Munster double for Kilkishen and Clare

THERE was an abundance of handball action over the past weekend in both juvenile and adult grades.
On Thursday night in Clooney, in front of a capacity crowd, some fantastic handball was dished out to those in attendance.
It was an all-Clare final in both the minor singles and U-21 singles grades.
First up was eagerly awaited battle between Colin Crehan (Kilkishen) and Colin Corbett  (Tulla) in the minor decider and the two did not disappoint. The first game was a nip-and-tuck affair with service changing on many occasions.
It looked as if Crehan was going to take the first but Corbett produced some blistering serves to clinch the opening game on a 21-18 scoreline. The second started like the first but Crehan upped the ante to scoop the second on a score of 21-16 and force the tie break. Both produced some superb handball agility and court craft but in the end, it was Crehan who claimed the Munster title with 21-15 scoreline.
In the U-21 singles final, Jamie Lynch (Kilkishen) was pitted against Ciarán Malone (Tuamgraney). Again, the first game was close with Malone just narrowly coming out on top. The second game saw Lynch utilising his power to great advantage to clinch victory and force a tie break.
The Kilkishen man powered on and didn’t disappoint his followers making it a double on the night for the Kilkishen club when he captured the crown.

Juvenile success
ON Saturday and Sunday, Clare juveniles were in action in Tulla, Kilkishen, Clooney and Tuamgraney when they took on Tipperary in the Munster semi-finals. There was mixed success for the Clare juveniles with some tight games in a lot of grades.
Ian Murray had a great win in U-15 singles when he defeated Adrian English (Tipperary). Clare had great results in the boys’ U-17 singles and doubles when Jacob Loughnane had an impressive win in the singles and Sean Donnellan and Ciarán Cooney impressed in the doubles.
In the blue ribbon event, Fergal Coughlan (Clooney) continued his impressive form when on Sunday he had an impressive victory over Ballyporeen’s Mickey Maher,  21-14, 21-1 displaying some eye catching serving and defensive court play.
In the girls’ section, Ella Donnellan proved too strong for her Tipperary opponent and continues to stride forward when she won the U-13 singles semi-final. The girls’ U-15 combination of Aoife Tuohy and Evelyn Duggan had an impressive victory over Tipperary, while Amber Nolan saw off Orla Molloy to book her place in the finals weekend.
All winners at the weekend will now go on to represent Clare in Waterford this weekend.

Results
Boys
U-12S: Mark Rodgers (Clare) lost to Jack O’Keeffe (Tipperary) 14-15, 5-15.
U-12D: Henry McGrath/Cormac Murphy (Clare) lost to Sean Hayes/Sean Carolan (Tipperary) 1-15, 10-15.
U-13D: Rory McNamara/Ronan Molloy (Clare) lost to Sean McAdams/Daire Madden (Tipperary) 4-15, 13-15.
U-14S: Tiernan Agnew (Clare) lost to Colin Ryan (Tipperary) 4-15, 15-6, 8-15.
U-14D: Gary Cooney/Cian Minogue (Clare) beat Jerome Cahill/James Prentice (Tipperary) 15-7, 15-10.
U-15S: Ian Murray (Clare) beat Adrian English (Tipperary) 15-3, 15-10.
U-15D: Jack Hayes/Shane Hunt (Clare) lost to A O’Flaherty/B O’Meara (Tipperary)  7-15, 15-9, 10-15.
U-16S: Fergal Coughlan (Clare) beat Mickey Maher (Tipperary) 21-14, 21-1.
U-16D: Brian Fahy/Cathair Agnew (Clare) lost to Jason English/John Ryan (Tipperary) 21-14, 17-21, 11-3.
U-17S: Jacob Loughnane (Clare) beat Ronan Burke (Tipperary) 21-10, 21-16.
U-17D: Sean Donnellan/Ciarán Cooney (Clare) beat Kieran Casey/Kalem Harte (Tipperary)  21-3, 21-2.

Girls
U-12S: Amber Nolan (Clare) beat Orla Molloy (Tipperary) 15-14,15-2.
U-12D: Orla O’Brien/Sarah Minogue (Clare) lost to Laura Shinners/Katie Morris (Tipperary) 4-15, 7-15.
U-13D: Aoife Floyd/Niamh O’Brien (Clare) lost to Eleanor Percy/Eimear Meagher (Tipperary)  15-8, 9-15, 8-15.
U-14S: Ella Donnellan (Clare) beat Sinéad Meagher (Tipperary) 15-8, 15-8.
U-15D: Evelyn Duggan/Aoife Tuohy (Clare) beat Maeve Coffey/Katie O’Flaherty (Tipperary) 15-2, 15-7.