Clare handball is celebrating a magnificent All-Ireland double this Saturday evening. At Kingscourt in Cavan this afternoon Diarmaid Nash (Tuamgraney) and Colin Crehan (Kilkishen) captured the senior doubles 40 x 20 title when they defeated the holders Paul Brady and Michael Finnegan from Cavan.

This was a repeat of last year’s final which the Cavan pair won but this time they had to settle for the runners up spot as the Clare pair turned in a superb display

The holders won the opening game 21-15 but Nash and Crehan levelled the contest with a 21-14 second game win. In the tie break third game the Claremen were always in control and won on a 21-3 scoreline bot bring this title to Clare for the first time since 1979 when the Kirby brothers from Tuamgraney were champions.

Earlier this afternoon Mark Rodgers (Tuamgraney) and Tiernan Agnew (Kilkishen) teamed up to win the minor doubles title at the expense of Kilkenny’s Eoin Brennan and Padraig Foley. The Clare pair won 21-2, 19-21 and 21-1.

Despite an impressive performance in the girls doubles final, the Clare pairing of Caitriona Millane and Bridin Rodgers had to give best to Kildare’s Leah Doyle and Molly Dagg.

Doyle who has strong Clare connections as her father Pat hails from Whitegate, won the minor singles title when she beat Millane a few weeks ago

By Seamus Hayes