County Titles for Kilmyshall and Coolgreany
Written by Antoin Ó Braoin
Kilmyshall’s impact on handballing matters in Wexford continued unabated at Castlebridge last night where Padhraic Roberts and Jim Nolan added the County Junior B Doubles title to their haul for 2014. Pitted against the more established Coolgreany pairing of Damien Kelly and Ned Connors they showed admirable fighting qualities to get home by 21-18, 21-18 in a topsy turvy but always entertaining match.
The early stages of both games was dominated by Roberts and Nolan but just when it seemed they had done enough to coast home in each, the polished Kelly in particular pegged them back with a series of fine corner kills. That and some fine attacking play from Connors saw Coolgreany hit the front on both occasions but each time the clever Roberts and strong Nolan reasserted themselves to claim the victory.
Experience triumphed over age when Tanya O’Toole and Una Byrne from the womens stronghold of Coolgreany overcame the youthful Eva Creane and Emma Sweeney, St. Josephs in the women’s County Junior Doubles final played at Castlebridge last night.
The Coolgreany girls who are preparing for the Leinster Junior Doubles final against Dublin on 9th August were in no mood to make any allowances and their greater strength and overall alley craft proved too much for the talented St. Josephs duo. Eve and Emma competed well in the circumstances and these young girls who have already tested provincial success at juvenile level will benefit from the experience.