The 43rd Wexford player’s championship dominated local badminton this week when players gathered in Ramsgrange Community College for the usual assortment of hard fought victories, unlucky losses and surprise results.

No surprises however for Edward Cousins as the Taghmon star secured an incredible 8th consecutive hat-trick of county titles.  In the division 1 men’s singles the champion overcame the challenge of last year’s runners-up Alan Mackay (Eagles) to retain his title in straight sets 21/12, 21/11.  Edward won his 2nd title in the men’s doubles when he and partner Noel Carton defeated surprise finalists Frankie Morrissey & Sean Sexton 21/12, 21/8.  Edward’s hat-trick was complete in the mixed doubles when he and Laura Butler defeated Frankie Morrissey & Brideen Lynch 21/8, 21/12. 

Laura Butler won her 2nd title in the ladies doubles when she and Laura Lynch saw off the challenge of Ellen O’Neill & Brideen Lynch 21/14, 21/9.  A surprise however in the ladies singles final where Laura Lynch upset the seeding to record a 16/21, 21/17, 21/17 victory to deny her doubles partner  her 3rd title of the night

In the 2nd division there was a notable double success for Aisling Chapman with the Cork based player winning the ladies singles title and the mixed doubles title with Sean Sexton.  In the battle of the young gladiators in the men’s singles Tomas Power (Shelburne) just edged out Nicholas Murphy (Taghmon) in an exciting 3 set encounter 21/18, 22/24, 22/20.  Frankie Morrissey & Sean Sexton recovered from their loss in the division 1 decider to take the men’s doubles title while Sandra Dunne & Siobhan Ennis won the ladies doubles championship.

In division 3 Taghmon’s Nicholas Murphy & Eimer Dunne won their singles final and teamed up to make it a doubles success with victory in the mixed doubles championship.  Chris McMackin & Tony Sinnott taking the men’s doubles championship while Edel Dempsey & Jennifer Sinnott are the ladies doubles title holders.

Double success also for Deirdre O’Connor in the 4th division with the Shelburne player winning both the ladies doubles title with Carol Murphy & the mixed doubles title with Paudie Foran. 

Fourteen year old Karen Butler is the ladies singles title holder with Ger Molloy defeating class 5 inter-county colleague Ryan Butler in straight sets in the men’s singles.  Lee Healy & William Gilliard won the men’s doubles championship, with Cian Doyle & Karen Butler taking the mixed doubles title.

Ger Molloy & Ryan Butler also met in the division 5 men’s singles final, with victory again going to Molloy. Helen Shalloe won the ladies singles title, with Deirdre O’Connor & Carol Murphy winning their 2nd title of the night in the ladies doubles.  Ger Molloy picked up his 3rd title in the men’s doubles when he and Dan Rossiter defeated Gary O’Neill & Eddie Cousins (Snr).  Ballycogley’s Paul McGuire & Ella Sinnott won the mixed doubles title.

Sister’s Siobhan & Gemma Creane met in the division 6 ladies doubles final with victory going to Gemma in straight sets, while Tomas Furlong took the men’s singles title. Marie Whelan & Helen Shalloe are the ladies doubles title holders with Dennis & Paddy  Moore winning the men’s tile. Paddy Wallace & Marie Whelan are the mixed doubles champions.

The only event in division 7 was the men’s singles championship which was won by Tom Morrissey 21/11, 21/9 in his battle against William Murphy.

Ryan Butler, Ger Molloy