All Ireland Open Senior handball singles and doubles championships.
While there was to be no joy for Wexford handball players during the past week in the All Ireland Open singles and doubles championships Gavin Buggy and Tommy Hynes can hold their heads high after giving all mighty efforts to secure semi final spots.
The action began in the beautiful court of Garryhill in county Carlow as All Ireland doubles champions Tom Sheridan and Brian Carroll from Meath came to town to meet Gavin Buggy and Tommy Hynes in the quarter final. In what was build to be one of the big games of the week, did not disappoint as this game had everything and certainly the Wexford duo left nothing behind them in a two hour titanic battle. The men in purple and gold certainly did not hang around to see what the Meath had to offer and took a gripping opening set 21-18. Stunned by the display of the Wexford men the men from the royal county knew well they had to up their performance to hold onto their crown and did so to take the second set 21-12. The third set was to be another grueling test for both pairings and the signs looked good for the Wexford men as they lead 18-17 in the decider, however one final kick was left in the powerhouse Meath duo and they got over the line for a win that may set them up for another All Ireland title taking the third set 21-18 eventually.
Gavin Buggy had no time to sit back and reflect on the disappointment as he had to turn his attentions to the quarter final of the All Ireland senior open singles and a clash with the hard hitting , powerful player from Mayo Dessie Keegan. Anyone who expected Gavin to be burnt out from his doubles exploits were mistaken as one of Wexford’s favorite handball son’s stood tall in the purple and gold jersey once again. Keegan held the upper hand in the opening set and won 21-15 before Gavin responded with a 21-12 win in the second set. Going to the well in another third set eventually saw Gavin just come up short as the man from the west Keegan took a great third set 21-17 to secure the semi final spot.
Leinster handball finals
After eight titles in two weeks the good run of Wexford results finally came to the end as two finals were lost by Wexford players during the past week. Tony Breen once again came up against his old rival Johnny Brennan from Kilkenny in the final of the Emerald Masters A singles. Brennan and Breen never disappoint when it come to their clashes and there is never much to separate the pair , on this occasion it was the Kilkenny man who won the title with a 21-16, 21-12 score line.
The emerald masters B doubles final was another three set game and unfortunately the winning line eluded Aidan Sinnott and Miley Byrne in the cruelest fashion as they saw a 16- 4 lead in the third set swing around completely as they eventually lost 21-12, 14-21, 21-18
Next weekend is a big weekend for four Wexford players in the All Ireland semi finals. St Mary’s handball club in Wexford town will be alive next Saturday afternoon as three All Ireland semi finals take place. Getting proceedings under way at 4 pm will be Coolgraney girl Tanya O’Toole who is aiming to follow in the footsteps of her brother Darren on the national scale and will have a tough semi final in store when she meets Siobhan Tully from Roscommon in the women’s Junior singles. Next up is Paul Lambert from St Joseph’s, more known for his prowess in the small court this time he will be sending the alley crackers flying around the Wexford venue against Kevin Cradock from Galway in the Junior singles semi final, and then the final game on the programme sees Gavin Buggy back in action once again this time in the semi final of the over 35 singles.
