All-Ireland finals at stake for handballers

THERE will be no shortage of activity countrywide this week, with a busy weekend as adult and juvenile players strive to keep their All-Ireland hopes alive. Pride of place goes to the Ladies and Men’s All-Ireland Senior semi-finals at Kingscourt on Saturday at 2pm.

In Ladies the reigning All-Ireland champion Catriona Casey, Ballydesmond, will be hoping to stay on track to retain that title when she plays Kilkenny’s Ciara Mahon. The second ladies semi-final rests between Aishling O’Reilly, Antrim and Limerick player Martina McMahon.

Both Men’s semi-finals follow with Ballydesmond’s Brendan Fleming, who has already knocked out two former All-Ireland champions Eoin Kennedy, and Robbie McCarthy, will be hoping to keep alive his hopes of All-Ireland senior glory when he plays Galway’s Martin Mulkerrins. A repeat of the form he has shown to date would give him a great chance of booking that elusive final spot. The second semi-final sees reigning champion Charlie Shanks, Armagh, take on Clare’s Diarmuid Nash.

It is also an important weekend for Munster Juvenile players, who host the Ulster winners in All Ireland semi-finals at Ballydesmond, Liscarroll and Mallow on Sunday with 11.30am start at all venues.

From a Cork point of view it’s an important day for our Compunet IT Solutions juveniles as they contest seven of those semi-finals. Hopes are high that the form shown by the Cork players in winning Munster titles will carry forward to Sunday’s semi-finals.

At Ballydesmond there are seven games down for decision, but just one of those games has Cork involvement with Ballydesmond pair Eoghan Daly and John Cronin in Boys U-14 Doubles playing Tyrone’s J Owens and M McCann. Mallow host six games with three having Cork players involved - Boys U-14 Singles sees Hayden Supple, Fermoy, play Gary McAleer, Tyrone; Girls U-15 Doubles with Celine Kelleher, Boherbue, and Muireann O’Brien, Kilworth, facing Tyrone’s Bronagh McWilliams and Dervla Farley; and Girls U-14 Doubles in which Sarah Walsh, Mallow, and Cliona Dunning, Conna, to play Tyrone’s Dearbhla Fox and Cloda McNamee.

Liscarroll host three semi-finals all involving Liscarroll players. In Boys U-15 Doubles Gearoid Healy, Liscarroll, teams up with Kealin Murphy, Ballydesmond, to play Tyrone’s Ciaran McNally and Conor Fox. In Boys U-17 Singles Michael O’Callaghan, Liscarroll, plays Donegal’s Odhran McGlynn. In U-17 Doubles Luke Barrett and Colin Healy from Liscarroll play Cavan’s Niall McMahon and Diego Di Folco.

Also on this weekend are All-Ireland 40x20 adult semi-finals with Cork players involved in five semi-finals, two on Saturday and three on Sunday.

The Saturday programme in Mallow starts with Under-21 Singles and Mallow’s David Walsh taking on Mayo Patrick Murphy, followed by an Over-35A in which Tim Breen, Boherbue, plays Ollie Conway from Galway.

On Sunday at Newport, Co Mayo Michael Hedigan, Liscarroll, plays Ian McLoughlin, Mayo. At Conna there is a double header at 12.30pm, with local player Aoife Hurley taking on Eimear Ni Bhiadha, Galway, followed by Emerald Masters A Singles in which John Herlihy, St Finbarrs, plays Jimmy Connaughton, Galway.

Also this weekend Munster U-12 and U-13 Boys & Girls Munster Finals will be played at Clare venues while Clare host Munster Juvenile B Championship at a number of venues.

Last weekend Cumann na mBunscoil Handball Day was held in Kingscourt where Cork players enjoyed success in three age groups. In Girls U-11 Singles Carmel Kelliher, Boherbue NS, took the spoils, in Boys U-13 Singles Hayden Supple, St Josephs, Fermoy won, and in Boys U-13 Doubles Cian Cronin O’Neill/Ben Sullivan, Watergrasshill NS were winners. CONGRATULATIONS to the Senior Cork Ladies who had a very good win v Westmeath last Sunday in Mallow. Best of Luck in the next round.

MONTHLY MEETING OUR next North Cork monthly meeting will be held on Tuesday March 6 at 8 30 in Mallow Sports Complex, please inform your delegates and please have your Club represented at this meeting.

CORK U-13 DEVELOPMENT TRIALS CORK LGFA U13 Development squad trials will take place next Saturday, March 3 at 10:30am, venue to be confirmed. Players are asked to come togged out, weather-wise for the time of the year. Bring water and a fee of €2:00.

Ask your U-14 coach to inform his/hers U-13 players (born in 2005) of these trials.

Any queries contact O’Leary, 0868673407 Peter