GAVIN BUGGY'S bid for a quarter-final spot in the All-Ireland 40 x 20 Senior singles came up just short last weekend as the St. Mary's man had too many hard miles on the clock.

On Saturday night all roads led to Ballymore Eustace as Paul Lambert and Buggy lined out in the Leinster Senior doubles final against Meath pair Brian Carroll and Tom Sheridan. It had all the makings of a close game, with everyone expecting a three-game match.

It turned out that way as the men from the Royal county set the early tempo and took the opening set 21-11. Gavin and Paul have played very well together throughout the Leinster campaign and were not going to go down without a fight, and they took a bruising second set 21-16 to set up a decider.

It slipped away from the Wexford pair, however, as the Meath men turned the screw and hammered the ball low and hard and got the vital kills. The score in the third set of 21-3 was disappointing for the Wexford men, but they can still re-group when they face into qualifiers action next weekend.

Less than 24 hours later, Gavin's singles effort came undone. Charlie Shanks from Armagh raced into the early lead and won the first game 21-11. The second set went the way of Buggy 2116, but his exertions the previous day didn't help as he let a promising early lead in the third set slip before eventually going out 21-13.

Michael Dowling from Kildare held the aces as he beat Benny Doyle from Horeswood in the final of the Golden Masters 'A' singles. In a close game, Dowling found the range more times than Doyle and got the winning shots that eventually gave him a 21-14, 21-15 victory.

Tony Breen also lost out in Leinster final action last week as he was defeated by Brendan Mullins from Offaly in the Emerald Masters 'A' singles. Tony, who is recovering from a back injury, was not on his best form and lost out 21-6, 21-14.

Next up was the Diamond Masters 'A' singles, and it was great news for Wexford and the St. Mary's club as Ned Buggy marked his return to the game with a Leinster title as he beat Andy Ryan from Carlow 21-11, 21-11 in the final. Now Ned will head into the All-Ireland series in great hope of picking up the top prize in the division.

Declan Hart came through a bruising contest to collect the Silver Masters 'B' singles. In what can only be described as an epic battle, Harte came through against Eamonn Purcell from Kilkenny despite losing the opening set.

The first game was very close, with Purcell prevailing 21-20. The next two sets were just as close, and thankfully the purple and gold man came out on top on a 21-18, 21-17 scoreline.

There was some remaining semi-final action played out last week. Paul Lambert got his week off in great fashion, firstly beating Peter Hughes (Ballyhogue) on Monday of last week 2120, 16-21, 21-11, and then he put in another three-set win over Brendan Burke from Kilkenny. The Marble city man took the opening set 21-18, but 'Curly' re-grouped and won through 2111, 21-5.

In the final due to be played early this week, Lambert will face Coolgreany's Darren O'Toole after he won through 16-21, 21-11, 21-5 against Malachy Whelan from Castlebridge in another allWexford clash in this very competitive grade.

There was no such luck in the Masters 'B' doubles as Paul Dowling and Chris Dunne from Kilkenny beat Ricky Barron and Martin Power 21-11, 21-6, while Chris McGovern and Noel Lynch from Meath were impressive 21-8, 21-5 winners over Armstrong brothers, Mick and Tom.

FIXTURES

WEDS. MARCH 10 AT HORESWOOD: 7.15 p.m., MAD (SF), Mick Armstrong/Pechelli English (DT) v. Donal Doyle/Frank Maddock (SM). 8 p.m., GMS (SF), Ned Buggy (SJ) v. Sonny Sheil (BH). AT OULART: 7.15 p.m., MBD (SF), Kevin Doyle/Dom Stafford (DT) v. Martin Power/Dessie Heffernan (CG).

8 p.m., MBD (SF), Tom Dempsey/Seán Kavanagh (BH) v. Eamon Bowe/Jim Ryan (DT).

AT GARRYHILL: 7.30 p.m., GMAD (F), Benny Doyle/Tony Breen (Wx) v. Johnny Brennan/Joe Hennessy (Kk).

8 p.m., SMBD (F), Declan Hart/Fintan Doyle (Wx) v. Liam Law/Seán Walsh (Kk).

AT GORESBRIDGE: 7.30 p.m., LMD (F), Sandra Kelly/Mairéad Elms (Wx) v. Claire Grace/Laura Moore (Kk).

AT BALLYMORE EUSTACE: 8 p.m., DMBD (F), Jim Bergin/Ger McWilliams (Wx) v. Seán Devlin/Joe Heslin (Lh).

THURS. MARCH 11 AT PIERCESTOWN: 7.15 p.m., JDS (SF), Paul Reddy (BM) v. Paddy Kennedy (DT). 8 p.m., JDS (SF), Darwyn Hart (HW) v. Michael Busher (BR). AT BALLYMORE EUSTACE: 8 p.m., JBD (F), Paul Lambert/Peter Hughes (Wx) v. Peter Flanagan/Eugene O'Reilly (Mh).

FRI. MARCH 12 AT BREE: 7.15 p.m., IS (SF), Damien Kelly (CG) v. David Redmond (TL). 8 p.m., IS (SF), Darren O'Toole (CG) v. Martin Doran (HW).

SAT. MARCH 13 AT BREE: 6.30 p.m., O35D (SF), Robert Dunne/Dinny Lyndon (OL) v. Ricky Barron/Fintan Doyle (BT).

7.15 p.m., O35D (SF), Pechelli English/James Freeman (DT) v. Billy Rossiter/Sonny Sheil (BH).

AT PIERCESTOWN: 6.30 p.m., JD (SF), Paddy Cheevers/Declan Hart (HW) v. John Roche/Malachy Whelan (CB).

7.15 p.m., U21S (SF), Jim Berry (CB) v. James O'Toole (OUL).