An enthralling weekend of action saw three of the four QF matches in the All-Ireland 4-Wall Senior Men's Doubles Championship go the distance with tiebreakers, including two gripping 11-10 finishes.
In the all Wexford battle in St Joseph's, a close battle was expected and it certainly delivered. After their huge upset against the reigning champions last weekend, Galen Riordan & Mark Doyle started brightly and took the opener 21-11 against Buggy & Walsh. But they were pegged back 15-21 in a close second, before the drama followed with an 11-10 win.
They will now face Meath's Brian Carroll & Gary McConnell, who for the second weekend running came from losing the first set to win in a thrilling tiebreak, this time against Cork's Daniel Relihan & Michael Hedigan 11-10.
#3 seeds the Funchion brothers of Kilkenny, Peter & Patrick, are a formidable partnership and saw off Kerry's Dominick Lynch & Jack O'Shea in two games. They now face the Mulkerrins brothers, who themselves were forced into a tiebreak before seeing off Cork's Tadgh Carroll & David Walsh 11-3.
The SF's are scheduled for Saturday 16th April, alongside the Ladies SF's, all in Kingscourt HC, Cavan.
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QF Results:
- QF1: Wexford (Galen Riordan/Mark Doyle) dft Wexford (Gavin Buggy/Adam Walsh) 21-11, 15-21, 11-10
- QF2: Meath (Brian Carroll/Gary McConnell) dft Cork (Daniel Relihan/Michael Hedigan) 15-21, 21-7, 11-10
- QF3: Kilkenny (Patrick & Peter Funchion) dft Kerry (Dominick Lynch/Jack O’Shea) 21-7, 21-19
- QF4: Galway (Martin & Diarmuid Mulkerrins) dft Cork (Tadgh Carroll/David Walsh) 21-14, 14-21, 11-3