Both SF's in the Men's Softball Doubles Championship took place in entertaining games at Croke Park on Saturday.
The reigning champs Brian Carroll & Gary McConnell (Meath) never looked in doubt of making the final as they saw off Wexford's Gavin Buggy & Mikey Berry 21-11, 21-8. They will enter the final as favourites to retai, and with Brian bidding to win his 9th Softball Doubles All-Ireland.
The second match was where most of the days drama took place, as Wexford veterans Tommy Hynes & Barry Goff were in blistering form, taking the first 7-21 against Westmeath's Robbie McCarthy & Colm Jordan. The Westmeath men controlled most of the second game, but were reeled in at the closing stages before holding out to win 21-19 and force the tiebreak. That appeared to suck the life out of the Wexford challenge, as McCarthy came more into the match and helped seal the victory 21-12 to progress.
Results:
- SF 1: Meath (Brian Carroll/Gary McConnell) dft Wexford (Gavin Buggy/Mikey Berry) 21-11, 21-8
- SF 2: Westmeath (Robbie McCarthy/Colm Jordan) dft Wexford (Tommy Hynes/Barry Goff) 7-21, 21-19, 21-12