Taghmon take several titles
Murphy family complete commendable clean sweep
THE CURTAIN came down on the county Juvenile four-wall handball championship 2020 in St. Joseph’s recently, when the last of the county cream of the crop finals took place.
The Wexford Juveniles started their county four-wall journey last October in the form of the winter league, created to give them a foundation to grow and develop while also offering preparations for county and All-Ireland glory.
It has been a momentous county four-wall season with excitement, surprises, entertainment and captivating handball on display throughout, and the last of these final programmes continued to offer all that to the spectators.
Taking to the court first for the Under-14 boys’ singles final were Rory Gilbert of St. Joseph’s and Jamie Barnes from the St. Mary’s club. These boys are so familiar with each other as they have contested every county singles final up through the age groups since ten years old.
Rory had been in excellent form coming into this final, having won the doubles title the previous week, and it was obvious from the get-go that he had carried that form into this final.
Jamie needed to be on top of his game and at times he was finding the going tough, but he continued to battle in a hard-fought contest although Rory took the first game.
Rory dominated the second game, displaying excellent hard-hitting, skilful handball along the way, keeping pressure on his St. Mary’s opponent.
It was the St. Joseph’s boy who took the prestigious county Under-14 title for 2020. We are guaranteed to see these talented young lads do battle again in the future.
The prestigious blue riband girls’ Under-16 singles final was next on the programme and was an all-home affair, with Jodie Keeling of St. Joseph’s taking on clubmte Ellie Murphy-O’Gorman.
These girls are no strangers to each other as they train and play together on a weekly basis, and on many occasions before they have ended up meeting each other on finals day in both singles and doubles.
The first game was a close encounter, with both players matching each other ace for ace. Any mistake was punished by the other and this game was going the distance.
Jodie seized her opportunity first, producing a couple of excellent placed serves and the two aces required to take the first game 21-19.
Ellie was very unlucky not to snatch the first game and this added to the pressure on her going into the second.
Jodie settled, and found the same range and form as in the first game, offering fine handball skills along the way, adding the second county title of the day for the Bishopswater club.
Taking centre stage next was the boys’ Under-12 singles final featuring ‘Southsider’ Conor
Doyle, hailing from the Taghmon club, facing ‘Northsider’ Eoin Kinsella from Coolgreany.
Many a battle has been seen from these young but very talented hotshots in their short handballing careers, and this was no different. Eoin settled very impressively, coming at lightning speed out of the blocks in the first, and Conor found his pace and serving hard to handle.
When Conor settled, both players offered the large crowd super handball from all round the court before Eoin took first game.
Conor went into the second game more determined. A response was needed and respond he did with brilliant serving to get an early lead.
This time it was Eoin struggling to get into the game and Conor closed it out, bringing it to a winner-takes-all third game tie-breaker.
With composure and the advantage of winning the second game, it was Conor who got off to a great start and it looked like he was home and dry. With his own fighting back determination evident, Eoin had other ideas, slowly clawing away at Conor’s early lead and eventually bringing the score back to 11-9.
With outstanding handball played during long rallies by both young boys in a very exciting game that had it all, Taghmon boy Conor edged it out, taking the game and title on a scoreline of 15-11.
The attention shifted back to the girls next and the county final in the Under-10 doubles.
Featuring in their first-ever county final were Amber Cardiff and Megan Murphy of Taghmon against the Templeudigan pairing of Sarah O’Brien and Caroline Murphy.
The Taghmon girls dealt with their nerves, big occasion and the pressure better, with both offering supreme serving and returning to take the first game.
The young girls from Templeudigan settled better in the second game, finding their rhythm, putting early aces on the board, and asking the questions of Taghmon, but Taghmon had their answers and were just a little stronger on the day, taking the title 2-0.
It was a pleasure to watch these four young girls enjoying the game of handball at such a young age, showcasing all their skills and abilities, and we look forward to seeing their handballing careers and development growing from strength to strength.
The last girls’ county title up for grabs was in the Under-12 singles final, and it was an all-Taghmon club affair. Boo Murphy was taking on her stablemate Ellie Murphy (sister to Megan).
Both girls started well and it was shaping up to be a very close encounter.
However, having already secured the doubles title the previous week, Ellie carried this momentum forward and had a slight edge, producing the better handball and taking the first game in this exciting final.
Ellie picked up where she left off in the second game with some exquisite precision serving that put Boo under pressure, but to her credit Boo showed great grit and determination and never gave up.
They served up some fantastic rallies in a very exciting game, but it was to be Ellie’s day, taking the title 2-0 and ensuring a clean sweep of singles and doubles titles in the girls’ Under-12 category for Taghmon.
She also added to the haul of medals returning to the Murphy household, with all four siblings - Ellie, Megan, Jack and Conor - bringing home their respective county titles.
Last but by no means least and bringing the exhilarating 2020 Juvenile four-wall championship to a close was the boys’ Under-15 singles final featuring another faceoff between the handball clubs of Taghmon and Coolgreany with Bobby Doyle taking on Conor Horan.
As is common in handball, these two boys know each other’s games so well having partnered each other in the past at inter-county, national and international levels.
However, this partnership was left firmly at the door as both players’ passion to add the county title to their possession meant rivalry was to the forefront.
These two extremely talented youngsters represent the pinnacle of what a young handballer should aspire to be as their desire to train, play and develop their game is astonishing.
The audience were on the edge of their seats in anticipation of this game. They were not to be disappointed with what followed which was exhilarating, high-paced, entertaining handball.
During long rallies, both players produced great handball skills and shots from all around the court. With the game neck and neck, it was Bobby who found that extra bit when it counted to take the first game.
True to form, Conor came out fighting in the second with a great start.
With excellent serving and passing shots, he took a slight lead, putting the pressure on Bobby, but it is pressure that seems to make these boys dig deep and reach their handball potential.
The range of kill shots and flyshots executed by both players was of the highest level and every ace was a fight to get.
With the score at 14 apiece and with Bobby serving for the championship, the boys had another excellent rally and Bobby secured the title after a truly memorable game.
As a result, it was another clean sweep of county titles for Taghmon, this time at boys’ Under-15.
A special thanks to St. Joseph’s handball club and community centre for their outstanding hospitality over the three programmes of finals.
Best wishes to the county Juvenile team in the Leinster and All-Ireland campaign which will take place in the coming weeks.