Munster titles for Hannon and McInerney

As the Munster adult 40×20 championships reach their climax, Clare handballers have qualified for provincial finals in no less than nine grades, including all-Clare finals in minor doubles and U-21 doubles, while there are a number of Munster semi-final and final ties in a number of grades to be played over a very busy coming week.

Two Munster titles have already been claimed. The Emerald masters B singles final saw Clare’s first Munster champion of 2012 crowned when Kilkishen’s Stephen McInerney defeated Cork man Ray Norris 21-17, 21-4 in Cashel on Monday.
Cathal Hannon (Tulla) is on the trail of both junior singles and doubles titles after he beat Limerick’s Thomas Donegan 21-11, 21-15 in the singles decider in Galbally on Tuesday. Hannon and Tulla clubmate Aidan Lynch had an impressive 21-18, 21-20 doubles semi-final win over Kerry on Thursday night. They will play Cork pair Donnacha O’Dea and Shane Hedigan in the final on Saturday week in Cappagh (double-header with ladies’ junior B doubles final).
In minor doubles, Clare had one pair in the final after Niall Bolton and Colin Crehan received a walkover from Cork before Barry Nash and Patrick Fitzgerald made it an all-Banner Munster decider when they came from behind in both games to beat Cork’s Pa Herlihy and Denis O’Neill 21-19, 21-14 on Monday night in Tuamgraney in the other semi. Tulla’s Bolton is also in the minor singles final, where he played Cork’s Pa Herlihy on Wednesday in Cappagh.
The Munster U-21 doubles final will also be a local affair when Tulla pair Sam Edbrook and Colm Halpin take on the Tulla-Kilkishen duo Trevor Vaughan and Chris Philpott in Tulla on Wednesday next.
Also victorious on Monday night were John Cawley and Teddy O’Hanlon (Golden masters B doubles) while there was defeat for Mike Hayes and Tommy Hegarty (Masters B doubles) and Pat Donnellan (Golden Masters A singles).
Also through to provincial deciders are John Cawley (golden masters B singles) and John Kirby (ruby masters singles) while Ashling Fitzgerald will contest both ladies’ junior B singles and doubles Munster finals (with Edel O’Grady) after a well-earned 21-14, 21-2 semi-final win over Áine Casey (Kerry) on Saturday.
In senior championship action, Niall Malone and Diarmaid Nash bowed out of the Munster senior doubles championship over the weekend when they were defeated by Cork duo Brendan Fleming and Killian Carroll. The All-Ireland senior championship is run on a separate basis to the provincial championships and both Malone and Nash are in singles first round action this Saturday in Roscommon.
Malone takes on current All-Ireland senior doubles champion Michael Finnegan of Cavan, with the winner back in Roscommon the following day, facing Killian Carroll (Cork) or Vinny Moran (Mayo) in Round 2. Nash will open his account against Chris Doolin in his home court and should he come through will be in Crinkle 24 hours later to play either Dominic Lynch (Kerry) or Nicholas Anthony (Kilkenny) in a round of 16 clash.

Results
Silver masters B doubles semi-final: Kevin O’Brien and John Nihill lost to John Ryan and Seamus O’Donovan (Limerick) 21-13, 5-21, 7-21.
Intermediate doubles semi-final: John and Conor Cooney lost to Ger Coonan and Fergal Collins (Tipperary) 21-10, 21-2.
Minor doubles semi-final: Barry Nash and Patrick Fitzgerald beat Pa Herlihy and Denis O’Neill (Cork) 21-19, 21-14.
Golden masters A singles semi-final: Pat Donnellan lost to John Herlihy (Cork) 15-21, 21-13, 15-21.
Masters B doubles semi-final: Tommy Hegarty and Mike Hayes lost to Tipperary 21-6, 21-8.
Golden masters B doubles quarter-final: John Cawley and Teddy O’Hanlon beat Eugene O’Sullivan and Tom Tobin (Cork) 21-4, 21-4.
Emerald masters B singles final: Stephen McInerney beat Ray Norris (Cork) 21-17, 21-4.
Junior singles final: Cathal Hannon beat Thomas Donegan (Limerick) 21-11, 21-15.

Fixtures
Thursday, February 16
Broadford – golden masters B singles final: John Cawley v Jimmy Fanning (Limerick).
Friday, February 17
Galbally – Emerald masters B doubles semi-final: Stephen McInerney and Joe Cooney v Eamon Spillane and Gerry Foley (Tipperary).
Saturday, February 18
St Coman’s, Roscommon (2pm) – All-Ireland senior singles, Round 1: Niall Malone v Michael Finnegan (Cavan), Diarmuid Nash v Chris Doolin, (Roscommon).
Galbally (3pm) – ladies’ junior B singles final: Ashling Fitzgerald v Laura Keevers (Waterford); ruby masters singles final: John Kirby v Jim Ryan (Tipperary).
Sunday, February 19
St Coman’s, Roscommon (2pm) – All-Ireland senior singles, Round 2: Niall Malone v Killian Carroll (Cork) or Vinny Moran (Mayo)
Crinkle, Offaly (2pm) – All-Ireland senior singlesRound 2: Diarmuid Nash v Dominic Lynch (Kerry) or Nicholas Anthony (Kerry).
Monday, February 20
Galbally – golden masters B doubles semi-final: John Cawley and Teddy O’Hanlon v Martin Ryan and Donal Quinn (Tipperary).
Tuesday, February 21
Galbally – ruby masters doubles semi-final: John Kirby and Jimmy Walsh v Michael Jordan and Dan O’Brien (Cork).
Wednesday, February 22
Tulla – U-21 doubles final: Christopher Philpott and Trevor Vaughan v Sam Edbrook and Colm Halpin.
Saturday, February 25
Cappagh (5pm) – junior doubles final: Cathal Hannon and Aidan Lynch v Donnacha O’Dea and Shane Hedigan (Cork); ladies’ junior B doubles final – Ashling Fitzgerald and Edel O’Grady v Siobhán Lehane and Niamh Blackburn.
Date to be confirmed
Shannon – minor doubles final: Colin Crehan and Niall Bolton v Barry Nash and Patrick Fitzgerald.