All-Ireland handball titles up for grabs
THIS weekend the first of the 2017 60x30 adult All Ireland Finals are down for decision at a number of venues countrywide which will feature most of Singles grades,
Cork players will contest three finals two on Saturday and one on Sunday. Saturday will be an important day for Boherbue player Shane Flynn who travels to Kilkenny venue Talbots Inch to face Wexford player Chris Doyle in Junior B Singles Final game commencing at 2pm, which promises to be a hard fought contest. It would be a great achievement for Shane Flynn if he could win this one. He has enjoyed a good year so far being very impressive in winning the Munster title. He then made the long journey to Virginia, Co Cavan to face local player Caolan Smith in a semi-final and again he was impressive in booking his place in the final. Let’s hope he can do it but he will have to put in a big performance as all Wexford players are great exponents of the 60x30 game and you rarely see a bad one at this stage of the championship.
Also on Saturday at Kilkenny venue Kilfane Liscarroll’s Pat O’Brien will play Jim Doyle, Wexford, in Over-70 Singles Final 2pm start. Pat will be under no illusions that he faced stiff opposition but is well capable of giving a good account of himself.
On Sunday at Tipperary venue Lahorna John Herlihy, St Finbarrs, takes on Carlow player John Ryan in Golden Masters A Singles that programme has a 12 noon start. This promises to be a lively contest if John Herlihy can strike top form on the day then he is in which a great chance of winning,he is an extyremely fit and agile player who is good enough to win this title. Back to Munster championship action on this Thursday at Hospital at 7.30pm Munster Junior Doubles Final is down for decision with Mallow pair Tadgh Carroll / Ryan Harkin facing Tipperary John Ferncombe / Sean Maher. This promises to be a closely contested finals both sides have been impressive in reaching the final defeating some strong pairings on the way. Let’s hope the Mallow pair can shade this one and take the provincial title.
On Wednesday next Cork will be dually involved in Munster Senior Doubles quarter-finals both with a 7.30 start. At Broadford the Liscarroll / Mallow pair Daniel Relihan / David Walsh play Limerick Padraig Quish / Paul Hedderman, while at Thurles Mallow/Ballydesmond pair Dale Cusack / Donnacha O’Dea face Tipperary David Moloney / Daniel Hayes.
Cork players contested three adult Munster finals during the last week, Liscarroll pair Daniel Relihan/Michael Hedigan won Intermediate Doubles defeating Limerick J P O’Connor/Mike O’Toole 18-21, 21-16, 21-13.
In Minor Doubles Tipperary James Prentice / Jerome Cahill had a narrow win over Mallow pair David Walsh / Tagdh O’Neill 21-20, 20-21, 21-16.
In Ladies Junior B Doubles Limerick Brigid Quish / Leanne O’Brien defeated Kilworth pair Brid Horgan / Anna Dunne 21-16, 21-20. Fermoy’s young up and coming stars had a good day out at Tipperary venue Ballina on Saturday last winning Munster 60x30 U-13 Inter-club team competition defeating Tipperary side Lahorna in the final. This was a very good performance from the Fermoy team all contributing handsomely to the success. Fermoy players involved were Ben Sullivan, Cian Cronin O’Neill, Hayden Supple, Cameron Swalke O’Sullivan, Darragh Henley, Aaron Swalke O’Sullivan.