It was a case of two wins from four this week for Wexford handball in All Ireland semi finals. The intermediate doubles had the feeling of the one that got away as Miley Cash and Mikie Berry cam agonisingly close to securing a spot in the final. The two Wexford men, who are back on the handball scene in earnest after a few seasons off, took the opening set 21-127 against Brendan Fleming and Cillian Carroll from Cork. The men from the banks of the lee regrouped and took control from their winning the remaining two sets 21-11, 21-10, however the Wexford men put in a fantastic performance and their Leinster success this season will surely give them hunger for the future and restore their appetite for the perfect game.
Galeon Riordan and Padraig Foley lost out in the semi final of the minor singles against very good Clare duo Colm Grehan and Niall Bolton as the men from the banner county won 21-5, 21-14, however the Wexford pair have shown great form in their Leinster winning campaign and as the years go on they are a certain winning duo.
Darren O’Toole and Malachy Whelan produced the best performance of the day in the semi final of the Junior B doubles. Up against Paul Mullins and Kevin Dempsey from Tipperary O’Toole and Whelan produced the goods to win 21-7, 21-14.
Gavin Buggy and Tony Breen are through to the final of the Over 35 doubles also but their game ended prematurely as Paul McGrath who was partnering Denis White suffered a snapped Achilles tendon with the second game evenly poised at 16-15, after the Tipperary men had won the opening set 21-8.
Wexford Farmers Co-op 40 x 20 Handball Championship Finals
The opening week of the finals of the Wexford Farmers Co-op 40 x 20 championships saw Barntown win their first ever senior doubles title with Mikie Berry and Miley Cash winning a fantastic final against Paddy Haughton and Gavin Buggy from St Mary’s. The St Mary’s duo won the opening set on a 21-13 score line , but as the game went on the Barntown men grew stronger and wiser and fired the winning shots more often and went on to win out 21-17, 21-14.
Ballymitty celebrated a treble of titles in various grades. The first part of a trio of wins came through Shane Rossiter and Phil Coleman as they captured the masters B doubles title by winning a three set thriller against Ricky Barron and Mick Donovan from Barntown as the Ballymitty men stood strongest in a 12-21, 21-10, 21-7 result.
The Junior B doubles was the next title collected as Shane Rossiter was again involved this time he was joined by JR Finn as they struck gold beating Fergal McWilliams and Paddy Cheevers from Horeswood on a 21-12, 21-8 score line.
The hat trick was complete as Phil Coleman and Alan O’Neill took the junior C title with a 21-8, 21-12 win over Alan Armstrong and Kevin Doyle from Davidstown.
The junior doubles title went the way of Coolgraney as Damien Kelly and Ned Connors produced their A game to see off John Quigley and Dinny Lyndon in two very close games as the 21-20, 21-18 score line showed.
Templeudigan celebrated a double of titles last week also, better known for their hurling skills with Rathnure Sean O’Neill and Dermot Flynn showed they can hit a handball just as well as a sliothar to take the Junior D doubles title against Richard Ryan and Thomas Cummins from Horeswood on a 15-21, 21-17, 21-6 score line.
Tony Breen was the second winner for the club in green and white last week. Breen won a very tough opening set 21-20 against Pechelli English from Davidstown, but the Templeudigan king pin pushed for home to take the second set 21-11 and claim the Golden Masters A singles title.
The last final of the week saw a clash of two sets of brothers from St Joseph’s clash in the Diamond Masters A doubles final. The Buggy brothers Ned and Seamus got the better of this outing as they beat Leacy brothers Harry and Pat on a 21-9, 21-9 score line.
This Wednesday night sees the top men and women singles players in the county do battle in the senior finals. Beginning at 7.15pm this Wednesday night in St Joseph’s the women senior open final is a battle between Laura Anne Furlong from Bridgetown and Amanda Kelly from Templeudigan and promises to be a very good final.
The men’s senior open final has two very familiar names Gavin Buggy and Barry Goff, with St Mary’s man Buggy the outgoing champion and winner of last year’s clash with Castlebridge man Goff, it is expected to be another epic final between these two good friends and close rivals with Buggy dominate spell in the small court in Wexford going to get another stern test.
Men’s beginners singles results
Noel Butler (St Joseph’s) beat Stephen Kavanagh (St Joseph’s) 21-16, 21-16
Colm Browne (Coolgraney) beat Alan Moore (St Martin’s) 21-5, 21-6
Ciaran Reville (Horeswood) beat Trevor Gregan (St Joseph’s) 21-12, 21-0
Jason Kehoe (St Joseph’s) beat Francis Bennett (Ballymitty) 21-5, 21-10
Gavin Goggins (St Mary’s) beat Richard Browne (St Joseph’s) 21-8, 21-9
Nicky Lawlor (St Joseph’s) beat Graham Moore (St Martin’s) 12-21, 8-7 Moore retired inj
Tommy Haughton (St Joseph’s) beat Paul McMahon (St Joseph’s) 21-9, 21-13
Ciaran Reville (Horeswood) beat Dermot Butler (St Joseph’s) 21-18, 15-21, 21-13
Jason Kehoe (St Joseph’s) beat Charlie Parnell (St Joseph’s) 21-5, 21-2
Noel Butler (St Joseph’s) beat Barry Doyle (St Joseph’s) 19-21, 21-18, 21-12
