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No joy for Wexford in Leinster Class 4 Qualifiers

The Wexford class four county team failed to join their class 1, 2, 3 and 5 colleagues in the Leinster finals when they lost out by the narrowest of margins in the Leinster Inter-county qualifiers played in Roundwood, County Wicklow. Wexford started brightly with an opening 4-3 success over Louth.  The Wexford victories came in the men’s singles with Ken Furlong winning 15/7, 8/15, 15/3.  Also impressive were the men’s doubles partnership of J. J. Murphy and Sonny Cahill who won their game 15/11, 15/8.  The score was tied at 2-2 heading into the mixed doubles, and Wexford edged ahead when Sonny Cahill and Celine Hayes won the opening game 15/2, 15/9.  Louth levelled the match by taking the 2^nd mixed, but Wexford had the last say when Ken Furlong and Eimer Dunne won the final game 15/3, 15/12 to give the model county a narrow 4-3 victory.  Meath were next up and after a marathon four hours play with almost all the games going the full thee sets it was the royal county who finished slightly ahead on a 4-3 score line.  Wexford’s victors were Ken Furlong in the men’s singles, Sonny Cahill and J, J, Murphy in the men’s doubles and Sonny Cahill and Celine Hayes in mixed doubles.  Wexford faced the group leaders Wicklow in their final game and despite some close exchanges it was the Garden county all the way as they inflicted a 6-1 defeat on their southern neighbours.  Wexford’s only success came in the 1^st mixed doubles where Sonny Cahill and Celine Hayes continued to impress and maintained their 100% record when winning 15/5, 8/15, 15/8.  Wexford Squad:  Ken Furlong, Sonny Cahill, J. J. Murphy, David Ryan, Eimer Dunne, Celine Hayes and Helen Butler.  Manager: Nicholas Murphy