High five for handballers

THERE was success galore for Clare handballers at the weekend with five national titles claimed between the juveniles and adults.

In Crinkle, Offaly, on Saturday, the county’s juveniles were involved in four of the seven finals played.

First up for Clare was Ella Donnellan of Kilkishen, who contested the girls under-14 category. Her opponent was promising young Wexford girl, Holly Hynes.  From the start Ella showed her strength and court prowess and raced to an early 10-1 lead. She maintained this and dominated the remainder of the first game to win on a 15-2 scoreline.

The second game saw more of the same, but the Wexford girl fought bravely to keep the scoreline close until at 11-all, Ella stepped up a gear and closed off what was an impressive win on a scoreline of 15-11. This adds to Ella’s already string of honours including the world titles she claimed last October.

Next up to represent Clare were Evelyn Duggan and Aoife Touhy from Tulla who were in the girls under-15 doubles against Kilkenny, represented by Caoimhe O’Shea and Aine Dunne.

They dominated proceedings, with Evelyn Duggan executing shots with great strength and accuracy, while Aoife Touhy retrieved the ball well and defended from all corners of the court throughout the match. The Kilkenny girls were no match for Clare, who dominated the game from start to finish and came out winners on a scoreline of 15-4, 15-2.

In the boys U-16, Fergal Coughlan from Clooney came up against Niall Joyce from Mayo. With two world titles already under his belt, Coughlan was gunning for this title, which his uncle, Gerard won some 35 years ago.
Coughlan got off to a flying start to go 10-1 up. The spectators were treated to some great serving and passing shots throughout the first game, which the young Banner man dominated from start to finish. He finished off the first game as he had started, winning 21-6. In the second game, the scores were tight and Coughlan went ahead at one stage, 14-8. The Mayo lad battled back to level  at 14-14. However, it was to be Coughlan’s day as he duly stepped up a gear and closed off the game and the match on a final score of 21-15. This win was made all the more remarkable as Clare has now claimed this title three years in a row, with Colin Crehan winning in 2011 and Colin Corbett in 2012.

Last up for Clare were Kilkishen’s, Sean Donnellan and Ciaran Cooney, who were vying for All Ireland glory in the boys under- 17 doubles section. This was a special day for the Donnellans as Sean’s sister, Ella had already claimed the U-14 singles title.

The Banner men were drawn against Conor Burke and Cormac Moran of Mayo and like all the other Clare participants, they got off to a blistering start. In the first game scores were level on a number of occasions. However, at 11-8 up, the Clare men stepped up a gear and produced some fine handball to clinch the first game on a 21-11 scoreline.  With Donnellan’s eye-catching killing from deep court and Cooney’s athletic retrieving and offensive play they proved far too strong in the second game and won on a 21-4 scoreline.

On Sunday afternoon in O’Loughlins, Kilkenny, Clare’s Colin Crehan and Barry Nash contested the minor All Ireland doubles title against the formidable pairing of Evan and Dylan Sheridan from Meath. This was an extra special occasion for young Crehan, as he was seeking to complete the double having, already captured the singles title two weeks earlier.

The first game proved a nip and tuck affair as aces were exchanged and scores levelled on a number of occasions but it was the Meath men who edged forward to clinch the game on a 21-18 scoreline.

In the second game Clare totally dominated as Crehan produced some marvellous serving and fly killing, while Nash retrieved well from deep court to keep the Meath men at bay. Clare won the game 21-6 to force a tie-breaker.

The final game produced some of the best handball of this encounter with the Clare lads not relenting. They recorded an emphatic 21-1 win.

On the home front, the Division 3 final was contested between Clooney and Clarecastle in Tuamgraney. In front of a packed and enthusiastic gallery, Clooney impressed and clinched the title on a 110 to 90 scoreline.
The winning team comprised of Patrick Clune, Kevin O’Brien, Fergal Coughlan Jnr, Paschal Brooks,  John Kennedy, Tom Haugh, Ryan O’Neill and Conor Clune. The team was managed by John Clune.