The Clare Champion Clare news, sport, entertainment and local notes
ANOTHER chapter in the impressive history of Tuamgraney Handball Club was written in October when the World Championships were staged in Dublin.
Scariff native Diarmuid Nash captured the World U-23 title, beating Caolan Daly from Tyrone in straight sets, 21-6 and 21-4, in the final.
National senior semi-finalist earlier this year, the well-known Clare hurler was hugely impressive in capturing back-to-back world titles. He won the world 15 and under boys’ title six years ago in Edmonton, Canada.
Nash had four matches on his way to the most recent success, winning a game each day from Sunday through to Wednesday.
“This was the one I was after,” a delighted Nash told The Clare Champion moments after his final victory. He also took home silver in the 40 x 20 doubles, having paired off with club man Niall Malone.
Diarmuid was also part of the Irish team that played in the Federation Cup and Ireland came second in that competition.
Nash is now looking to the Irish senior title this year, while the East Clare man is also targeting the open section of the world championships in three years’ time, when they return to Canada.
After 10 days of competition at the world championships, Clare competitors came home with 10 gold and eight silver medals, a very impressive result.
In the girls’ U-13 section, Doireann Murphy (Clarecastle) and Ella Donnellan (Kilkishen) won gold in both the 40 x 20 doubles and one-wall doubles. Ella also won silver in the one-wall singles, after being defeated by Aoibhinn Henderson.
Fergal Coughlan (Clooney) came home with two gold medals and a silver medal. Fergal won gold in the one-wall event, beating Jack Campbell in the final. Fergal also had success in the one-wall doubles, taking home gold having partnered Niall Adison (Tyrone). In the final of the 40 x 20 singles, Fergal took home a silver medal.
Colin Crehan (Kilkishen) won gold in the 40 x 20 singles boys’ U17. Colin also won a silver medal in the one-wall doubles U-17, partnered by Darren Doherty.
Lisa Loughnane (Clooney) won silver after a tiebreaker in the women’s one-wall singles C competition.
The Tulla pairing of Colin Corbett and Niall Bolton took home gold in the boys’ U-17 doubles, taking the title from Darren Doherty and Patrick McCrory.
John Cawley (Shannon) won silver in the men’s golden masters 40 x 20 singles.
