Alley Chat with Noel Holohan

Wexford GAA Handball 40×20 Championship Semi-Finals

Noel Holohan from Templeudigan secured the first spot in the final of this year’s junior handball championships as the Templeudigan man overcame Barry McWilliams in an energy sapping semi-final in St Josephs on Saturday night last. Holohan came from behind in the opening set to win 21-19. McWilliams trailed early in the second set but powered in front only to see Holohan serve on 20 for the match. McWilliams came up with three winning points and took the second set 21-20. However, Holohan got into a run of point scoring early in the third set and never looked in trouble as he sealed the deal 21-8. Malachy Whelan from Castlebridge will provide stern opposition in the final next Thursday night for Holohan as he had a fine win over Michael Rossiter from Ballyhogue. Rossiter really threw down the gauntlet to Whelan pushing the Castlebridge man all the way before Whelan took the set 21-18, momentum drove Whelan on from there and he romped home 21-3 in the second.

Templeudigan pair Patrick Boland and Kevin Cowman earned a spot in the final of the junior b doubles with a fine 21-19, 21-9 win over Kilmyshall pair Niall Maher and Padhraic Roberts. Micheal Busher beat his Bridgetown colleague Robert Byrne on a 21-16, 21-14 win over to qualify for the final of the Junior B singles.

An all St Martins semi-final in the junior C singles was won by David Stanners as he got the better of Paddy Curran over three sets. Stanners looked in control winning the first 21-2, but was knocked back 21-13 in the second, however he regained the composure in set three to advance 21-15. Paddy Curran did get a final spot in the Junior C doubles as he was partnered by James Stanners to beat James Nolan and John Murphy from Kilmyshall 21-20, 21-7.

Mikey Murphy (Taghmon) and Brian Busher (Bridgetown) will be well acquainted over the coming weeks as they will meet in the final of the Junior D singles and Doubles. The singles semi-finals saw Mikey Murphy beat Conor Keeling St Joseph’s 21-7, 21-5, while Brian Busher beat his brother Ciaran 21-17, 21-15 in their semi-final. Meanwhile in the doubles semi-finals Mark Cardiff joined forces with Murphy for Taghmon and they defeated Davidstown duo Stephen Kennedy and James Greene Jnr 21-13, 21-11. Ciaran Busher and Brian Busher combined well in the other semi-final beating Ballymitty duo Robert Cogley and Dean O’Neill on a 21-13, 21-14.

Fergal McWilliams performed very well to advance to the final of the Over 35 singles as he defeated David Stanners from St Martins on a 21-14, 21-11 score line.

A fantastic women’s junior C singles semi-final saw Leanne Boland from Coolgraney eventually get the better of her club mate Lauren Flanagan after three sets with a final score line of 21-17, 16-21, 21-11.