National handball treble
WEXFORD HANDBALL celebrated on the treble last weekend as three singles 60 x 30 All-Ireland titles were collected, with Galen Riordan, Gavin Buggy and John Bail crowned winners.
The first of the titles came on Thursday as Buggy travelled to Kilkenny club Talbot’s Inch for the final of the Over-35 singles where he faced Vinnie Moran from Mayo.
Gavin was in top form and completely blitzed the Mayo man with an array of fantastic shots to capture the crown in fine fashion.
Gavin soared right from the first ace and put in a dominant display of fine serving and killing, and his greater athleticism was evident in a 21-5, 21-6 victory.
Gavin dethroned the champion of 2015, Dominic Lynch, in the semi-final and it was fitting to see him take the title in a place where he played many games with his good friend Michael ‘Duxie’ Walsh who sadly passed away recently.
On Sunday Galen Riordan wrapped up back-toback titles in the Under-21 singles grade as he beat Ryan Mullan from Tyrone in a high-quality final.
Galen played very well in the opening set and led 20-10 before a mini comeback from Mullan saw him close to within six points, but Riordan found the winning shot in the opening set.
Like in the opening set, Riordan put the foot down early and played the better handball to lead 18-12 before eventually finishing the job for a second title on the bounce with a 21-18 win.
Riordan will now head to the U.S.A. to do a year in college stateside, and he is sure to be a strong contender on the U.S. collegiate circuit in the coming year.
John Bail pulled off a minor miracle to come back and win the final of the Diamond Masters ‘B’ singles competition.
Up against Columba O’Halloran from Mayo, Bail lost the opening set 21-13 and looked doomed as he trailed by a whopping 16-3 in the second set.
He turned the game on its head to come back and take the second set 21-19.
With the driving instructor Bail now in the driver’s seat, he made sure that O’Halloran keeps his L plates for another year, with Bail taking the deciding set on a 21-13 score.
Wexford will go for three more titles next weekend in the doubles finals as Mick Carty and Frank Maddock seek honours in Golden Masters ‘B’ doubles. Silver Masters ‘B’ doubles will see Wexford finalists in Damien Kelly and John Roche, while John Bail chases the double in Diamond Masters ‘B’ doubles with his partner, Mylie Byrne.
All three encounters are on Saturday, with Kelly and Roche, and Byrne and Bail, both in action in Mullingar where the programme will get under way at 11 a.m.
Meanwhile, Crossakiel in Co. Meath is the destination for Carty and Maddock who will meet opponents from Cavan.