W
exford Winter Handball League
After the excitement, success and drama of the World handball championships, it was back to the local scene for all the players as the penultimate rounds of the Wexford winter handball league took place over the past week.
One game took place in the premier division last week and it saw Pat O’Donnell from Arklow beating Jerome Willoughby from Coolboy on a two zero score line.
In division one a very tight top of the table sees Peter Hughes Ballyhogue) and Daniel Fenlon (Garryhill) locked on the summit with 16 points each after they both secured wins over the past week as Hughes defeated Chris Doyle (Coolboy) 2-0, while Daniel Fenlon got the better of his club mate John Rossiter 2-1. However both Rossiter and Doyle remain in the semi final spots at the minute with Chris Doyle beating Darren O’Toole (Coolgraney) 2-0 , while Rossiter is just hanging on to fourth spot despite a 2-0 loss to Micky Berry (Barntown) who is one point of the top four entering the final round of games.
Ollie Ryan from Garryhill secured a crucial 2-0 win over James Bergin to finish up division 2 on 14 points and enough to sneak into the semi final stage. James Gregan also made full advantage of his final game to see off Barry McWilliams on a 2-1 score line, which leaves him joints third with three other players on 13 points.
Noel Holohan (Templeudigan) made sure of his qualification from Division 3 with a final round win over Tomas Lennon from Monavea on a 2-1 score line to leave Holohan in second place on 12 points behind group leader Tony Breen on 17 points.
Jim Berry continued his fine form from the Citywest Hotel to beat Diarmuid Burke from Kells 2-1 in Division 4 a result that sees Berry from Barntown guaranteed a semi final spot.
Damien Kelly wrapped up his league games with a fine 2-1 win over Sean Stanners from St Martin’s a result that sees Kelly from Coolgraney finish up on 18 points at the head of the table. Michael O’Neill from Templeudigan secured a vital win in his last game as he beat Andrew Dowling on a 2-0 score line and he may sneak into the semi finals yet.
Eamon Purcell from Windgap in Kilkenny moved into joint third in division seven with a 2-0 win over Ned Connors from Coolgraney.
Dom Stafford (Davidstown) guaranteed himself second spot in division 8 of the winter league with a 2-0 win over previously unbeaten Kevin Barrett from Tinryland. Kevin Doyle (Davidstown) will join his club mate Stafford in the last four after he defeated Tommy Armstrong (Kilmyshall) 2-0, while Sonny Sheil (Ballyhogue) had a 2-0 win over Mick Donovan from Barntown.
Tom O’Shea (Davidstown) wrapped up top spot and the best draw in the semi finals of division 10 when he rounded off his campaign with a 2-1 win over Kevin Rossiter from Garryhill, meanwhile in the top of the table clash in division 11 Richard Flynn (Templeudigan) beat Steve Doyle (Tinryland) 2-0 to close within a point of the Tinryland man at the top of the table.
Eamon Bowe from Davidstown moved into third spot in division twelve after he defeated Brendan Murphy from Castlebridge a result that sees Murphy slide down to fourth in the table.
Division 13 is proving to be a very tight division with Andrew Corish (Horeswood) moving back into contention with a 2-1 win over Brian Busher from Bridgetown last week, while James Kelly rounded off his league campaign with a 2-0 win over Tom Rossiter from Castlebridge however this win will not be enough to secure a semi final spot. In division 14 Keith Armstrong remains on a perfect record of wins after he saw off Enda Buggy 2-0 last week, while his nearest challenger Seamus Sinnott from St Martin’s is hot on his heels after a 2-0 win over Nicky Lawlor (Davidstown) last week.
In division 16 James Lyndon (Oulart) sits in third place after his fine 2-0 win over Francis Fortune from the same club last week, while in division 17 Jason Kehoe (St Joseph’s) defeated Ryan Bates from Bridgetown 2-1 a result that sees Kehoe move into joint second place in the group.
Tommy Haughton (St Joseph’s) played himself back into contention in division 18 with one round to play as he defeated Charlie Carty from St Mary’s in a Wexford town derby last week.
In the Women’s division one it looks like Patricia Doyle (Coolboy), Marguerite Gore (St Mary’s) and Amanda Kelly (Templeudigan) are all sure of semi final spots while the final round of game will decide who from Holly Hynes or Chloe Cash will secure the final spot in the last four.
