ROUND-UP Noel’s persistence pays off
HANDBALL First-ever win over Castlebridge rival seals Junior title
NOEL HOLOHAN captured the Wexford GAA Handball 40 x 20 Junior singles title when he got the better of Malachy Whelan in St. Joseph’s on Thursday.
This was Holohan’s first-ever competitive win over the Castlebridge man. The opening set saw neither player really dominate, with a lot of switching in and out on the service before Holohan hit a purple patch towards the end of the game when he stepped up the tempo and pulled away to a 21-12 win.
Holohan began the second set well but, in keeping with the first, Whelan moved in front midway through. The Templeudigan man prevailed though as he had the better shot selection and with more kills deserved to take the title 21-13 in the second set.
Brothers Brian and Ciarán Busher from Bridgetown captured the Junior ‘D’ doubles title as they came through an epic three-set game against Mark Cardiff and Mikey Murphy from Taghmon.
The Taghmon pair sprung out of the traps and took the first set honours 21-11, however it was to be as good as it got for them as their challenge faltered just as the Busher brothers upped the pace. The men in blue and white went on to win the remaining sets 21-12, 21-10.
Mikey Murphy and Brian Busher will be well acquainted over the coming weeks as they will also meet in the final of the Junior ‘D’ singles. The semi-finals saw Murphy beat Conor Keeling of St. Joseph’s 21-7, 21-5, while Busher beat his brother Ciarán 21-17, 21-15.
David Redmond of Templeudigan and John Roche have forged a very strong doubles partnership at the Masters ‘B’ grade over the past couple of seasons on the Leinster stage, but on Saturday they clashed on the court in the final of the Masters ‘B’ singles.
Roche (Castlebridge) was quickest off the mark and took the first set 21-11. Three-in-a-row chasing Redmond hit back in style in the second set to take it 21-12. However, Redmond’s challenge flagged as Roche saw his opportunity to get one over his doubles partner, and he was delighted to take the title in the end 21-9.
Phil Coleman from Ballymitty took the honours in a very closely-fought Golden Masters ‘B’ singles as he got the better of Davidstown’s Kevin Doyle. The crucial first set went the way of Coleman 21-14, but with the winning line in sight he was almost caught in the second set by the never-say-die attitude from Doyle before eventually squeezing home 21-20.
Benny Doyle wrapped up a fine season in the Emerald Masters ‘A’ singles by taking the honours over Pechelli English from Davidstown on Thursday in St. Joseph’s. In a dominant first set Doyle hit more winners than English en route to a 21-12 victory.
Doyle continued to dictate in the second set but found the final few aces hard to come by as English hit more winners. It was too little, too late though as Doyle got over the line in a 21-18 win.
The very popular legends competition again brought out some of the great characters of Wexford handball in a competition that gives them the opportunity to show their skills and love of the game. It also brought out a great battle between Pat Leacy from St. Joseph’s and Mick Flood from St. Mary’s.
It was Leacy’s night after he came from losing the opening set 21-12 to win the second and third 21-12, 21-17. Both players must be credited for putting on a great display of handball and showing their hunger for the perfect game.
Templeudigan pair Patrick Boland and Kevin Cowman earned a spot in the final of the Junior ‘B’ doubles with a fine 21-19, 21-9 win over Kilmyshall’s Niall Maher and Pádhraic Roberts.
Micheál Busher beat his Bridgetown colleague Robert Byrne 2116, 21-14 to qualify for the final of the Junior ‘B’ singles.
An all St. Martin’s semi-final in the Junior ‘C’ singles was won by David Stanners as he got the better of Paddy Curran over three sets.
Stanners looked in control, winning the first 21-2, but was knocked back 21-13 in the second, however he regained the composure in set three to advance 21-15.
Paddy Curran did get a final spot in the Junior ‘C’ doubles as he was partnered by James Stanners to beat James Nolan and John Murphy from Kilmyshall 21-20, 21-7.
Fergal McWilliams performed very well to advance to the final of the Over-35 singles as he defeated James Stanners from St. Martin’s 21-14, 21-11.
A fantastic women’s Junior ‘C’ singles semi-final saw Leanne Boland from Coolgreany eventually get the better of her clubmate Lauren Flanagan after three sets (21-17, 16-21, 21-11).
Tuesday, January 31, at St. Joseph’s: WJCS, Eva Creane v. Leanne Boland, 7.15 p.m.; JDS, Mikey Murphy v. Brian Busher, 8 p.m.
Wednesday, February 1, at St. Joseph’s: JCD, Seán Flood and Adam Walsh v. James Stanners and Paddy Curran, 7.15 p.m.; GMAS, Mick Armstrong v. Mick Carty, 8 p.m.
Friday, February 3, at St. Joseph’s: GMBD, Kevin Doyle and Tomás O’Shea v. Tom Cummins and Brian Furlong, 7.15 p.m.; MBD, David Redmond and Kevin Cowman v. Paul Murphy and Shane Byrne, 8 p.m.
Monday, February 6, at St. Joseph’s: JBS, Michael Busher v. Fergal McWilliams, 7.15 p.m.; O35D, Pádhraic Roberts and James Nolan v. J.R. Finn and Alan O’Neill.