GAVIN BUGGY made a promising start to the Leinster 40 x 20 singles championships as he proved the stronger in a mighty battle against Brian Carroll from Meath. The pair had met two weeks earlier in the Gaffney Tournament in Mayo and on that occasion Buggy was victorious after a tie-break.

It was to be a similar story in Ballymore Eustace on Saturday evening last as Gavin took a very close opening set 21-15 to get the early dominant position.

Brian Carroll is a top player and showed his worth with a 21-8 success in the second game. Gavin, however, is known for his fitness and will to win and, combining both, he proved strongest and claimed a 21-8 win to secure a spot in the next round.

David Redmond put in a flawless display to secure a quarter-final spot in the Junior singles as the Templeudigan man showed more determination and possessed the killer shots to see off the challenge of lefthander James Gregan from Coolboy, Co. Wicklow, 21-17, 21-8, to set up a quarter-final with William Love in two weeks' time.

Jim Berry crashed out of the same event in two straight sets, but can be proud of his performance against Jerome Willoughby from Wicklow, one of those favoured to at least make the last four of the competition. Willoughby won 21-17, 21-16.

Wexford celebrated three victories in the Junior 'B' grade, in the singles competition Malachy Whelan from Castlebridge had a comfortable straight sets win over Pat Doyle from Wicklow, as the Blackwater native beat his Wicklow opponent 21-12, 21-10.

Peter Hughes, one of the pre-tournament favourites, kept up the winning groove with a 21-11, 21-14 success over Anthony Martin from Kilkenny. With the Junior 'B' singles now getting close to the latter stages, there will be some very interesting all-Wexford clashes coming up with lots of the favourites in the purple and gold camp.

Darren O'Toole and Damien Kelly dropped one set, but still came out victorious last week when they defeated Brendan Hosey and Andrew Lawlor from Kilkenny. The Coolgreany pair were winners on a 21-10, 15-21, 21-10 scoreline.

Kevin Doyle lost a terrific clash in the Masters 'B' singles, as the Davidstown native was left to rue missed chances as he went under 21-15, 1621, 21-19 to Chris Dunne from Kilkenny.

Frank Maddock and Donal Doyle saw their winning streak run out after last year's heroics as they went down in the Silver Masters 'A' doubles when they found Paddy Donovan and Joe Brennan in good form last week. The St. Martin's boys did try hard and certainly gave a good account before losing 21-16, 21-19.

Tom Rossiter and Tom Donohoe also lost out last week as they suffered defeat in the Diamond Masters 'A' doubles to Seamus Reade and Paddy Reilly from Kilkenny, 21-19, 21-9. The Wexford pair were left to rue a missed chance in the first game when they came back from 17-7 down to lead 19-17 but were unable to see out the opening set.