One Wall action takes centre stage on bank holiday weekend
THE main focus in handball this weekend will be on Breaffy House, County Mayo as One Wall Irish Nationals are decided with three days of top class action from Saturday morning to Bank Holiday Monday.
The One Wall Nationals have grown into one of the most popular weekends on the Annual Handball Calender attracting a huge entry across all grades of both adult and juvenile in mens and ladies, boys and girls.
The One Wall weekend traditionally has been first weekend of July, but as this is World Championship year with the Worlds down for decision in Mid August in Minnesota, One Wall has been brought forward to this weekend to allow players have a clear run through June and July with their preparation for the Worlds.
Again there will be a big representation from Cork across the grades this weekend with a quiet confidence that some One Wall titles will come our way over the weekend.
Last weekend was a busy one at Conna complex as the Garryanne Kennels sponsored County adult and juvenile One Wall championship was decided all age groups are Singles only.
Some exciting close contests ensued across the grades with the full list of winners as follows: Boys U12, Fermoy (Cameron O’Sullivan) Boys U13 Fermoy (Hayden Supple) Boys U14 Ballydesmond (Eoghan Daly) Boys U15 Liscarroll (Gearoid Healy) Boys U17 Mallow (Cian O’Driscoll) Girls U13 Conna (Lucy Aherne) Girls U14 Boherbue (Carmel Kelliher) Girls U15 Mallow (Sarah Walsh)
In adult grades played winners as follows, Mens B, Mallow (Conor Walsh), Mens C, Mallow (Gearoid O’Connell), Masters,St Finbarrs (John Herlihy), Ladies C Kilworth (Anna Dunne).
Munster One Wall championship is the next challenge for the adult winners together with Boys and Girls Under 15 and Under 17 winners, they will represent Cork in the Munster series which is down for decision at Spa Handball Club, Killarney on Saturday May 19 with all Ireland Finals scheduled for first weekend of June.
Arrangements are also being made at present for 60/30 Provincial Inter Club championship with three grades Open, Junior and junior B. Provincial Finals will be decided by second weekend of June and All-Ireland semi-finals and finals down for decision at end of June.
Feile Na nGael Handball festival which is open to club teams both Boys and Girls Under 14 are scheduled for weekend of June 16/17 at Galway venues, the festival was launched in Croke Park during past week.
Entries are now closed for this years Festival, A number of Cork clubs have won Feile titles in recent years and many will again be hoping to figure in the honours list for 2018.
The number of clubs competing in Feile has increased significantly in recent times as has the standard of play right across all divisions. The Féile skills competition has also become very popular and again with a higher standard it is not easy in recent years to take gold in skills.