Kavanagh the stand-out performer in Leinsters
GAVIN BUGGY bowed out of the Leinster Senior open singles 21-8, 21-18 to up and coming Kilkenny player Peter Funchion during the past week, although he will now be firmly focused on national honours in the Over-35 ‘A’ singles grade.
Gavin did win his Senior singles contest recently as he defeated Paul Moran from Kildare 21-19, 21-18.
It was another fantastic week for Daniel Kavanagh from St. Joseph’s as he blasted his way past Ian Griffin from Dublin in the semi-final of the Intermediate singles in another fantastic performance that saw him win 21-9, 21-12.
Daniel was in action in the Senior singles recently also and despite losing 21-8, 21-8 to Eoin Kennedy from Dublin, to be exposing himself to this level of opponent is only going to drive him forward more and he is certainly a real contender in the Intermediate championship now.
He had advanced originally in the Leinster Intermediate singles when he defeated last year’s beaten All-Ireland finalist, Paul Moran from Kildare, 21-13, 21-18 in a fantastic performance.
Noel Holohan was heavily beaten in the quarter-final of the Junior singles as he was totally off form in a 21-5, 21-5 defeat to the talented Wicklow player Chris Doyle.
Peter Reilly from Meath put paid to the chances of Barry McWilliams from Horeswood in the Junior singles last week. However, McWilliams, the last Wexford man standing in the grade, gave his all before going down 21-15, 21-16.
It was a miserable week for Wexford players in the Junior ‘B’ singles, with the last three players in the grade defeated. James Stanners took Aaron Geoghegan from Carlow to a deciding set in their match but ultimately lost out 21-19, 19-21, 21-0.
Rob Farrelly from Dublin, one of the competition’s favourites, beat Shane Terry 21-8, 21-11, while David Kenny saw his chance evaporate 21-10, 21-12 against Myles Carroll from Kildare.
It was a good week for the Kildare man against Wexford opposition as he and partner Ciarán Thackaberry also took care of Shane Terry and Mikey Murphy 21-12, 21-12 in the Junior ‘B’ doubles.
An all-Wexford game in the Masters ‘B’ singles saw two of the championship favourites collide, and Robert Byrne produced the goods as he defeated David Redmond 21-6, 20-21, 21-8.
Damien Kelly is into the final of the Silver Masters ‘B’ singles after two fine wins. He defeated Mick Fogarty from Laois 21-12, 21-2 in the quarter-final before seeing off Joe Mulvanney from Westmeath 21-10, 21-10.
He will now meet William Holden from Kilkenny in the final after the Marble city man beat John Roche and Ricky Barron.
Mick Armstrong bowed out of the Golden Masters ‘A’ singles to Egin Jensen from Dublin 21-9, 2115. Mick had progressed to that round after beating Paul Dowling from Kildare 21-7, 21-9.
Phil Coleman also came a cropper in the Golden Masters ‘B’ singles. He won his first game of the week 21-20, 21-19 against Brian Gardner from Dublin, before he was beaten by Joe Brennan from Laois 21-8, 21-12.
Gerry Murphy held the Indian sign over Wexford players in the past week as he knocked Mylie Byrne and Brendan Murphy out of the Diamond Masters ‘B’ Singles.
Jim Doyle rounded off the week for Wexford in Leinster action by advancing to the semi-final of the Over-70 singles with a 21-3, 21-5 win over James Connolly from Dublin.
In the under-age grades, victories were recorded at Minor and Under-21 by Cora Doyle and Keith Armstrong respectively. Doyle was far too strong for Sorcha Delaney from Kilkenny, defeating her 21-1, 21-2, while Armstrong was in impressive form in the Under-21 singles when he powered past Robert Fox from Meath 21-16, 21-7.
Two Wexford players survive in the Over-35 ‘B’ singles as Fergal McWilliams defeated John Morrissey from Kilkenny 21-16, 21-14, and David Stanners took care of former Wexford player Jonathan Westlake, who now plays for Dublin, 21-10, 16-21, 21-4.
Ricky Barron and Tommy Armstrong crashed out of the Silver Masters ‘B’ doubles to Willie Holden and David Bourke from Kilkenny 21-12, 21-12. Michael Rossiter was another of the purple and gold army to fall last week as he was beaten 21-14, 21-6 by Robbie McCarthy from Westmeath.