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Last Updated 22/10/06

Class 1 Side disappoint

The class one side had begun with high hopes of winning an All Ireland title for only the 2nd time when they faced Donegal in the premier decider on Saturday afternoon.  Having defeated much the same Donegal side in last year’s semi-final it was a confident Wexford team who sought to regain the title won for the 1st time in 2007.  The Wexford management sought to improve all three mixed doubles partnerships by moving Laura Butler out of the ladies doubles to partner Eddie Cousins at 1st mixed and thereby strengthen all three mixed doubles pairings.   The aim was to pick up as many points as possible in the opening singles and doubles encounters where Donegal were traditionally strong and rely on the securing the title by taking the three mixed doubles encounters.  Unfortunately the strategy failed when Donegal won five of the six opening games to take an unassailable four game advantage and retake the title they last won in 2006.  

It started brightly enough for the model county with Laura Butler winning her ladies singles in straight sets.  The men’s singles was a high class encounter between Wexford’s Edward Cousins and Donegal’s Daniel Magee.  The Wexford captain won the opening set 21/18, but Magee fought back to take the 2nd set 21/17 and he retained his momentum to also take the 3rd set 21/16 to level the match.  

From here on it went all wrong for a disappointing Wexford side with Donegal winning all four level doubles games, to secure the title and add to Wexford’s dismal record in the grade.  Edward Cousins and Laura Butler did manage to win the opening mixed doubles game, before the players were called off court with Donegal taking an eight title in ten years on a 5-2 score line and Wexford wondering what might have been.  

Back Row: Mary Dinan (Coach), Ailish O’Hanlon, Sandra Dunne, Brideen Lynch, Laura Butler,  Laura Lynch, Michael Murphy (Manager).    Front Row: Colm Byrne, Edward Cousins, Vincent Mackay, Philip Walsh, Noel Caron.

Historic 1st Class 1 Title for Wexford

It was a history making weekend for Wexford who were winning their 1st ever grade one championship and they also re-claimed the grade two title which they had last won in 2004. The result puts Wexford firmly at the top of Irish inter-county badminton.

The grade one decider included defending champions Donegal, title favourites Wexford and an unknown quantity in Kildare. Leinster rivals Wexford and Kildare were 1st on the courts and the result was a 6-3 victory for Wexford and a major step taken by them in their quest for the title. 

Kildare then faced five in a row champions Donegal who were minus the talented Chloe and Sam Magee and in yet another close encounter the Leinster side emerged victorious 5-4. 

Wexford then took on the former kingpins Donegal knowing that three points would be sufficient to achieve an historic 1st title. This they managed with points to spare after a second 6-3 victory.  The result also meant a clean sweep of the medals for Leinster teams with Kildare picking up the silver medal ahead of Donegal.

History making class one squad