Armstrong and Maher advance
A NUMBER of games in the Leinster 60 x 30 GAA handball championships were called off during the past week, with only one tie involving a Wexford player surviving.
In that sole game, Damien Kelly was knocked out of the Silver Masters ‘B’ singles by Brian McCarthy from Westmeath on a 21-6, 21-14 scoreline.
Also in Leinster competition last week, Castlebridge lost out in the Senior open team of four competition, going down 84-18 to very strong Meath club, Kells.
Keith Armstrong and Niall Maher were on the winning trail in the Wexford GAA handball 60 x 30 championships last week in the Intermediate doubles competition as they were too strong for Cory and Jason Murphy from Castlebridge on a 21-10, 21-10 scoreline.
Paddy Haughton scored a 21-9, 21-7 win over Noel Holohan from Templeudigan in the quarter-final on the Junior singles on Sunday morning, with the St. Mary’s clubman setting up a semi-final against the in-form David Kenny from Castlebridge.
Thomas Hall and Eugene Kelly put in a fine performance in the Junior doubles as the Castlebridge duo defeated Kilmyshall brothers Mick and Tommy Armstrong 2118, 17-21, 21-20 last week in St. Mary’s.
The final of the Junior ‘B’ singles will be a Ballyhogue v. Castlebridge affair after the semi-finals were decided during the past week. Anthony Butler from Ballyhogue defeated Stephen Murphy from Castlebridge 21-4, 16-21, 21-2, while John Roche from Castlebridge was the winner on a handsome 21-8, 21-9 scoreline over Fintan Furlong from St. Mary’s.
Ciarán Busher of Bridgetown advanced to the final of the Junior ‘D’ singles with a fine 21-14, 2111 win over John Connors from Coolgreany.
The Junior ‘D’ doubles final will be a clash of Ballymitty and Taghmon after the semi-finals were decided during the past seven days. Robert Cogley and James Moran from Ballymitty were 215, 18-21, 21-12 winners over St. Joseph’s duo Enda Buggy and Shane Terry, while Mark Cardiff and Mikie Murphy from Taghmon had a 21-4, 21-8 win over Shay Byrne and Paul Murphy from Kilmyshall.
County Chairman Ricky Barron of Barntown ruled the court in the Masters ‘A’ singles as he beat Mick Armstrong from Kilmyshall 21-17, 21-15.
Mick Carty and Frank Maddock from Taghmon advanced in the Golden Masters ‘B’ doubles with a fine 21-10, 21-5 win over Aiden Sinnott and Kevin Murphy from Ballymitty.
Wexford Wall Ball county final results (boys) - Under-11 doubles: Bobby Doyle and Jack Murphy (Taghmon) beat Tadgh Moore and Evan Sweeney (St. Joseph’s); Under-12: Craig Banville (Taghmon) beat James Whitty (Taghmon); Under-13: Mark Doyle (Taghmon) beat Ben Keeling (St. Joseph’s); Under-14: Josh Kavanagh (St. Joseph’s) beat Diarmuid Moore (St. Joseph’s); Under-15: Conor Scallan (Bridgetown) beat Quentin Kehoe (Taghmon); Under-16: Cian Kehoe (St. Joseph’s) beat Josh McMahon (St. Joseph’s).
Girls - Under-12: Jodie Keeling (St. Joseph’s) beat Ellie Murphy-O’Gorman (St. Joseph’s); Under-13: Libby O’Brien (Taghmon) beat Chloe Carroll (Taghmon); Under-14: Katie Murphy (Taghmon) beat Hannah Cullen (St. Joseph’s); Under-16: Cora Doyle (St. Joseph’s) beat Eva Crean (St. Joseph’s).
Men’s ‘A’: Daniel Kavanagh (St. Joseph’s) beat Galen Riordan (Ballyhogue); Men’s ‘C’: Adam Walsh (St. Joseph’s) beat Paddy Curran (St. Martin’s); Men’s Challenger: Darragh Cloake (Castlebridge) beat Ciaran Busher (Bridgetown); Women’s Challenger: Olivia Sweeney (St. Joseph’s) beat Marguerite Keeling (St. Joseph’s).
Six Wexford handballers - Brian Busher, Niall Maher, Alan Armstrong, Liam Maher, David Stanners and Michael Goggins - are in action in various grades of the Leinster 60 x 30 championships this Wednesday at four separate venues.
Meanwhile, Saturday will see games at provincial level for James Stanners, David Kenny, J.R. Finn, Frank Maddock, Mick Carty, Pádraig Devereux and Jim Doyle respectively.