Clare claim minor title in thriller

COLIN Crehan and Niall Bolton were crowned All-Ireland 40×20 minor handball champions at Cappagh on Saturday.
The Clare pair won a thrilling tie that went right to the wire. They started impressively and took an early 6-0 lead on their way to a comfortable first game on a 21-12 scoreline.
The Tyrone pairing of Gabhainn McCrystal and Pol Clarke missed some easy chances in the first game, when they made a number of unforced errors. In the second game, the tables turned and Tyrone, particularly McCrystal, really came into the game. It was Clare’s turn to squander chances.
The Kilkishen/Tulla pairing led 7-6 but then found themselves 7-17 and 9-20 behind, before upping their game again to reach 16. However, they could not prevent their Northern opponents from winning the game and levelling the tie. The best handball was undoubtedly played in the third game and this time the momentum and lead swung both ways a number of times.
Clare again started well and with more purpose. Some fine serving and excellent kills by both Crehan and Bolton saw them lead 14-5, before Tyrone countered and went into a 17-14 lead. Indeed, Tyrone led at 20-18 and had a number of chances at game ball to seal it. This was where the Clare pair showed real resolve and fighting spirit though, showing superb confidence to claw back and come through by the narrowest margin.
Munster GAA Council president Sean Walsh presented the cup and winners’ medals to the delighted Clare players.
All four finalists are underage again next year, which makes Colin Crehan and Niall Bolton’s achievement all the more special. Both are former U-16 All-Ireland champions and both won College All-Irelands this year, Crehan (Ard Scoil Rís, Limerick) winning intermediate singles and Bolton (St Joseph’s, Tulla) winning intermediate doubles.
It was a particularly good year for Crehan, who won the U-17  section at the Irish Nationals, going on to win the US title in Arizona at Christmas for good measure.
All Saturday’s finals were recorded and extended highlights of the games will be shown on the upcoming GAA Handball Show special, to be aired on TG4 in May or June.

U-16 success for Corbett

THE All-Ireland juvenile handball finals were played in O’Loughlin’s, Kikenny on Sunday where Clare were represented in three finals. In the girls’ U-14 doubles, Clodagh Nash (Tuamgraney) and Doireann Murphy (Clarecastle) were beaten 15-4, 15-11 by Armagh.
Clooney pair Natasha Coughlan and Michelle Nihill were well beaten by a very strong Tyrone pair in the girls’ U-16 doubles decider and Colin Corbett won the boys’ U-16 singles. Corbett, who has had a stellar year in which he won both the Irish and US national titles and partnered Niall Bolton to the All-Ireland Colleges Intermediate Doubles, defeated Monaghan’s Eugene McGeogh 21-5, 21-16. Tulla man Corbett is rated as one of Ireland’s top young handballers.
The first round of the Irish Nationals qualifiers takes place this weekend. The only Clare player in Round 1 action is Kilkishen’s Christopher Philpott, who plays Galway’s Declan Connaughton in Moycullen on Sunday.
On the local handball front, the Clare Handball League Division 3 final goes ahead this Friday night between Tuamgraney and Shannon. Shannon defeated Clarecastle B in Monday’s semi-final, while Tuamgraney beat Clarecastle A last week. Club secretaries are asked to forward entries for this year’s 60×30 championships to county secretary Michael Hogan as soon as possible.