Holly Hynes and Roisin Walsh are All Ireland under 16 doubles champions after cracking final

Written by Antoin Ó Braoin, Rúnaí Contae
Holly Hynes and Roisin Walsh produced their best performance of the season when they needed it most to win a nail-biting All Ireland girls under 16 doubles at a packed Talbots Inch today.

They went into their final against Katie McCarthy and Laura Stack, Limerick knowing that only their best would be good enough and while it appeared they had things well under control when they led 16-9 in the second having won the first game 21-15, the wheels fell off in spectacular fashion as the Limerick girls mounted a successful fight back to bring the match to a deciding tiebreak.
This was a long and tough match throughout and Holly and Roisin were never headed in the first game apart from the opening serve when they conceded the first score of the match. The Wexford girls led 9-3 and later 16-9 but on each occasion Katie and Laura pulled the deficit back to a single point. The serving was proving vital and when either side ‘got it right’ clusters of points were scored. At 16-15 to Wexford the game was up for grabs but it was Holly and Roisin who finished the stronger to clinch the opener by 21-15.
They began the second in fine style to lead 6-0 but then coughed up eight points in a row to go behind. A difficult period followed as both pairings battled for supremacy but from 10-9 in front it was Holly and Roisin who made the break for home. When they were 16-10 in front it appeared the title was bound for Wexford but the Limerick girls showed terrific bottle and passion to level at 17-17 before going on to win 21-17.
It was now a case of who wanted it the most and the tie break took a long time to answer that question. Holly and Roisin took an early 5-1 lead and were almost half way to the title. Limerick came back to 5-3 before the Wexford girls won a number of crucial rallies to surge 8-3 ahead. But just when we thought they had it, Katie and Laura came back one more time to lead 9-8 and it was squeaky bum time all over again for Wexford.
Holly and Roisin then won the most vital rally of their young lives to regain the serve and moments later they had the two winning points in the bag for a victory that was as hard-earned as it was richly deserved.
An incredible game and a nerve jangling ending but a proud day for girls handball in Wexford.