masters grades there was also some fantastic finals played over the past week. Shane Rossiter from Ballymitty collected the Masters A singles double defeating his club mate Phil Coleman in the singles final on a 21-11, 21-19 score line. However Coleman joined forces with Rossiter in the doubles final to score a 21-15, 21-10 win over Pechelli English and Mick Donovan from Davidstown.
Damien Kelly (Coolgraney) was the winner in the Masters B singles final as he saw off John Roche from Castlebridge 6-21, 21-16, 21-20 in a nail biter of a final.
Ricky Barron and Mick Donovan (Barntown) were crowned champions in the Masters B doubles with a 21-14, 12-21, 21-3 win over Jimmy Moran and Frank Maddock from Ballymitty.
Tony Breen (Templeudigan) proved he was the best in the golden masters A singles as he powered past Pechelli English from Davidstown on a 21-10, 21-15 score line, meanwhile the final of the Golden Masters B singles saw a win for Stephen Murphy from Castlebridge over Donal Doyle from St Martin’s on a 21-20, 10-21, 21-11 score line.
The women’s open singles final saw club mates and coach and player clash as Marguerite Gore from St Mary’s got the better of her club mate Holly Hynes on a 21-19, 21-8 score line. However Hynes is one of the up and coming stars of the game and certainly is learning well from her coach and winner Gore.
Leinster Handball
There was only one game of interest for Wexford last week in the Leinster championships as Stephen Murphy from Castlebridge got the better of Kevin McKenna from Dublin on a 21-12, 21-2 score line in the semi final of the Golden masters B singles.
All Ireland softball 60 x 30 doubles round one.
Tommy Hynes and Gavin Buggy made a super start to the All Ireland softball 60 x 30 doubles championships as they battled bravely in tough conditions of heat to beat Ger Coonan and Paul Mullins from Tipperary. After losing the opening set 21-19 the alarm bells were ringing for the Wexford duo and those alarm bells were ringing even harder during the second set as the men in blue and gold had chances to win the second set having six serves at 19-15 before the Wexford men powered home 21-19 to send the game to a tie breaker. In the tie breaker superior fitness and momentum was in the Wexford corner and the purple and gold boys romped home 21-8 to set up a mouth watering clash with All Ireland champions Tom Sheridan and Brian Carroll from Meath in the next round.
It was a night to forget for former champions Barry Goff and Colin Keeling as the Wexford men failed to find top form against Offaly duo Ricky O’Gara and Damien Martin. The first set went the way of the favourite’s tagged Wexford men on a comfortable 21-5 score line. However the script was torn to pieces from that point as the hard battling Offaly men battled through 21-18, 21-18 in the remaining two sets for a famous win.
