ALLEY CHAT with Padhraic Roberts
Wexford secure numerous Leinster titles…….
What a fantastic week for Wexford handball as we secured no less than 7 Leinster single titles. Robert Doyle from St. Joseph’s started the medals haul when he defeated Gary Bolger of Kildare in the Silver Master B Singles finals, this in particularly was an great achievement as Doyle has battled with an injury over the last number of weeks. John Roche of the Castlebridge club was next to secure a winners medal as he took the Master B Singles title defeating Billy O’Keeffe of Kilkenny in a 3 game thriller. Roche will be delighted with the year he’s had to date competing strongly in the 60×30 and also the ball-wall competitions. Gavin Buggy from the St Joseph’s, no stranger to competing in Leinster finals secured the Over 35 singles in devastating fashion as he defeated his Kildare opponent, Dara Ward, on a comprehensive scoreline of 21-3 & 21-6. Buggy himself knows more than anyone that much tougher tasks lay ahead before he can be crowned All Ireland champion.
In the Junior B singles Miley Connors of the Barntown club defeated Tomas Lennon of Laois in a pretty one sided affair. Connors who was hot favourite to secure this title certainly didn’t let the supporters down as he powered to a comprehensive win. Paul Lambert (St Joseph’s) competed in the junior singles final taking on a much fancied Brendan Burke for Kilkenny. The first game was a thriller which the Wexford man lost but from there he completely took control of both the second and third game. This was quiet simply the best handball played by Lambert this year and next up is the All Wexford Junior Doubles Leinster Final between Darren O’Toole / Malachy Whelan v’s Paul Lambert/Paddy Haughton. Stephen Murphy from the Castlebridge Club was next to secure a Leinster title as he defeated Paul Ruane (Kildare) in two straight games in the Golden Master B Singles. Murphy who has vast experience competing at this level drew on all of his experience in the match and ran out the winner on a scoreline of 21-15 & 21-15. The seventh Leinster title was secured by the vibrant Miley Byrne in the Diamond Master B Singles as he defeated John O’Donnell of Kildare in two straight games. Byrne was far too clever for his opponent throughout and completely dictated proceeding in this match. The Ballymitty man ran out a very comfortable winner in the end. Benny Doyle competed in the Emerald Master A Singles where he took on Johnny Brennan (Kilkenny) unfortunately on the day the Kilkenny man proved a step too far and Doyle lost on a scoreline of 21-20 & 21-11.
For full reports and photographs on each match please visit our new handball website page at www.gaahandballwexford.ie and click into our news section.
GAA Handball 60X30 Leinster Championship
Junior Doubles Semi Final Paul Lambert/Paddy Haughton (Wexford) beat Diarmuid & Brendan Burke (Kilkenny)
21-14, 11-21, 21-7
Silver Master B Singles Final Robert Doyle (Wexford) beat Gary Bolger (Kildare) 21-6 & 21-10
Over 35 B Singles Conor O’Connor (Meath) beat Alan O’Neill (Wexford) 21-13 & 21-16
Master B Singles Final John Roche (Wexford) beat Billy O’Keeffe (Kilkenny) 21-12, 20-21 & 21-10
Over 35 A Singles Final Gavin Buggy (Wexford) beat Dara Ward (Kildare) 21-3 & 21-6
Junior B Singles Final Miley Connors (Wexford) beat Tómas Lennon (Laois) 21-6 & 21-12
Junior Singles Final Paul Lambert (Wexford) beat Brendan Burke (Kilkenny) 20-21, 21-1 & 21-8
Emerald Master A Singles Johnny Brennan (Kilkenny) beat Benny Doyle (Wexford) 21-20 & 21-11
Golden Master B Singles Stephen Murphy (Wexford) beat Paul Ruane (Kildare) 21-15 & 21-15
Diamond Master B Singles Miley Byrne (Wexford) beat John O’Donnell (Kildare) 21-2 & 21-3
Wexford County Championship 60 x 30 Finals
Women Junior Doubles Tanya O’Toole/Una Hughes (Coolgreany) beat Eva Creane/Emma Sweeney (St Joseph’s) 21-8 & 21-2
Junior B Doubles Padhraic Roberts/James Nolan (Kilmyshall) beat Damien Kelly/Ned Connors (Coolgreany) 21-18 & 21-18
Junior D Singles James Stanners (St Martin’s) beat Tommy Murphy (Kilmyshall) 21-11, 13-21 & 21-14
Junior C Doubles Keith Armstrong/John Murphy (Kilmyshall) beat Gavin Goggins/Fintan Furlong (St Mary’s) 21-5 & 21-13
Golden Master B Singles Stephen Murphy (Castlebridge) beat Frank Maddock (Ballymitty) 18-21, 21-5 & 21-20
Master A Doubles Shane Rossiter/Phil Coleman (Ballymitty) beat Tom O’Shea / Pechelli English (Davidstown) 21-1 & 21-2
Junior Doubles Padhraic Roberts/Niall Maher (Kilmyshall) beat Paddy Haughton/Matthew Hynes (St Mary’s) 21-10 & 21-18
Intermediate Singles Micky Berry (Barntown) beat Malachy Whelan (Castlebridge) 21-14 & 21-12
