Crehan and Corbett win in Tucson

Clare’s two representatives on the Irish team at the US Junior Nationals in Tucson, Arizona both had major success in both singles and doubles.
Colin Crehan from Kilkishen and Tulla’s Colin Corbett performed brilliantly over the last week to win singles and doubles titles at 17 and under and 15 and under respectively. Crehan and Corbett, both former All-Ireland champions, qualified for the Irish team by winning their respective grades at this year’s Irish Junior Nationals.
In the boys 17 and under grade, Crehan had little difficulty in his early rounds, overcoming Americans Matthew Chu and Mauricio Gomez before a decisive 21-6, 21-11 semi-final win over Anthony Collado of California. Indeed, the Kilkishen ace also dominated the final, defeating Jacob Rodriguez, also Californian, 21-3, 21-16 to take the prestigious title. Crehan then went on to add the 17 and under doubles title for good measure, teaming up with Cork’s Pa Herlihy to beat Tyler Stoffel and Pol Clarke (USA/Tyrone) 21-16, 21-5 in the decider.
Tulla teenager Colin Corbett is also celebrating after his magnificent boys 15 and under victories. In the singles event, he overcame Darragh Lyons (Waterford) and Ramunas Ramanauskas (Monaghan) to set up a semi-final with Luis Bustos (California). Having lost the first game 19-21, the Clare man got in to his stride to win the next two 21-7, 21-7 to reach the decider. Corbett was always in control in the final against Minnesota’s Tyler Stoffel and won through 21-14, 21-8 to become US Junior National Champion.
Corbett wasn’t finished yet however and teamed up with Johnny Woods from Tyrone to add the boys 15 and under doubles title, beating Meath pair Evan Sheridan and Robert Fox 21-4, 21-16 in the final.
The tournament was practically a clean sweep for Irish players, again showing the high level of Irish underage handball. The success of Crehan and Corbett, allied to Munster and All-Ireland juvenile titles won in 2011, shows that the Banner County is still very much to the fore
In the other age grades, Cork’s Killian Carroll took the boys 19 and under title, beating Chicago’s Daniel Cordova in the final while Ireland took all the girls’ titles, with wins for Tyrone’s Elise McRory (13 & under), Galway’s Cianna Ni Churraoin (15 & under) and Catriona Casey of Cork (19 & under singles and doubles with Lauren O’Riordan, Roscommon).