Nash bridges another gap

Two weeks after bridging 25-year gap when winning the inter-varsity’s handball title for NUI, Galway, Scariff man Diarmuid Nash bridged another this week.

Thirty years after the Munster senior singles title last came to Clare, the young Scariff man captured the title last Sunday at Broadford in Limerick. A member of the famed Tuamgraney club, he captured a crown last brought to the Banner county by the legendary Pat Kirby who represented the same club. When Kirby was victorious in 1980, he was victorious for the sixth year in succession.
This year, the provincial championship was played over one weekend in Cappagh and Broadford courts and the weekend action opened on Friday night when Tuamgraney’s Niall Malone took on Tipperary star Fergal Collins. After an outstanding three games, Ballina man Collins came out on top on a 20-21, 21-15, 21-17.
In the quarter-finals on Saturday, Nash made reasonably light work of veteran David Moloney’s (Tipperary) challenge, coming out on top 21-11 and 21-3 to set up a semi-final that evening with Fergal Collins. Collins had earlier beaten reigning champion Dominck Lynch from Kerry but could find no way past Nash. In a thrilling match, Collins took the first game 21-17 before Nash’s high level of fitness propelled him to win the next two, 21-10 and 21-9.
In Sunday’s final, Nash faced an in-form Seamus O’Carroll (Limerick), who had qualified for the final with wins over his doubles partner CJ Fitzpatrick and Cork man Brendan Fleming. O’Carroll and Nash have met numerous times over the past number of years with never much separating them.
On this occasion, the Cappagh clubman raced into an early 10-2 lead before Nash reeled him in and went on to win the first game, 21-14. The Tuamgraney player finished the job in the second game after a real battle. With excellent serving and some fantastic killshots, Nash was on top of his game and saw out the match with a tense 21-19 win to take the Munster senior crown.
Nash is also through to the Munster intermediate singles final against Brendan Fleming, Cork, on March 9. He will be in strong contention for both the senior and intermediate doubles championships with clubmate Niall Malone. The pair had a straightforward 21-8, 21-9 win in Tuesday’s intermediate semi-final against Tipperary and play the Fleming brothers from Cork in the Munster final next Wednesday night.
Niall Malone will play the first round of the All-Ireland Open Singles Championship against Neil McDermott from Roscommon in Moycullen on Saturday at 4pm. Paul Brady from Cavan awaits the winner in the next round.
Having already secured the All-Ireland Third Level Colleges Singles Championship, one would imagine that 2011, the Tuamgraney club’s centenary year, might yet have more in store for Nash.
Elsewhere in Munster championship action, Mike Kelly and Pat Donnellan progressed to the Munster final in the golden masters A doubles with a convincing win over Limerick on Saturday. The final is fixed for this Saturday in Tuamgraney (4pm) against Tipperary while on the same bill, Tulla pair Trevor Vaughan and Alan Leamy bid to reach the U-21 doubles decider.
There was also weekend success for Sarah and Paula Loughnane (Clooney) who won their semi-final to set up an all-Clare final against Aisling Fitzgerald and Edel O’Grady. Lisa Loughnane was defeated in the Munster intermediate ladies singles final while Ciaran Malone went down to Cork’s Killian Carroll in the minor singes semi-final.
On Tuesday, Pat Donnellan claimed the Munster golden masters A singles title with a 21-16, 21-6 final win over Donal O’Connor (Limerick). John Cawley won his golden masters B singles semi-final (21-19, 21-5) and faces a quick turnaround as he plays the provincial final this Thursday against Brendan Hurley of Cork (venue TBC),
Aisling Fitzgerald overcame Limerick’s Siobhan Lehane in Galbally in a very entertaining ladies junior B singles semi-final (15-21, 21-20, 21-10) to set up a Munster final against either Sarah Loughnane or Laura Keevers (Waterford).
Two of Munster’s top young handballers meet in Munster final action this Friday night when Jamie Lynch of Kilkishen plays the minor singles decider in Broadford against Killian Carroll (Cork). Lynch could well be going for a Munster double on the night, as he paired up on Wednesday to play the doubles final with Ciaran Malone against Carroll and partner Pa Herlihy (no result at time of writing). Indeed, the coming week is again a busy one, with Munster semi-finals and finals involving Banner County players
Meanwhile the Clare adult handball leagues are reaching a climax. Clooney have already secured the Division 4 title and after this week’s semi-finals, the Division 3 decider will be between Shannon, who had a semi-final victory over Tuamgraney and Clarecastle, who beat Clooney. The Division 2 Final goes ahead this Monday night in Clooney (8pm) when Kilrush meet Tuamgraney. Kilrush beat O’Callaghans Mills in their semi-final while Tuamgraney defeated Tulla.

Munster Championship fixtures
Thursday 24: Golden Masters B Singles Final, John Cawley v. Brendan Hurley (Cork).
Friday 25, Galbally, 7.30: Minor Singles Final, Jamie Lynch v Killian Carroll (Cork).
Saturday 26,
Tuamgraney, 4pm: U-21 doubles semi-final, Trevor Vaughan & Alan Leamy v. Fergal Collins & Darragh Hardy (Tipp) AND Golden Masters A Doubles Final, Mike Kelly & Pat Donnellan v. Tony Flaherty & Pat Griffin (Tipp).
Sunday 27, Tulla 1.00: Ladies Junior B Doubles Final, Sarah and Paula Loughnane v. Aisling Fitzgerald and Edel O’Grady
Tuesday 1, Silvermines, 7.30: Golden Masters B Doubles Final, John Cawley & Teddy O’Hanlon v. Jimmy Fanning and Jack Dillon (Limerick.)
Wednesday March 2, Cappagh, 8pm: Intermediate Doubles Final, Diarmaid Nash & Niall Malone v. Brendan & Niall Fleming (Cork).
Saturday March 5: Masters A Doubles Final, Fergal and Ger Coughlan v. Stephen Palmer & Kevin Buckley.