Doyle needs another victory
Wednesday February 03 2010
GAVIN BUGGY and Benny Doyle both recorded crucial victories in their group in the Wexford Farmers Co-Op 40 x 20 Senior singles championship last week.
Buggy was in a ruthless mood and was playing top handball in his win over St. Mary's clubmate Paul Carty on a 21-7, 21-2 scoreline.
Doyle (Horeswood) was equally as ruthless as he cast aside Noel Holohan (Templeudigan) on a 2110, 21-8 scoreline. He now needs a win from his final group game against Paul Carty to secure a semifinal spot along with Buggy.
Two games were played in the Intermediate singles during the past week, with Mick Armstrong from Davidstown successful in the first game when he saw off a gallant Seán Stanners (St. Martin's) on a 21-12, 19-21, 2112 scoreline.
Joining Armstrong in the next round of the singles is Nicky Curran from St. Martin's, as the Piercestown man was a 21-14, 21-8 winner over James Freeman from Davidstown.
Junior singles has the biggest field and the closest competition of all at the minute, with a remarkable eight games played last week in this competitive grade. What was really pleasing was the standard of handball in all the games, and it must also be noted that all eight went ahead without change and no walkovers were conceded which is great for the tournament.
The following are the lucky players to have advanced to the quarterfinal stage:
John Roche (Castlebridge) beat Mark Maher (Ballyhogue), 18-21, 21-8, 21-5; Malachy Whelan (Castlebridge) beat Tommy Armstrong (Davidstown), 21-8, 21-5; Peter Hughes (Ballyhogue) beat Justin Heffernan (Oulart), 21-12, 20-21, 21-7; Jim Berry (Barntown) beat Jonny Westlake (Castlebridge), 21-17, 21-14; Fergal McWilliams (Horeswood) beat Seán Stanners (St. Martin's), 2115, 21-10; Declan Hart (Horeswood) beat Matthew Hynes (St. Mary's), 21-14, 12-21, 2115; Martin Doran (Horeswood) beat Jim Connors (Barntown), 2021, 21-5, 21-4; Eugene Kelly (Castlebridge) beat Seán Flood (St. Joseph's), 21-8, 21-5.
Kevin Doyle made up for his defeat in the Leinster championship to secure a quarter-final spot in the Junior 'C' singles as he was victorious 21-18, 21-10 against Jimmy O'Rourke from Coolgreany.
County Chairman Ricky Barron was a last 16 round winner in the Over35 singles as he defeated Tom Dempsey from Ballyhogue 21-17, 21-13, and joining him is James Freeman who received a walkover into the quarterfinals.
