IT WAS another busy week on the local handball front as the Wexford Farmers Co-Op 40 x 20 championships reached the latter stages in all grades.

The Senior semi finalists are now known, and Gavin Buggy will be up against Paul Lambert in one. Buggy came through his final group game with a 21-10, 217 victory for the St. Mary's man over Noel Holohan from Templeudigan in Piercestown on Monday of last week.

At the same venue on the same night, Paul Lambert (St. Joseph's) grabbed the last semi-final spot as he defeated Jason Murphy 218, 21-5. The semi-final line-up is Gavin Buggy v. Paul Lambert and Benny Doyle v. Tommy Hynes.

The first two quarter-finals of the Junior singles were played, with cracking games ensuing. Peter Hughes had to fight all the way to the end in a brilliant game against Jim Berry from Barntown. The Balllyhogue native took the opening set 21-10 but lost the second set 21-20 to set up an eagerly-awaited third set. Both players didn't let up on the top-class handball, but Hughes had more in the tank and took the semi-final spot on offer with a 21-18 win.

Martin Doran was also put to the pin of his Horeswood collar before claiming a semi-final spot after beating John Roche from Castlebridge 21-8, 17-21, 21-18 in another great game.

Junior 'C' doubles had three games down for decision, and the Oulart club claimed two of the three quarter-final spots on offer. Michael Sinnott and Eamonn Murphy combined well to claim victory (21-7, 21-9) over Alan O'Neill and Aidan Sinnott from Ballymitty.

Patrick O'Connor and John Whelan were the second victorious Oulart pair as they saw off Dan and John Kennedy from Coolgreany on a 21-6, 21-14 scoreline. Michael Busher and Eammon Codd from Bridgetown also collected quarter-final spots after receiving a walkover.

Paul Reddy from Ballymitty earned a spot in the semi-final of the Junior 'D' singles as he produced a good performance to beat Eamonn Bowe from Davidstown on a 21-19, 21-12 scoreline.

Mylie Byrne and Paul Reddy (Ballymitty) collected the first semi-final spot in the Junior 'D' doubles when they beat Andrew Corish and Pat Somers from Horeswood 21-16, 21-5. Paddy Kennedy and Pat Rowsome from Davidstown also qualified for the semi-final as they beat Templeudigan pair Brendan Fitzpatrick and Paddy Furlong 21-15, 21-20. Templeudigan pair Willie White and Brendan Holohan also made it to the semi-finals after receiving a walkover.

There were three quarter-final games down for decision in the Over-35 doubles. Ricky Barron and Fintan Doyle did their Barntown club proud when beating Jim and Tom Murphy from Oulart 21-14, 21-15.

Robert Dunne and Dinny Lyndon grabbed Oulart a semi-final spot when they beat Tom Dempsey and Seán Kavanagh (Ballyhogue) 21-9, 21-15, while the third game went to Billy Rossiter and Sonny Sheil as the Ballyhogue men defeated P.J. Leacy and Harry Leacy from St. Joseph's 21-17, 21-8.

There were four top-class quarter-finals in the Masters singles, with Tony Breen winning the first of these against Tom Connors from Barntown on a 12-21, 21-6, 21-18 scoreline. Benny Doyle, winner of the recent Acme Blinds winter league, carried his form into the championship and saw off Ned Buggy's stern test 21-18, 21-6.

Mick Armstrong was the third man into the semi-finals after defeating Donal Doyle (St. Martin's) 21-17, 21-15. Pechelli English (Davidstown) made it a second semi-final spot for his club when he overcame Frank Maddock on a 21-13, 21-8 scoreline.

Ricky Barron secured a semifinal spot in the Masters 'B' singles as he defeated Seán Kavanagh 21-12, 21-6, and joining him is Damien Kelly from Coolgreany who overcame Tom Dempsey from Ballyhogue 21-5, 21-6.