THE 2009-2010 Shield finals in Divisions 4, 5 and 6 were held recently in Ramsgrange Community College and resulted in victories for New Ross, Shelburne and Taghmon.

New Ross and Shelburne played out an exciting opening encounter in the Division 4 championship, with New Ross just edging it on a 9-8 scoreline. New Ross won five of the eight matches, but Shelburne picked up bonus points in both the ladies and second mixed doubles to leave the minimum between the sides and all to play for in the remaining games.

Shelburne then faced Clonard and, despite a double success for Craig Healy in both the men's singles and mixed doubles, Shelburne were victors on an 11-6 scoreline.

New Ross now needed to match or better the Shelburne score to secure their first title of the season. Despite another fine performance from Healy who was involved in securing all of the Wexford town side's points in the men's doubles and a bonus point in the mixed doubles, New Ross were comfortable winners 123 to take the title, with Shelburne the runners-up a mere two points adrift.

New Ross: Ray Breen, Cian Doyle, Seamus Murphy, Clodagh Kent, Sandra Dunne, Olyanna Dunne.

Shelburne: Tony Sinnott, Sonny Cahill, John Joe Murphy, Carol Murphy, Deirdre O'Connor, Dympna Molloy.

Clonard: Craig Healy, Lee Healy, John Ryan, Jenny Winter, Denise O'Leary, Anne Kent.

Three teams were also in the Division 5 championship, with Shelburne, Monaseed and Ballycogley contesting the finals. Shelburne and Monaseed faced each other in the opening game, with victory going to the home side 12-4. Matthew Nolan was the only victor for the north Wexford side in the men's singles, with Kerri Daly taking a set in the ladies' singles against Lorraine Dunne.

Mary Kirwan and Niamh Fortune managed to do the same in the ladies' doubles against Olive Waters and Chantal Rowe. Otherwise it was straight sets victories for the Ross District outfit.

Ballycogley and Monaseed met in the second fixture, with Ballycogley matching Shelburne's score in winning 12-3. Again it was Matthew Nolan winning the men's singles for Monaseed, but the south Wexford side were on top in all the other games. The victory left an intriguing final encounter between rivals Shelburne and Ballycogley, with the winners taking the title.

Shelburne started the encounter in blistering fashion, winning the opening three games to race into a 6-0 lead. Peter Kinsella defeated Denis Moore in the men's singles 21-12, 21-18, and Lorraine Dunne overcame Mairéad Mullins 21-15, 21-11.

Chris McMackin and Eddie Kent stretched Shelburne's advantage with a 21-13, 21-12 success against David Ryan and Damien McGuire. Ballycogley briefly hit back with a fine 21-18, 21-14 victory for Ella Sinnott and Jacinta Dunne over Olive Waters and Chantal Rowe.

Shelburne needed to win any one of the mixed doubles games to take the title, and this they achieved in the opening mixed doubles, with Christopher McMackin and Chantal Rowe defeating David Ryan and Jacinta Dunne 21-15, 2111.

Ballycogley continued to fight on, and Ella Sinnott and Damien McGuire had a fine 21-13, 21-14 victory over Eddie Kent and Olive Waters. The final game of the night was an exciting three-setter, with Shelburne's Peter Kinsella and Lorraine Dunne overcoming Denis Moore and Mairéad Mullins 21-18, 15-21, 22-20.

Five teams - Monaseed, Davidstown, Shelburne, Terrerath and Taghmon - were all competing in the Division 6 championship. In the opening games, Davidstown defeated Monaseed 11-6, while Shelburne overcame Terrerath 133.

The victories automatically put Davidstown and Shelburne into the semi-finals, with Monaseed also making the knockout stage as the best loser. Terrerath faced Taghmon knowing anything other than a victory would put them out of the event, but unfortunately they went down 12-2. The victory put Taghmon into the semifinals and Terrerath were heading home.

The semi-finals proved to be very onesided encounters, with Taghmon defeating Monaseed 14-0 and Shelburne overcoming a game Davidstown 12-0.

With the two form teams clashing in the final, a close contest was expected and so it proved to be.

Under-age star Noel Dunne took the men's singles in straight sets against Paddy Wallace, but Helen Shalloe restored parity between the teams when she defeated Caroline Cogley also in straight sets.

Des Winters and John White put Taghmon ahead again when they defeated Billy Drought and Kieran Doyle, but the Shelburne ladies' doubles of Marie Whelan and Clodagh McDonald again levelled proceedings when they defeated Tina Bridges and Annette Browne.

Taghmon edged ahead again when Noel Dunne and Tina Bridges overcame Paddy Wallace and Marie Whelan in three sets, and the Wexford side clinched the title when Des Winters and Caroline Cogley defeated Billy Drought and Helen Shalloe.

Kieran Doyle and Clodagh McDonald did win the final game of the night against John White and Annette Browne, but it was not enough to prevent Taghmon taking the tile 8-7.