Cork pair keep their hopes alive in Cavan

IN Handball we look back on last weekend which was a busy one with 40x20 All-Ireland Doubles semi-finals decided at a number of venues countrywide.

At Senior level both Ladies and Men’s semi-finals were decided at Kingscourt which will be the venue for all adult Doubles finals on weekend of April 22/23. In Ladies semi-finals Ballydesmond pair Catriona Casey/Aishling O’Keeffe the reigning All Ireland champions kept alive their hope of retaining the title with a comfortable enough win over Roscommon pair Fiona Tully/Lauren O’Riordan on a score of 21-13, 21-4.

They will now meet Mayo Pauline Gallagher/Amy Corrigan in the final.

In men’s there was no joy for Ballydesmond pair Tony Healy/ Brendan Fleming they lost to Cavan Paul Brady/Michael Finnegan 21/11,21/15 with Cavan now to meet Clare pair Diarmuid Nash/Colin Crehan who defeated Kilkenny in the second semi-final. In other grades there was mixed fortunes for Cork players Liscarroll pair Michael Hedigan/Daniel Relihan made the long journey to Beragh, Co Tyrone to face Tyrone pair Shane O’Neill/Sean Kerr in Intermediate Doubles but Tyrone prove that bit stronger advancing to the final on a score of 21-11, 21-15.

Again on Sunday at a Tyrone venue this time Carrickmore Mallow pair David Walsh/Tadgh O’Neill took on Tyrone Cormac Munroe/ Ciaran Cuddy in Minor Doubles, Walsh and O’Neill who are the reigning All Ireland Minor Doubles champions put in a near perfect performance winning on a score of 21-11, 21-12 to keep alive their hope of retaining the title and with the Singles title already safely in the bag following Tadgh O’Neill’s win a few weeks back hopes are high that Cork can achieve the Minor Double this year.

There was another success for Cork in Over-35 B Doubles played at Eugene Quinn Centre, Armagh with Jamie O’Donnell, Fermoy, teaming up with Patrick Buckley, Glenville, to overcome Down Collie Turley/Barry McCoy 18-21, 21-2, 21-11.

There was no joy for Cork players involved in both semi-finals played at Ballydesmond on Sunday.

In Silver Masters B Doubles Ballydesmond pair of Philip O’Carroll/ Paul Kerins lost to Tyrone Kenny Curran/Finbarr Fullen 21-19, 21-16,while in the second game Diamond Masters B Doubles Ballydesmond pair of Dave Stack/ Tim Joe Healy lost to Down’s Peter McSherry/Brian Havern 21-10, 21-16.

Also on Sunday at Galbally in Ladies Junior B Doubles Kilworth pair Brid Horgan/Anna Dunne took on Tyrone Michelle Warren/Cloideach Donaghy with Tyrone coming out on top after a long three game battle 21/11,17/21,21/14 very little between both pairs with Tyrone being just that little bit more clinical with the chances that came their way.

On Monday next Easter Monday at Boherbue and Mallow venues Munster Development championship will be played, this is confined to players that have not represented their county.

In Boys it will cater from U-12 to U-16 with Singles and Doubles in all age groups, while in Girls its confined to U-12 and U-13. Play at both Mallow and Boherbue will commence at 10.30am.

In 40x20 County Championship Novice B Doubles is now down to semi-finals with Liscarroll Tadgh Jones/Dwayne Sheehan to meet Conna Brian Cotter/Noel Kielty in one semi-final while the second semi-final is an all Conna clash Shane O’Connell/Brian Sheehan v Brian Sheehan/Dino Pietropaolo with both semi-finals to be played during the coming week.