Nash bridges 25-year gap with intervarsity title

SCARIFF’s Diarmuid Nash bridged a 25-year gap at the weekend when he captured the senior inter-varsity handball title.
Diarmuid, who is third-year commerce student in NUI Galway, has been, for the last three years, a scholarship student for handball and has been part of the elite squad system being operated by NUI Galway.
This is the latest in a long line of honours for Nash who has also played U-21 hurling for his county.
Most notably, Diarmuid’s greatest success on the hurling field to date was also with NUI Galway when he was part of their successful Fitzgibbon Cup team last year and is a current team member. Gaelic games officer, Michael O’Connor congratulated Diarmuid on this great honour. “It is due honour for a great sportsman who has worked hard to manage both handball and hurling with much success for himself and NUI Galway. This title was previously won by another Clareman, John Duggan, back in 1986,” Mr O’Connor said.
Nash defeated Tipperary man Fergal Collins in the final. Nash had overcome Waterford’s David Walsh and Nicholas Anthony from Kilkenny in the quarter and semi-final respectively.
Nash’s Tuamgraney and NUIG clubmate Niall Malone also reached the open semi-finals with an impressive win over ITT’s Shane Hedigan but Ballina man Collins had too much for Malone on the day and the reigning All-Ireland U-21 champion went into the final against Nash. The Scariff native came out on top in Sunday’s decider 21-18, 21-7.
There was also success for Clooney’s Lisa Loughnane (University of Limerick) when she claimed the ladies’ B title with an 11-7 tie-break win in the final against Linda Connolly (RCSIA). Nash’s win in Cavan capped a busy but successful weekend for the Tuamgraney club at adult and juvenile 40×20 levels.
Friday night saw Munster Secondary schools championship wins for Alice Akers and Clodagh Nash. Alice (Scariff CC) won the girls’ junior singles title while Clodagh (Ursuline Convent, Thurles) took the first years’ crown after defeating Tuamgraney clubmate Katie Minogue (Scariff CC) in the final in Cappagh, Limerick.
Ciarán Malone (Scariff CC) reached the boys’ schools Intermediate Munster final but went down to Kilkishen’s Colin Crehan (Ard Scoil Rís) in a tie-breaker in Cappagh on Saturday. Barry Nash will this week be involved in the Leinster Schools championship representing CC Roscrea.

County championships
IN the county juvenile championships meanwhile, Tuamgraney will be represented in the U-12B singles (Cian Minogue), U-13B singles (Ian Murray), U-16A doubles (Barry Nash, Patrick Fitzgerald) and minor A singles (Ciarán Malone). All five will be bidding to add to county titles won by Tuamgraney players Clodagh Nash (U-12) and Alice Akers (U-16).
Tuamgraney will also be well represented in this year’s Munster adult championships. Paul Healy played U-21 singles and doubles (with Chris Ryan, Newmarket) for the county while Ciarán Malone will also play both singles and doubles (with Jamie Lynch, Kilkishen) at minor grade. Malone has already won his first-round singles game as has Ciarán Walsh (junior B singles) who also partners Tom Kirby (Shannon) in doubles.
Walsh plays the Munster singles semi-final this Friday in Nenagh (7.30pm) against John Ferncombe (Tipperary). Diarmaid Nash and Niall Malone will once again be gunning for glory when they compete in both singles and doubles at intermediate and senior grades. Anne Marie Fitzgerald, Ashling Fitzgerald and Edel O’Grady are all in line to represent Clare in the Munster Ladies’ championship in what is already shaping up to be a very busy spring for the Tuamgraney club in what is the club’s centenary year.
Tuamgraney will also play county adult league semi-finals next week in Division 2 against Tulla in Clooney on Monday and in Division 3 against Shannon in Clarecastle on Wednesday.

Munster championships
THE Munster 40×20 adult championships are well under way this week and a number of Clare players have been in action and almost all are still in contention. There were first-round wins for Ciarán Malone (minor singles), Ciarán Walsh, Paul Lynch (junior B singles), Aidan Lynch (junior singles), Barry McMahon/Chris Philpott (minor doubles) and Ciarán Walsh/Tom Kirby (junior B doubles). The fixtures continue this week with matches involving Clare players coming thick and fast. 
The first Clare player in provincial final action will be Clooney’s Lisa Loughnane, who takes on Karen Lawlor of Kerry in the Munster Intermediate ladies’ singles final on Sunday at Broadford, County Limerick (2pm).
This week will see the following in Munster Chamionship action: Ciarán Walsh and Tom Kirby (Tuesday in Tuamgraney v Limerick); Christy Philpott (Tuesday in Kilkishen v Cork); Jamie Lynch and Ciarán Malone (Wednesday in Dungarvan v Waterford); Trevor Vaughan and Alan Leamy (Wednesday in Dungarvan v Waterford); Niall Malone and Diarmaid Nash (Wednesday in Tuamgraney v Tipp and Cork, intermediate singles); John Nihill (Wednesday in Cashel v Tipperary); Paul Lynch (Thursday in Clooney v Limerick, JBS); Cathal Hannon (Thursday in Clooney v Limerick); Aidan Lynch (Friday in Clooney v Limerick); Derek Healy and Finbarr Sheridan (Friday in Clarecastle/Ballydesmond v Limerick/Cork); Ciarán Walsh (Friday in Nenagh v Tipperary); Ciarán Malone (Saturday in Cappagh v Limerick); Lisa Loughnane (Sunday in Broadford v Karen Lawlor (Kerry), Munster Ladies’ Intermediate Singles final.