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Sligo Edge Home

Wexford were the rank outsider in the class 3 semi-final meeting with Sligo.  The only Leinster side to make the finals had scraped through to the semi-final as best runner-up despite losing 7-2 to Tipperary in the qualifiers.  Sligo meanwhile topped their group including a victory over the defending champions Cork.  The expected victory for the Connacht champions looked even more certain after the opening singles games with Sligo winning both encounters.   Mairead McDaid lost to Paula McDonagh 21/18, 21/11, while Vincent Mackay was below his best when defeated by Jonathan Dolan 21/10, 21/14.  Sligo were 3/0 up after the opening ladies doubles when the home pairing of Sandra Dunne and Ailish O’Hanlon lost out to Paula McDonagh and Diana Grap 21/19, 21/14.  Vincent Mackay and Noel Carton began the Wexford fight back when they defeated Graham Watt and Mark Dolan 21/19, 21/14.  Brideen Lynch and Tara Kehoe put the minimum between the sides when they defeated Rebecca McGellan and Marie McTiernan 21/10, 21/15.  Sligo stretched their lead when Jonathan Dolan and Fintan Keown defeated Frankie Morrissey and Sean Sexton in straight sets, but Noel Carton and Brideen Lynch reduced the advantage again when they won the opening mixed against Mark Dolan and Diane Grap 21/12, 21/16.  Frankie Morrissey and Ailish O’Hanlon then levelled the match when they won an exciting 2nd mixed doubles 21/15, 18/21, 21/19 to leave the score tied at 4-4.  The 3rd and final mixed game decided the outcome of the match and unfortunately Wexford’s brave fight back was halted when Fintan Keown and Rebecca McGillan defeated the Wexford pairing of Jimmy Sinnott and Sandra Dunne 13/21, 21/18, 21/13.

Back Row: Mary Dinan (Coach), Eimer Dunne, Mairead McDaid, Tara Kehoe, Brideen Lynch, Sandra Dunne, Ailish O’Hanlon, Michael Murphy (Manager).   Front Row: Frankie Morrissey, Noel Carton, Christopher McMackin, Vincent Mackay, Sean Sexton, Jimmy Sinnott.

Cork Spoil Wexford's party (2006)