Clare players gear up for Munster Handball Championships

The 2012 Munster 40×20 Handball Championships are now in full swing and the next few weeks promise to be hectic for Banner handball followers, with a number of Clare players in action across the various adult grades.
The Munster Senior Open Singles Championship will be played over the coming weekend at Cork and Limerick venues and Clare will be represented by Tuamgraney pair Niall Malone and Diarmuid Nash. Reigning Munster senior champion Nash will be among the favourites to retain the provincial crown despite a tough looking draw.
The current intermediate All-Ireland champion has a quarter-final against the winner of Killian Carroll (Cork) and Ger Coonan (Tipp) in Cappagh on Saturday morning and should he come through, faces a semi-final tie later the same day against Brendan Fleming (Cork) or Fergal Collins (Tipp) in Broadford. The final is fixed for Sunday afternoon in Ballydesmond.
On the other side of the senior draw, Nash’s fellow All-Ireland intermediate champion Niall Malone will also be hoping to progress but faces an arguably tougher draw than Nash.
Should he come through this Friday night’s preliminary round clash with Cork’s Brendan Fleming in Broadford, Malone would face potential quarter and semi-finals against Seamus O’Carroll (Limerick) and either CJ Fitzpatrick (Limerick) or Dominic Lynch (Kerry).
In intermediate singles, county senior hurler Conor Cooney makes a return to competitive inter-county handball when he plays Cork’s Brendan Fleming next Wednesday, while his brother John takes on Ger Conan of Tipperary. The former U-21 All-Ireland doubles winners will be in intermediate doubles action against Tipp a week later. In junior singles, Newmarket’s Seamus Lawlor last week accounted for Tipp’s Jason Tobin in Carrick-on-Suir last week and is rewarded with a home tie this Saturday against Tom Donegan (Limerick). Lawlor is also in doubles quarter-final action with Jimmy Close (Kilkishen) in Newmarket on Thursday.

Munster Adult 40×20 Championships 2012 fixtures
Thursday, January 26, Tulla 7.30pm, junior B doubles: Clare 2 v Tipp (John Ferncome, Michael Purcell) – U-21 doubles; Colm Halpin and Sam Edbrooke v Limerick (Padraig O’Carroll and Eamon Davern).
Thursday, January 26, Shannon 7.30pm, masters B doubles: Dermot Kirby and Seamus McNamara v Limerick (Pat Murphy and Denis McCarthy).
Thursday, January 26, Newmarket 7.30pm, junior doubles: Seamus Lawlor and Jimmy Close v Limerick (Tom Donegan and Tom O’Brien).
Friday, January 27, Clarecastle 7.30pm, masters B doubles: Mike Hayes and Tommy Hegarty v Cork (Kieran Noonan and Barry O’Regan).
Friday, January 27, Nenagh 7.30pm, minor singles: Niall Bolton v Cork (Denis O’Neill); Colin Crehan v Cork (Patrick Herlihy).
Saturday, January 28, Galbally 2pm, ladies junior B singles: Edel O’Grady v Waterford (Laura Keevers) – ladies intermediate singles; Sarah Loughnane v Kerry (Karen Lawlor).
Saturday, January 28, Newmarket 6.30pm, junior singles: Seamus Lawlor v Limerick (Tom Donegan).
Saturday, January 28, Dungarvan 2pm, U-21 doubles: Clare 1 v Waterford.
Sunday, January 29, Silvermines 2pm – minor doubles: Clare 2 v Tipperary.
Wednesday, February 1, Galbally 7.30pm – intermediate singles: Conor Cooney v Cork (Brendan Fleming); John Cooney v Tipp (Ger Coonan).