December: 

County Charity Finals

Laura Butler

A well supported and exciting player’s charity tournament concluded on Sunday last with the county finals taking place in Ramsgrange Community college.  Before a large attendance there was the usual quota of talking points, upsets and hard luck stories as players from eleven years upwards strove to win the 1^st county titles of the season in seven separate divisions. 

The top two grades of the ladies singles were dominated by youth this time around with Laura Butler and Laura Lynch contesting both the division one and two finals.  In the clash of the counties young stars it was Laura Butler who continued her recent run of impressive form to record a double success over her New Ross rival and take both titles.  The Davidstown player won the opening division two titles in straight sets 21/15, 21/17 and later in the night repeated that success in the premier final when winning 21/12, 21/23, 21/12.   Laura also contested both the division one and two ladies doubles finals with partner Siobhan Ennis (Shelburne) but came up short in her bid for a hat-trick of gold medals.  Karen Hennessy and Mairead McDaid (New Ross) spoilt the party in the division two final when they won 23/21, 21/19 and the top seeds of Siobhan Parle and Deirdre Keogh retained their division one title after a brief scare in the opening set to win 15/21, 21/14, 21/12.  An injury in the qualifiers to county number one Edward Cousins resulted in a walkover in the men’s singles and mixed doubles finals.  The veteran Liam Sinnott therefore returns to the winning rostrum in the men’s singles event and the victory moves him back up to number two in the county singles ranking.  Deirdre Keogh and Philip Walsh took the mixed doubles title.   There was a surprise in the men’s doubles final when Gavin Smith (St. Martin’s) and Ralph Stone (New Ross) were the victors in an exciting final 23/21, 14/21, 21/19 against Liam Sinnott (Eagles) and Alan Carton (New Ross). 

In the division two men’s singles decider Sean Sexton (Eagles) overcame the up and coming young star Dimitri Panagopoulos (Clonard) 21/13, 21/16.  In the men’s doubles final Vincent Mackay (New Ross) and Noel Carton (Clonroche) took the gold medal with a 21/14, 21/15 victory over Sean Sexton and Frankie Morrissey (Eagles).  It was an all New Ross final in the mixed doubles and Brideen Lynch and Vincent Mackay overcame club colleagues Karen Hennessy and Ralph Stone 21/14, 21/15. 

Another walk-over in the division three men’s singles with Dimitri Panagopoulos being crowned champion due to the withdrawal of John Nolan (New Ross) due to illness.  The ladies doubles title went to Celine Hayes (New Ross) and Ailish O’Hanlon (Shelburne).  They defeated Karen Vaughey and Tara Keogh (St. Martin’s)  in a three set thriller 21/18, 18/21, 21/19.  The men’s title went to the Shelburne pairing of John Joe Murphy and Sonny Cahill who had too much fire power for Billy Bennett and Paul Healy (New Ross).  The Shelburne pair winning comfortably 21/10, 21/11.  There was a 2^nd title of Sonny in the mixed doubles decider when he and Ailish O’Hanlon overcame the father/daughter combination of Billy and Aoife Bennett (New Ross) to win 21/14, 21/9. 

As expected Edel Doyle took the division four ladies singles title when she overcame Helen Butler (St. Martin’s) 21/9, 21/15.  Ken Furlong (St. Martin’s) is the men’s champions after a 21/17, 21/19 success over the division five challenger Pat Redican (Taghmon). Jennifer Sinnott and Edel Doyle won the division four ladies doubles championship with a 19/21, 21/19, 21/13, victory over Denise O’Leary and Jane Duignan (Clonard).  There was some consolation for Pat Redican after his singles loss in the men’s doubles decider where he and Alan Nolan (Taghmon) defeated Dan Rossiter and Wayne Dunne (Galbally) 21/12, 21/19.  The mixed doubles gold medal winners were Helen Butler and Ken Furlong.  They defeated the Taghmon pairing of Alan Nolan and Marie Kelly rather easier than expected 21/12, 21/14. 

An exciting all Taghmon final in the division 5 lady singles with cousins Aoife and Eimer Dunne battling it out between them for the bragging rights in the Dunne clan.  After an exciting three setter it was Aoife who was the happier after winning 21/13, 19/21, 21/19.  Alan Nolan is the men’s singles champion having received a walk-over from club colleague Pat Redican.  The lady doubles champions are Aoife and Eimer Dunne who were much too strong for the Taghmon/New Ross pairing of Marie Kelly and Aoife Bennett.  The two cousins won at their ease 21/10, 21/8.  In the contest between Taghmon and Ballycogley in the men’s final it was the Taghmon pairing of Pat Redican and Eddie McCaullife who secured the title.  Redican and McCaullife won 21/14, 21/18 against David Ryan and Nicky Sinnott.  Another exciting encounter in the mixed doubles final which could have went either way, but was won by Alan Nolan and Marie Kelly (Taghmon) 21/11, 18/21, 21/19 against Dypna Molloy and Eddie Kent (Shelburne).

Ann Kirwan was an impressive division six ladies singles winner as she defeated Aoife Bennett (New Ross) 21/8, 21/15.  It was a case of little versus large in the men’s singles final where eleven year old Nicholas Murphy became the youngest player to play in a senior tournament final when he faced the top seed Ray Breen in the division six men’s singles final.  The young Taghmon star acquitted himself well against his experienced opponent in the decider before going down 21/12, 14/21, 21/12 to the defending champion.  There was a second defeat in the men’s doubles final for Nicholas when he and Aidan Furlong (Ballycogley) lost 21/10, 21/13 to Garvan Kelly and Michael Doyle (Taghmon).  The ladies decider was won by Mary and Ann  Kirwan  (Gorey) 21/12, 21/16 against the Clonroche partnership of Ann Redmond and Ann Furlong.  The mixed doubles final was won by Tina Bridges and Garvan Kelly (Taghmon). They had a 21/13, 21/13 victory over Fergal Murphy and Joanne Millar (Davidstown). 

January:

Hat-Trick for Laura in the Leinster Juvenile Close Championships

Wexford had five representatives in the finals of the Leinster Juvenile Close championships with a representative in each of the four age categories.  Star performer on the day was Laura Lynch with a hat-trick of titles in the under-17 category, and this was nearly matched in the under-13 age group by Clodagh Kent who won two of the titles on offer and narrowly lost in the 3^rd in three sets.  On a day that featured some fine badminton one of the highlights of the tournament was the under-17 girl’s singles final between Laura Lynch and Ciara Brady.   The Dublin player had just returned from the York inter-county tournament where she had made the semi-finals of the main event and as expected proved a real handful for the Wexford player.  The first game was ace for ace as the large crowd was treated to an exciting match between two evenly matched competitors. Five times in the opening set Laura edged ahead off her opponent, only for Ciara to hit back and level the match, before Laura eventually managed to take the set 25-23.  The 2^nd set was also score for acore, but crucially Laura managed to draw slightly ahead at the mid point to take a slender but significant 14 -11 lead.  Despite many brave attempts by the Dublin star to recover the deficit the Wexford player always managed to keep that crucial ace or two ahead which allowed her to go on and take the set and the title 21/18 in a marvellous advertisement for girl’s singles. Laura and her Dublin partner Norma McIntyre were the hot favourites for the girl’s doubles title and despite never firing on all cylinders they duly took the opening set 21/17 against Crona Rooney and Caroline Oliver (Dublin).  The number one seeds soon realised however that they were in for a tough game when Rooney and Oliver took the 2^nd set 21/18 to force the match into a 3^rd and deciding set.  Lynch & McIntyre upped their game to take a comfortable 14/8 advantage and were seminally well on their way to the title.  Back came the outsiders however to tie the match at 17/17 and the top seeds were visibly worried.  Experience then helped Lynch and McIntyre to hold their nerve to win narrowly 21/19.  Laura had another tight game in the final of the mixed doubles where she and David Tutty were defending their title against Owen Marron and Crona Rooney.  The first set was close, but was won by the champions 21/17.  The 2^nd set was even closer and went into a tie-breaker at 20/20 with both pairings then having a chance of victory before Lynch and Tutty won the set and match 24/22. In the under-13 competition Taghmon star Clodagh Kent was also bidding for a hat-trick of titles in the singles, doubles and mixed doubles events.  Clodagh won a close and exciting singles title by overcoming Louise Griffin 21/13, 23/21.  Next up was the girl’s doubles and she and partner Ciara Dunne were the favourites for the title against Louise Griffin and Aisling Golden.  Unfortunately nothing is guaranteed in sport and the underdogs went on to win an exciting encounter 21/16, 11/21, 21/15.  Clodagh had to quickly put any disappointment behind her as she and Liam O’Leary (Louth) faced Shane Curran and Louise Griffin in the mixed doubles final.  Kent and O’Leary won the opening set comfortably 21/14, but it was a different story in the 2^nd set, which went to a tie break before Kent and O’Leary secured the title 24/22.  Karen Butler (Davidstown) was Wexford’s representative in the under-11 category and she had qualified for both the singles and doubles finals.  In the singles she faced Fionnulla McCourt (Dundalk) and she secured Wexford’s 6^th title with a three set 21/14, 14/21, 21/16 victory.  McCourt got some level of revenge in the doubles when she and Kate Frost defeated Karen and partner Ellen Daly (KADCA) 21/15, 21/12.  Wexford took their 7^th title in the under-15 category when Taghmon’s Eimer Dunne and Sofia Brondum (Dubin) won the girls doubles title with a 21/14, 21/14 victory over Aoife Loftus and Grainne Murray.

Double Delight for Dimitri

Dimitri Panagopoulos

After a series of near misses this season it all finally came right  for Clonard star Dimitri Panagopoulos with a double success in the finals of the Leinster Under-15 Juvenile Championships.   The pressure was beginning to tell on the Wexford youngster as he sought to fulfil his potential after many narrow losses in the finals of national events before Christmas.  Any lingering doubts regarding his ability to perform in grand-prix finals were dispelled however in no uncertain terms with the manner of his victories in the boy’s singles and doubles events.  Dimitri had a bye in the opening round of the singles and eased his way into the competition with a 21/9, 21/13 success over the Ulster player Matthew Getting.  In the quarter finals he faced another Ulster player Bruce Baillie and this one was a real nail-biter as the match could have went either way before the Wexford player just edged it 21/16, 18/21, 21/19.  Having survived the marathon three setter, Dimitri faced Graeme McCarter in the semi-final.  McCarter had beaten Dimitri earlier in the season in the Dublin Open final.  On this occasion the Clonard player made no mistake and secured the final spot with a steady 21/16, 21/16 victory.  The Wexford athlete now faced Connacht champion Ross Dempsey in the final, with the knowledge that the Galway player have come out best in their last meeting in the Conancht Open.  There was to be no mistake this time however as Dimitri revenged that defeat in very impressive fashion, winning comfortably 21/14, 21/18.

Dimitri was partnered by Graeme McCarter in the boys doubles and they accounted for Matthew Getting and Garen Chambers 21/17, 21/16 in the quarter finals.  An even more impressive semi-final victory 21/13, 21/14 over Ross Dempsey and Jonathan Dolan ensured qualification for the final against Joe Murphy and Bruce Baille.  In the final Panogopoulos and McCarter held their form to win 21/15, 21/15.

Dimtri and Eimer Dunne (Taghmon) played together in the mixed doubles, but were eliminated in the quarter finals.  It was a weekend of fine achievements for the Wexford player, but a worrying statistic for Leinster badminton in that he was the only player from the province appearing in any of the finals.

More Success for Dimitri in Ulster Open

After a fine double in the Leinster Open Dimitri Panagopoulos made the long journey north last weekend to participate in Ulster under-15 event in Lisburn, Co. Antrim.  Fresh from his success in the singles in the Leinster tournament Dimitri was seeded number one.  Making a rare appearance on Irish courts was the talented Ruaraid Sim from the Lisburn Club.  The northern player is seen as one of the hottest prospects in Irish Badminton and spends a lot of his time in Denmark playing league badminton with the elite Juvenile Odense Badminton Club.  Ruaraidh was ranked No.2 in Europe for his age group last season and thankfully the seeding kept the two big guns apart in opposite sides of the draw.   Dimitri had a bye in the opening round and then defeated Matthew Lightbody 21/14, 21/7 in round two.  David Wright was then overcome 21/15, 21/14 in the 3rd round, before a more detailed examination occurred in the quarter final against Jonathan Dolan, with Dimitri winning in three sets 15/21, 21/19, 21/15.  This victory set up a semi-final meeting with Brice Bailie and just like in the Leinster open meeting between the two this was a tight encounter, but was again crucially won by the Wexford player 21/14, 19/21, 21/12.  As expected Sim had also made his way to the final without dropping a set and was giving an exhibition of singles play along the way.  In the final Sim had that bit more experience and guile that the Wexford star and won comfortably 21/12, 21/8.  Despite the defeat the Clonard player continues to be the most consistent performer over the season having reached the final of all his tournaments and competing against a player of Sims ability can only improve your game.  

It was much better news in the boy’s doubles where Dimitri and Graeme McCarter were hoping for better luck and their was some consolation for them in the 2nd round when they had an impressive 21/15, 21/12 victory over Michael Stewart and Ruaraidh Sim. Their fine form continued in the quarter finals against Brent Haslett and Mark McKillop who were defeated 21/4, 21/14.  This was followed up with a 21/19, 21/11 defeat of Stuart Lightbody and Jonathan Dolan in the semi-final.  The top seeds were now on a roll and playing excellent badminton and the weekend finished on a high note with a 21/15, 21/15 victory in the final over Joe Murphy and Brice Bailie.

2007 County Juvenile Championships

The 2007 Wexford Juvenile Championships took place in Ramsgrange Community School and after a marathons day’s play the county Youth Officer Nicholas Murphy and his team of volunteers must be commended on their achievement is completing the programme so efficiently and successfully. Play began at 10:30 a.m. and concluded just in time to allow the Shelburne club the use of the courts at 8:00 p.m. Within that time there was 256 games completed with young badminton players coming from all over the county to compete for a county championship title in under-11, 13, 15 and 17 age categories. Eight clubs were represented in the finals and each club had a winner in some category during the day. In an under-taking of this magnitude a hard working and dedicated team was necessary and Nicholas Murphy wishes to acknowledge and thank the following for their work leading up to and during the tournament. To Emer Dunne, Aoife Dunne, Laura Lynch, Laura Butler, Aoife Bennett, Matthew Doyle, Seamus Whitty and Kevin Shannon a big thank you for umpiring the various games and keeping the courts occupied. A massive thanks you to Deirdre Dunne for her coolness under intense pressure and to Marie Kelly for her hard work on the day and the pleasant manner in which she carried it out. Thanks also to Bernadette Murphy for her administrative skills and to county chairman Dick O’Raffery for calling to the venue to give his support. A special word of thanks also to the always efficient and courteous Billy Drought for his assistance in setting up the hall and equipment. Click on arrow to view full results from county championships: Æ Michaela Smyth & Catherine Murray (Monaseed) Noel & Jack Dunne (Taghmon)

Michaela Smyth & Catherine Murray (Monaseed)

Irish title for Dimitri

Clonard’s Dimitir Panagopoulos became the most recent Wexford player to win a national badminton title when he and Ulster partner Graham McCarter were crowned Irish under-15 boy’s doubles champions at the national finals.  With victories already secured in the recent Ulster and Leinster Open Championships Panagopoulos and McCarter were the top seeds going into the boy’s doubles competition and they were impressive in the quarter final victory 21/16, 21/1 over James McCullen and David Wright.  This set-up a semi-final meeting against the fancied partnership of Ruariadh Sim and Michael Stewart, but once again the favourites were impressive when winning 21/12, 21/13.  In the final they faced the Ulster pairing of Jonathan Dolan and Stewart Lightbody and after a fine game of badminton it was the overall power and consistency of the top seeds who were to emerge victorious on a score-line of 21/18, 21/12. 

In the boy’s singles Dimitri was seeded number two and received a bye in the opening round.  He then eased his way into the competition with a 21/15, 21/9 victory over Graham Doyle.  This led to a quarter-final meeting and a cliff-hanger of a match against Stewart Lightbody.  The Wexford player narrowly won the opening set 22/20, but the great hearted Ulster player fought back to take the 2^nd set 21/18.  It looked ominous for the Clonard star when he trailed 11/5 in the 3^rd set, but Dimitri refused to panic and slowly he began working his way back into the match.  The young Ulster player was now beginning to feel the pressure and the Wexford star recovered to take the deciding set 21/17 and reach his 1^st national semi-final.  Another nerve wracking game ensued in the penultimate game with Dimitri loosing the opening set 21/19, but then fighting back to take the 2^nd set 21/17.  Having survived the opening scare the Wexford player completed the come back by taking the final set 21/16.  The final was an eagerly anticipated re-match of last weekends Ulster Open final with Dimitri facing the victor on that occasion and number one seed Ruariadh Sim.  The Ulster star who is based in Denmark had it easy in the Ulster decider, but this time around the Wexford player began brightly and led in the opening set 17/12.  Sim was not ranked as European number 2 for no reason however and a slight change in tactics allowed him to recover to take the set 21/17.  The loss of the set temporarily affected Panagopoulos and Sim took advantage to race into an 8-0 lead at the beginning of the 2^nd set.  By the time Dimitri recovered his game the number one seed had that cushion of comfort and you don’t expect to catch a player of Sim’s ability after that type of a start.   And so it proved to be with Sim going on to take the set and title 21/13.   A fine achievement none the less for the Wexford player with a national title and a runner-up medal to take home at the conclusion of the weekends play.

National Veteran's Championship

There was a national title for Wexford’s Liam Sinnott at the national veterans finals held in Whitehall Road, Terenure on Saturday the 22nd March 07.  The Eagles club player secured the Irish over 45’s singles title after a gruelling three setter 21/12, 18/21, 21/14 against Conor Doyle (Dublin).  The Wexford player looked to me in control of the match when he dominated the opening set to win it 21/12.   Credit the Dublin player however who fought back to take the 2^nd set 21/18 and force the match into a deciding 3^rd set.  Here the superior fitness of Sinnott was the deciding factor as he secured the title with a 21/14 victory.  Liam also finished with a runners up medal in the over 40’s event.  The crucial game in the competition was the clash between him and Pat Marron.  This was a fine game of the badminton and while Liam appeared to have the extra fitness and mobility the experience of the former Irish International was the telling factor as he won the game 30/18.

Wexford double in All-Ireland Qualifiers

A fine double for the county squads in the All-Ireland qualifiers in Limerick University on Sunday, with both the grade three and four teams securing a place in the finals in Galway later in the year.  The Wexford class three team were in a qualifying group that featured last years grade four winners Sligo and Munster kingpins Kerry.  Wexford were the pre-tournament favourites, but were quickly under pressure against the Kingdom side.  It was honours even after the singles with Kerry winning the ladies and Wexford levelling the score when Sean Sexton won his men’s singles 21/12, 21/14.  This was to be the pattern for the remainder of the match with Kerry on top in the ladies while Wexford were dominating the men’s events.  It was level at 3-3 going into the mixed doubles and again both the opening games were shared.  Team Captain Brideen Lynch and Noel Carton won the 1^st mixed doubles encounter, while Kerry won the 3^rd mixed when Ailish O’Hanlon and Neil Barrett lost 21/15, 21/16.  Topping the group meant a semi-final meeting against the runners-up in the other group so the pressure was on the Taghmon pairing of Gillian Murphy and Stuart O’Toole in the final game on court.  A tense and exciting three setter went the way of the Wexford partnership on a score line of 21/14, 20/22, 21/16.  It was expected to be easier against the Connacht side, but again the favourites struggled somewhat before securing  a 6-3 victory.  Kerry had earlier beaten last years grade 4 champions 7-2 which meant an eleven points target for Wexford to reach.  With losses in the ladies singles, 1^st ladies doubles and 2^nd men’s doubles Wexford were again under pressure going into the final game of the evening in the men’s singles.  Despite leading five games to three a victory for the Sligo player would leave Kerry in top spot and consign Wexford to the runner-up position.  Victory for Sean Sexton however would give Wexford the required eleven points and they would go thought as group winners by virtue of having defeated Kerry in their opening game.  Naturally it such a tense match the standard of play that was not always vintage singles, but the important part was that Sean retained his unbeaten record for the day and secured the top spot for Wexford when winning 17/21, 21/12, 21/18.  A job completed then for the Wexford squad, but manager Michael Murphy will be aware that improvement will be required if they are to go on and claim the All-Ireland title.

 While the class-3 team struggled somewhat on Saturday, the class four team were most impressive the following day as they reached the decider for the 5^th time in the last 6^th years.  While Wexford started as favourites they had to negotiate a tricky qualifying group that featured defending champions Sligo and Munster sides Kerry and Tipperary.  Wexford began against Kerry and a 6-3 victory put them at the top of the group after the opening games.  Wexford victories came in the men’s singles with Sean Sexton continuing his good form from the previous day when winning 21/16, 21/17.  Wexford won the ladies doubles encounters and Neil Barrett and Jimmy Sinnott ensured Wexford went into the mixed doubles leading 4-2 when the won 2^nd men 21/12, 21/14.  Wexford won two of the mixed doubles encounters to leave the final score at 6-3 in favour of the Leinster side.  Meanwhile Tipperary had a narrow 5-4 victory over Sligo.  Round 2 featured Tipperary against Kerry and Wexford taking on Sligo.  In the battle of the Munster counties Tipperary were the victors by 6-3.  Wexford continued to show good form and a 7-2 victory over the defending champions gave them a two point advantage over Tipperary at the top of the group going into the last series of games.   Tipperary started well in this by taking the ladies singles, but then it was all Wexford, with the purple and gold winning the next six games in a row.  Tipperary did take a vital point in the 2^nd mixed doubles which meant they finished runners-up in the group, before Wexford had the final say when Neil Barrett and Sandra Dunne took the final game 21/16, 21/18 to leave the score at 7-2 in their favour.  Team manager Nicholas Murphy was rightly pleased with his team’s performance and perhaps this will be the year when they finally make the break through after so many near misses in recent seasons.  Wexford Team:  Singles: Tara Kehoe, Sean Sexton.  Doubles: Sandra Dunne and Ailish O’Hanlon, Celine Hayes & Tara Kehoe, Frankie Morrissey & Sean Sexton, Neill Barrett & Jimmy Sinnott.  Mixed Doubles:  Frankie Morrissey & Ailish O’Hanlon, Jimmy Sinnott & Jennifer Sinnott, Neill Barrett & Sandra Dunne.  Reserve: Helen Butler

Wexford retain Leinster U-17 title

Winners of the title for the 1^st time in 2006, Wexford retained their title in dramatic fashion in the finals of the Leinster under-17 championships played in the Baldoyle badminton centre on Sunday last.  In the morning qualifiers Wexford’s breezed through their games with a 5-0 victory over the Kilkenny’s B side and a 4-1 victory over Offaly.  In the afternoon semi-finals Wexford faced old rivals Laois in what was a repeat of the 2005 clash at the same stage which was narrowly won by the midlanders 3-2.  This time around however they were no match for the model county who eased into the finals on a 4-1 score-line.  The final was a repeat of last years decider against Dublin, where a rampant Wexford team easily brushed aside the team from the capitol to win 4-0.  There was to be no danger of a repeat performance this time around with Leinster and Irish stars Owen Marron, Ciara Brady, Croona Rooney and Kirsty Kelly in the Dublin side.  Dublin were first to get on the score-board when Owen Marron overcame Dimitri Panagopoulos 30/25 in the boy’s singles.  Team captain Laura Lynch was then involved in a classic singles encounter against her great rival Ciara Brady.  Both girls’ were in excellent form and after a fine game of badminton it was Laura who was the narrow victor 30/28.  Next on court were the Wexford doubles pairing of Dimitri Panagopoulos and Alan Nolan and before the Wexford players caught their 2^nd breath they found themselves 7-1 in arrears.  Slowly however they managed to get a foothold in the game and their 30/24 victory left Wexford in a strong position to retain their title.  Despite the strength of the Dublin pairing of Ciara Brady and Kirsty Kelly the Wexford partnership of Laura Lynch and Laura Butler were always in control in the match and they ensured that it was the Wexford name that would be engraved on the shield by winning 21/16.  Dublin did take the final mixed doubles match to leave the score at 3-2 when Owen Marron and Croona Rooney overcame Garvan Kelly and Aoife Bennett 30/16. 

It was so nearly a Leinster double for Wexford with their 2^nd squad only just failing at the last hurdle to secure the division two title when losing by a single point to neighbours Kilkenny.  The Wexford 2^nd team strengthened by the inclusion of Aoife and Eimer Dunne qualified for the finals of the div 2 grade by virtue of a fine 4-1 success over Louth’s 2^nd team.  In the afternoon finals Wexford got a dream start in the three team round robin decider with a 4-1 victory over Offaly.  Offaly then played Kilkenny and it looked an almost certain double for the county when they defeated Kilkenny 3-2.  Wexford now needed just two points to secure the title, but proving once again that nothing is ever certain in sport Kilkenny threw the form book out the window to stage a most dramatic recovery to defeat their neighbours 4-1 and deny them the title by a single point.  Wexford’s only success came in the girl’s doubles where team captain Aoife Dunne and cousin Eimer defeated Claire Moore and Denise Gaulle 30/25.  It was all black and amber in the remaining games with Thomas Power losing to Colin Clarke 30/20, while Ann Kirwan lost the girl’s singles 30/27 to Claire Moore.  Mathew Doyle and Andy Mcgrath went down in the boy’s doubles 30/25 to Robert Butler and Conor Skehan and final match of the day also went Kilkenny’s way when Eimer Dunne and Mathew Doyle lost 30/26 to Colin Clarke and Laura Butler.  Also featuring on the Wexford team was under-13 star Clodagh Kent.

Shires Open

The Shires Leinster Open came to the Carlow lawn Tennis Club complex in Carlow recently and attracted many international competitors from countries such as Belgium, England, Scotland and Wales .  There was also a large Irish presence and with the event taking place within striking distance many of the top Wexford players also featured in the main draw.  Wexford had two athletes in the ladies singles, but both lost in their opening games.  Laura Butler (Davidstown) went out to Scottish opposition when losing 21/8, 21/12 to Catriona Lawlor.  Laura Lynch (New Ross) fared only slightly better against English opposition when she was defeated 21/14, 21/13 by Kate Lester.  Wexford had four competitors in the men’s singles, but all suffered the same fate as their female colleagues.  Craig Healy lost in two sets to Gordon Chambers (Dublin), while Gavin Smith pushed his England Opponent Mark Selwood all the way in the opening set which he lost 21/18.  The English player took over control in the 2^nd set however to take it 21/7.  Nine times national senior champion Michael Watt (Ulster) eliminated under-15 star Dimitri Panagopoulos 21/6, 21/6, while Dublin’s Ronan Magee after an opening set fright qualified for round two at the expense of Donal O’Keeffe (St. Martin’s) winning 23/21, 21/6.  in the ladies doubles the Wexford pairing of Laura Butler and Laura Lynch faced the top seeds Keelin Fox and Chloe Magee and despite losing 21/6, 21/8 they were more than pleased with their performance against such top class opposition.  Wexford’s only success in the tournament came in the men’s doubles where Donal O’Keeffe and Gavin Smith overcame the English pairing of Richard Wrigley and Mark Selwood 21/14, 21/17.  In the quarter –finals they lost to Mark Topping and Brian McGowan 21/13, 21/10.  The only other Wexford player in the event was Dimitri Panagopoulos who along with his regular partner Dean McCarter they took on the number one seeds from Scotland Duncan Leith and Peter Hockey.  The recent Irish under-15 champions did remarkably well against the strong Scottish partnership before losing 21/12, 21/13.  Only one Wexford pairing in the mixed doubles and the young partnership of Laura Lynch and Donal O’Keeffe played a blinder before losing in a three set thriller to Rachel Thomas and Michael Lewis (Wales) 21/19, 13/21, 18/21.