Wexford win All Ireland Grade 3 Title

Last weekend Wexford secured the All Ireland grade 3 title last weekend in Salthill for only the 4^th time in their history and the 1^st since 2004 with an impressive 7-2 victory over Connaught champions Sligo. 

Having won their qualifying group in February in the University of Limerick Wexford faced their bogey team and defending champions Cork in Saturday morning’s semi-final.  The Leesiders had dented Wexford hopes in three previous encounters, but Wexford started in determined fashion and got the best possible start by winning both the opening singles.  Aisling Chapman defeated Ann Murphy 21/12, 21/14 and Alan Mackay won an exciting men’s singles encounter against Paul Foy 23/25, 21/14, 21/12.  Wexford were almost there when Sandra Dunne and Mairead McDaid won the first of the ladies doubles encounters 21/19, 21/14 and the  Mackay brothers Alan & Vincent had similar success in the men’s when they overcame Robert Patterson & David Nyham 24/22, 15/21, 21/15.  Corkrallied and Nina Stephenson and Tricia O’Herlihy won the 2^nd ladies and the defending champions were within two points of the Leinster champions when Conor Hayes and Marlies Van Der Vaulit won the 3^rd mixed doubles against Clodagh Kent & Frankie Morrissey.  It was only a brief moment of worry for the Wexford supporters however as the model county eased themselves into the final with victories in the 1^st & 2^nd mixed doubles.  Vincent Mackay and Brideen Lynch defeated Paudie O’Mahoney & Nina Stefansson and Tomas Power & Tara Kehoe added to Wexford’s winning margin when overcoming Robert Patterson and Michelle Hayes 21/18, 21/15.

In the final Wexford faced Sligo who surprised title favourites Tipperary in their semi-final encounter.  Once again Wexford made an encouraging start with both Aisling Chapman & Alan Mackay winning their opening singles games.  Mackay defeated the promising Mark Dolan 21/14, 21/18 while Chapman overcame a brief moment of worry in her 2^nd set to defeat Laura Keown 21/12, 15/21, 21/5.  Sligo’s Graham Watt & Mark Dolan put the Westerner’s back in the match when they won the opening men’s doubles 21/13, 21/18 aginst Alan & incent Mackay, but Wexford’s two point’s advantage was restored when Mairead McDaid & Sandra Dunne continued their good form by defeating Laura McKeown & Marie McTernan in straight sets.  Joseph and Fintan Keown  once again put the minimum between he sides when they defeated Tomas Power & Jimmy Sinnott 21/14, 21/14.  It was to be as close as Sligo got however as Aisling Chapman and Clodagh Kent won the 2^nd ladies in straight sets and Wexford were impressive winners of  all three mixed doubles games.  Vincent Mackay & Brideen Lynch overcame Joseph Keown And Victoria Stevens 21/10, 17/21, 21/17.  Tomas Power & Tara Kehoe  defeated Graeme Watt & Frankie Mahon 21/18, 21/16 and Mairead McDaid & Jimmy Sinnott defeated Fintan Keown and Marie McTernan 14/21, 21/9, 21/7 to give Wexford a comprehensive 7-2 victory.   Wexford management team:  Olive Waters, Pat Redican & Frankie Morrissey.

Brave effort by Wexford in Class 2 Final

A severely under strength Wexford class 2 squad made a gallant effort to secure the class 2 title in Sunday’s energy sapping round robin final series of games.  Injuries and the unavailability of players meant it was basically a jubilant but tired class 3 squad plus Colm Byrne & Ross McNiven that took to the courts on Sunday morning in the opening encounter against Cork.   In a close and exciting game it was Wexford who narrowly came out on top with a 5-4 victory over the Munster side.  In the corresponding game on court  Tipperary defeated Kerry also on a 5-4 score line. 

In the 2^nd series of games Wexford faced Kerry, while Meath took on Tipperary.  Wexford led the Kingdom 3-2 at one stage, but Kerry fought back to take three of the final four games to win the match 5-4, while Tipperary continued their winning start with a 5-4 victory over Meath.

Round 3 had Wexford taking on Meath and Cork facing neighbours Kerry.  Wexford won both the opening singles, but from then on it was all Meath with Colm Byrne and Clodagh Kent the only Wexford winner at 3^rd mixed as the Royals exacted revenge for their defeat by Wexford in the Leinster Championship to win 6-3.  Meanwhile Cork overcame Kerry 5-4 to bring them back into contention.

Wexford were the free team in round 4 as Cork surprised Tipperary to win 6-3 and Meath’s improvement continued as they defeated a tiring Kerry side 6-3. 

Heading into the 5th & final series of games Meath and Kerry led on 16 points, but Kerry were now finished playing and effectively out of the running.  Cork were in 2nd place on 15 points, followed by Tipperary on 13 and Wexford on the bottom with 12.  Wexford faced Tipperary while leaders Meath & Cork clashed for the All Ireland title.  The Wexford selectors freshened up their side and introduced Tomas Power, Sean Sexton and Tara Kehoe.  The changes appeared to pay dividends as Wexford defeated Tipperary 6-3 to move up to 18 points with Tipperary and Kerry now on 16.  Meanwhile Cork were recovering from their opening round loss to Wexford to defeat Meath 6-3 and in the process take the title.  Cork ending up on 21 points, with Meath the runners-up on 20 points and Wexford in 3rd place on 18 and pondering what might have been.  Wexford Management team: Edward Cousins & Colm Byrne.