One-Wall Nationals is the focus for handballers
THE main focus in handball this weekend will be in One Wall Irish Nationals which are down for decision at Breaffy House Complex, Castlebar, Co Mayo from Friday July 1 to Sunday July 3.
Popularity of One Wall Handball has grown immensely in recent years and that has been very evident as the Nationals themselves have grown now attracting a huge entry across the different grades making Breaffy House weekend one of the most popular on the handball calendar. There is a large number of Cork players involved this weekend however One Wall Nationals in all grades now attract more entries and more of the top players it is not easy to the title in any grade. We are hopeful however that a number of our players at least will figure in the business end of Sundays finals.
On the domestic scene with the start of 60x30 Munster championship drawing nearer by the day the drive to complete the county championship trial programme of games intensifies with busy evenings beckoning in Cullen court. Starting with Junior singles during the past week, Dale Cusack, Mallow defeated Tim Breen, Boherbue, while in the Junior Singles Final played in Cullen on Monday Jamie O’Donnell, Fermoy, defeated Dale Cusack 21-13, 21-13.
In Junior B Singles in a semi-final Ian Heffernan, Conna, defeated Jonathon Lucey, Boherbue, 21-11, 20-21, 21-8 to set up a Final meeting with Shane Flynn, Boherbue, which was also played on Monday with Shane Flynn running out an easy winner on a score of 21-3, 21-2.
In Minor Singles also on Monday evening one semi-final which was an all Mallow affair saw David Walsh run out a comfortable winner over his club mate Eoghan Sheehan 21-6, 21-1.
A number of other finals were also played on Tuesday evening and last evening, activity in Cullen will continue this Thursday with a double header down for decision commencing at 7pm with Junior Doubles Final in which Dale Cusack, Mallow, teams up with Donnacha O’Dea, Ballydesmond to take on the Boherbue/Ballydesmond combination of Tim Breen/Denis Quinn. The second game on the programme is Junior B Doubles s/final clash of Boherbue pairing Kieran O’Connor/Jonathon Lucey with Conna Ian Heffernan/ Kieran Noonan.
On Monday it’s back to Cullen 7pm start with a double header down for decision starting with Junior B Doubles Final in which Boherbue pair Shane Flynn/ Daniel Moynihan take on the winner of last Thursday’s semi-final meeting of Conna’s Ian Heffernan and Kieran Noonan v Boherbue’s Kieran O’Connor and Jonathon Lucey. The second game on the programme is Masters B Doubles Final in which Boherbue’s Enda Aherne/ Danny Lenihan face Ballydesmond pair Michael Linehan and Philip O’Carroll.
On Tuesday evening at Cullen 7pm the second semi-final of Minor Singles is down for decision the meeting of Mallow club mates Tadhg O’Neill v Eoghan Sheehan. In a very successful Paul Russell Memorial Tournament organised by Hospital club the Plate Final turned out to be an all Cork Final with the spoils going to Liscarroll/Ballydesmond pair Michael Hedigan and Donnacha O’Dea they defeated Liscarroll pair John Hedigan and Daniel Relihan in a three game thriller 21-14, 17-21, 21-14.