Clare handballers on top of the world

Clare’s standing as a leading handball county was highlighted last week at the World Handball Championships, which were staged in Dublin and hosted by the Irish Handball Association.
After 10 days of competition, Clare competitors came home with 10 gold and eight silver medals, a very impressive result.
In the girls’ U-13, 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, having been defeated by Aoibhinn Henderson.
Fergal Coughlan (Clooney) came home with two gold and a silver medal. Fergal won gold in the one-wall, 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 having picked up an injury during the second game.
Colin Crehan (Kilkishen) won gold in the 40 x 20 singles boys’ U-17. Colin also won a silver medal in the one-wall doubles U-17, partnered by Darren Doherty.
Diarmuid Nash (Tuamgraney) won a gold and a silver medal. He took home gold in the 40 x 20 U-23 singles and also took home silver in the 40 x 20 doubles, having paired off with clubman Niall Malone.
Diarmuid was also part of the Irish team that played in the Federation Cup. Ireland came second in that competition.
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.
Clarecastle’s Declan Frawley had to withdraw due to injury in the semi-finals of the over 35, 40 x 20 competition.