Shooters hit mark as Wexford savours success at All-Ireland championships
Saturday opened under wet and overcast skies at the Co. Offaly venue. The course, shot over eight stands – four in open ground and four nestled in woodland – was widely praised for its clever design.
Rather than testing shooters with sheer distance, the course setter used deceptive angles and thoughtful trajectories to demand timing, focus, and quick decision-making. Despite the weather, the lay-out drew applause from competitors across the board.
In those difficult conditions, the Wexford Senior men's team delivered a stand-out performance, storming to the Division 1 All-Ireland title with a winning score of 476 x 500, comfortably ahead of Westmeath on 462 and Meath on 460.
The twelve-man team were consistent across the board, producing a brilliant group performance to bring national honours back to the county.
The success didn't end there. The Wexford ladies also rose to the occasion, putting in an excellent shift to claim the All-Ireland team title.
The stand-out individual was Sinéad Bates, who shot her way into a shoot-off for the High Gun title. With the pressure on, she showed grit and accuracy, hitting 17 out of 20 to be crowned All-Ireland ladies' champion.
Elsewhere on day one, Robert Civciss flew the flag for Wexford in the Trainee Licence category, producing a sharp and composed performance. After a tough shoot-off, he secured third place – an impressive result for one of the county's most promising young talents.
One of Saturday's most thrilling contests came in the race for the individual High Gun. Wexford's Colin Dunne and Danny Luckie both shot perfect 50-straights, earning their places in a three-man shoot-off alongside Larry Fay of Meath.
In a tight and high-quality battle, Fay edged ahead to take top honours, with Dunne securing second and Luckie third.
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Sunday brought brighter skies and lighter winds, with the same eight-stand course slightly tweaked to give returning competitors new challenges. While crowds were smaller, the standard of shooting remained sky-high.
Ballymoney, representing Wexford, dominated the Division 2 All-Ireland Club Championship, winning the title with a remarkable team average of 47.4. Their consistency, teamwork and determination were applauded across the ground.
Star of the day was once again Colin Dunne, who returned to competition and shot another flawless 50 x 50 – the only perfect score of the day – to claim the High Gun title for day two outright, confirming his status as one of the event's stand-out performers.
Wexford also celebrated a podium finish in the Veterans Handicap, where Alan Clarke's steady hand earned him third place in a competitive field.
Importantly, Wexford's presence extended beyond the headline events.
The county also fielded strong squads in the Veterans, Super Veterans, and Side-by-Side team competitions, each proudly representing their county and showing the depth of talent and commitment across all age groups and disciplines.
At the close of competition, Lorcan Murphy, Chairman of the Wexford Regional Game Council Clay Committee, extended his congratulations to all shooters who represented the county over the weekend.
He praised their professionalism, sportsmanship, and pride in wearing the county colours, and offered heartfelt thanks to the Wexford RGC for their ongoing support throughout the year – support that has been vital to the team's continued success.
The full list of Wexford representatives included: Seán Rigley, Colin Dunne, David Breen, Don McKay, David Benson, Robbie Rowe, Danny Luckie, Mick Byrne, Roland Morris, John Byrne, Colin Doyle, Paul Gorman, John Barron, Alan Clarke, Richie O'Neill, Tom Boland, John Leacy, Sinéad Bates, Niamh Murphy, Mary O'Leary, Angela Foley, Ciarra O'Leary, Glenn Carley, Rory Murphy, Brian Kennedy, Robert Civciss, Tom Higgins, Gerry Lynch, Tony Quann, Vincent McMonagle, and Malcolm Longley.
From a rain-slicked Saturday to a sun-drenched Sunday, Wexford shooters stood tall at every turn.
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