Handballers bid for All-Ireland Minor and Over-35 Doubles title

HANDBALL this weekend will feature 40x20 programme of All Ireland Adult championship Finals at Cavan venues Kingscourt on Saturday and Sunday, with Cork interest focussed on the Saturday programme with Cork players contesting Minor Doubles and Over-35 B Doubles with play commencing on Saturday morning at 10am.

First into action will be our Over- 35 B Doubles pair Jamie O’Donnell, Fermoy, and Patrick Buckley, Glenville, they play Roscommon pair Philip O’Connor/Paul Kelly. To date in this championship at provincial level and in their All-Ireland semi-final both O’Donnell and Buckley have played very well with hopes high that they can repeat that form on Saturday which would give them a great chance of All Ireland glory, it would be a great boost for both players and their clubs if they could win this All-Ireland title.

The second All-Ireland Final is in Minor Doubles on Saturday afternoon in which Mallow pair Tadgh O’Neill/David Walsh the reigning All-Ireland Minor Doubles champions will be striving to retain the title when they face Wexford pair Adam Walsh/Anthony Butler.

Again, in their Munster campaign and All-Ireland semi-final the Cork pair have continued to maintain a good vein of form playing well in all their games. They face a stiff test in this one against a strong Wexford pair who have also been impressive in reaching the final. It would be a great achievement for both players if they could retain the title but to achieve that all depends on another good performance on Saturday.

On Monday last at Mallow and Boherbue Munster Development Singles and Doubles Tournament was played, it was confined to players who had not previously represented their county, it produced a good days handball at both venues with Cork players successful in the following age groups.

U12 Singles, Darragh Murphy, U-12 Doubles; Thomas O’Connor/ Callum McCarthy, U-13 Doubles; John Cronin/Shane O’Riordan, U-14 Doubles; Ryan Jordan/Michael Mullane, U-15 Singles: Donal Jones.

In 40x20 County championship Novice B Doubles is now down to the final. In the semi-finals Liscarroll pair Tadgh Jones/ Dwayne Sheehan defeated Conna Brian Cotter/Noel Kielty, and in the second semi-final Conna’s Brian Sheehan/Dion Pietropaolo defeated their club mates Shane O’Connell/Brian Sheehan.

The final has now been set for next Sunday, April 23 at 7.30pm, with Tadgh Jones/Dwayne Sheehan lining out against Brian Sheehan/Dion Pietropaolo.

Entries for All-Ireland Hardball Championship are now closed with a proposed start for first round games the end of next week.

The 40x20 Junior Nationals are also down for decision over May Bank Holiday weekend with a large entry across all age groups which should produce an excellent programme of high class games over that weekend.