The Doubles Final programme in St Comans Handball club on Saturday started the ball rolling for a day of high drama as Wexford's Daniel Kavanagh and Keith Armstrong ousted Clare's Fergal Coughlan and Cathair Agnew in a three game thriller to set the tone for a wonderful day's action at the Roscommon venue.
It was Clare who started the brightest and raced into a 4-0 lead with the experienced Fergal Coughlan and his partner Cathair Agnew settling well into the game. Wexford however sprang to life and an incredible run of 15 straight points left Clare shellshocked and the Wexford duo with a healthy 15-4 lead in the first. The one way traffic continued and Wexford stretched their lead to 19-4 before Clare responded and slowly ate into Wexford's lead with a combination of great shots from both players. Once on a roll the Clare men took command and reduced the lead to 19-17 before Wexford inched closer to game point making it 20-17 and appeared to be in the driving seat again. Clare refused to lie down again and reduced the deficit to the minimum following a fantastic rally. But Wexford would get another chance and they finally sealed the first game 21-19 to the delight of the large crowd present.
Clare started the second as they did the first taking a 4-2 lead early on but there would be no repeat of the first game and despite a number of brief rallies from the Wexford men Clare held out for a comfortable 21-8 second game win to set up a third game and at this stage they looked in control.
Clare once more started the third game in strong fashion taking a 9-5 lead and looking like strong favourites for the game. However Wexford rallied and despite trailing 16-10 Kavanagh and Armstrong showed great composure and determination to tie the scores at 16-16. Armstrong then killed a ball from the backwall to give Wexford the lead and their large support roared on the two young men who had looked dead and buried but who were now in the ascendancy. Clare rallied but found Kavanagh in determined form and he made it 20-17 as the tension was at an all time high. First Agnew then Coughlan showed great courage to get the Clare men back in the game and they closed the gap to 20-18 with a cracking kill from Coughlan but Kavanagh regained serve for Wexford and they made no mistake this time in closing out the game 21-18 to rapturous applause from their delighted support.
It was tough on Clare who had played some fantastic handball throughout but great credit must go to Wexford for refusing to give up in the third and they got their just rewards with a Minor Doubles All Ireland title.