Some surprise challengers amongst early leaders in county 4 Wall League

County 4 Wall League News by AOB

The newly inaugurated county 4 wall league has thrown up a few surprises in the opening four weeks and a few names not expected to be at the head of affairs lead the way as we enter the second month of this new competition.

A summary of each division follows;

D1 – While Mikie Berry, Gavin Buggy and Tommy Hynes have yet to play due to their involvement in the recently completed All Ireland softball championship, it is the position of Galen Riordan, Ballyhogue that is arousing the most interest. With only four points in the bag after three rounds and some injury worries to manage, the 2018 and 2019 county senior champion can ill afford any more losses with some major challenges still to come. For now the field is led by young Josh Kavanagh from St. Josephs, closely followed by Paul Lambert, St. Mary’s who pulled off a surprise 15-4, 9-15, 15-10 win over Riordan in midweek.

D2 – A couple of withdrawals have made this a slightly underwhelming division but in a wide open competition it is the redoubtable and competitive Mick Armstrong, Kilmyshall who finds himself on top of the group. Matthew Hynes, St. Mary’s and Terry Gainfort, Castlebridge are hot on his heels though and look sure to be in the final shakeup.

D3 – Liam Rossiter, Ballyhogue is the surprise leader here after three victories on the trot but in a hugely competitive division, the entry of Shane Birney, Castlebridge, Robert Byrne, Bridgetown and David Stanners, St. Martins into the competition, fresh from their success in the All Ireland softball championship, is really going to shake things up in this group. David Redmond, Templeudigan is also going well having enjoyed an impressive win over another man who recently won the All Ireland MBS title in the ‘big’ court, James Stanners, St. Martins.

D4 – With close on fifty years between the youngest and oldest in this division, the big question here is how will the young players, Robert Cogley, Ballymitty, Joe Devereux, Castlebridge and Laurence Dunne, Kilmyshall fare against their older more experienced opponents. And while Devereux’s entry into the fray has been delayed due to his successful involvement in the All Ireland under 17 doubles championship (which he and David Doyle won), the aforementioned Cogley and Dunne have already shown they can manage with victories over Mick Carty, Taghmon and Tony Breen, Templeudigan respectively. Out in front though is another Templeudigan man Michéal O’Neill and with three wins from three outings he has opened a four point gap at the top.

D5 – Another very competitive division where six of the ten matches played have gone to a tie break. Ricky Barron, Barntown has already survived three of those to amass six points and lie a point behind surprise leader Jim Nolan, Kilmyshall. Young Dean O’Neill, Ballymitty and Sean Flood, St. Josephs are also in the top four and with All Ireland under 17 champion, David Doyle, Castlebridge set to enter the fray shortly, this division is sure to have twists and turns before the qualifiers for the semi finals are known.

D6 – With four wins on the bounce it is Coolgraney man Damien Kelly who is racing away from the rest of the field. Padraig Devereux, Castlebridge is in second place with Brian Busher, Bridgetown in third and Tommy Armstrong, Kilmyshall occupying the last qualifying position. Apart from Kelly the field is tightly packed though and with 19 matches to go much handball remains.

D7 – Kilmyshall are dominating this group so far with Paul Murphy the surprise leader from north Wexford clubmate Tom Byrne who is in second place. John Moran, Ballymitty is also enjoying a successful tournament as is Eamonn Codd, Bridgetown.

D8 – Conor Keeling, St. Josephs is out in front on thirteen points, five clear of Shay Byrne, Kilmyshall.  Byrne is however in a strong position with two matches in hand and an earlier 15-2, 6-15, 15-12 win over the leader. Eugene English, Ballyhogue and Tommy Moore, Castlebridge are, like Byrne, still unbeaten and well in contention with games in hand.

D9 – Only Tomás O’Shea, Davidstown remains unbeaten in this division but currently he lies third behind Dara Cloake, Castlebridge and Barry Creane, St. Mary’s. The youthful Callum Smithies, Bridgetown is competing well in fourth place and is well in contention.

D10 – This division is being led by a man who has only taken up the sport in recent years but what Liam Murphy, Castlebridge lacks in experience he makes up for in commitment and determination. Recently he got the better of doubles partner Keith Devereux and they currently occupy the top two positions. Gavin Lacey, Ballymitty and James Greene Jnr, Davidstown are also in the mix.

To see the fixtures for the next two weeks click Fixture 5 for the coming week and Fixture 6 for week beginning 14th October.

To check all the stats on the new look league tables click 4-Wall League Groups & Stats Oct 6

For this week results click Fixture 4 Results

For the full league info go into fixtures/results on the home page.