Ballydesmond, Conna and Fermoy handballers head for Feile

THE spotlight this weekend in handball will focus on The John West Handball Feile Festival which is scheduled for Galway venues on Saturday with play scheduled to commence at all venues at 9.30am. It certainly is going to be a busy day for Galway officials as they cater for the largest entry for Feile Handball of recent years. The clubs representing Cork will be Ballydesmond, who have two Boys teams and a Girls team, Conna , with two Boys teams, and Fermoy Boys team. Looking at the players in the different teams the standard is going to be very high nothing will be easily won. Cork clubs have enjoyed success at Feile in recent years and will be hoping to again figure in the honours list.

Ballydesmond A team and Fermoy both compete in 40x20 Division 2 which is scheduled for Moycullen venue Looking at the opposition they face a stiff task however both have a good team and will be quietly confident they can do well. The Fermoy team will be Cian Cronin O’Neill, Ben Sullivan, Cameron O’Sullivan, Aaron Swalbe O’Sullivan, Jack Keating, while Ballydesmond A team will be John Cronin, Eoin Daly, Jack Vaughan, Darragh Murphy, Colin Brtosnan.

Conna’s A team will compete in 40x20 Division 4, which is scheduled for Abbeyknockmoy venue again they have a nicely balanced team of promising skilful young players who should do well, The Conna A team is Stephen Cotter, Fionn O’Connell, Nathan Sheenan, Cliona Dunning. Success in that Division would be a great boost for these up and coming young players. Conna’s B team compete in 40x20 Division 5 which is scheduled for Annaghdown venue again this Conna team contains some promising young players in Timothy Barry, Diarmuid O’Connell, Ciara Pietropaolo, Shane Cotter, Cian Dunning all of whom will be anxious to impress their mentors on Saturday.

The Ballydesmond second team will compete in 40x20 Division 6 which is scheduled for the Salthill venue, they will be hopeful that this group of promising young players will also do well, the team is Ryan Linehan, Thomas Myers, Jack Murphy, Eoin O Riordan and Bobby Vaughan. Ballydesmond third team will carry Cork hopes in the Girls section they will compete in 40x20 Girls Division 3 which is scheduled for Williamstown venue. They are a promising team of girls who have shown promise at both County and Provincial level and while the standard will be high they should do well, the team is Leaha o Riordan, Noreen Doody, Amy Brosnan, Grainne O’Connell.

There will also be a skills competition in each Division, Cork players have performed well in the Skills in recent years and hopefully will figure in the honours list again this year. Wishing the best of luck to all concerned hoping it will be a successful and enjoyable trip to the different Galway venues for players, mentors and parents.