Cork stars gunning for World glory
THE World Handball Championships are up and running at the University of Minneapolis in Minnesota, where the state of the art recreational facility will be the epicentre of an experience that will live long in the memory of all those competing.
The playing action commenced last Thursday afternoon with a number of Cork players involved in the first round of the One Wall championship. Conna players John Herlihy, Cian Dunning and Sam Dunning, and Mallow contingent Conor Walsh, Wesley Delany, Eric Delany, Michael O’Malley, Dylan Harkin and Joshua Harkin were all in action with Herlihy, Walsh and Cian Dunning progressing to the next round.
Over the weekend John Herlihy moved a step closer to a World title when he defeated fellow Irish player James Dunne 21-12, 21-12 to book a place in Golden Masters semi-final.
It has also been a very good championship for another Mallow player Gearoid O’Connell who with some great displays has been his place in Men’s C Final in which he will face Ecuador player Douglas Montalvo it would be a great achievement for Gearoid if he can win the title.
Mallow player Conor Walsh is also making good progress and is now through to a semi-final in Mens B in which he faces New York player Ingmar McKenzie.
Sam Dunning, Conna, reached 15 & Under Doubles semi-final with another Conna player Nuala Dunning reaching Ladies Masters Singles semi-final.
The big ones are Men’s Open Singles and Doubles and Ladies Open Singles and Doubles. The Men’s and Ladies Singles started on Tuesday and Wednesday with some crucial games for all players as they strive to stay in contention. In Men’s Open Killian Carroll will be hoping to get over his early games on Tuesday and Wednesday and hopefully be still there as the championship reaches the business end on Friday and Saturday.
Likewise in Ladies Open Catriona Casey will face some stiff tests but will be hoping to remain on track to be still battling for a World title at the end. Playing with her club mate Aishling O’Keeffe they will also be hoping for a good run in Ladies Open Doubles but again like all other grades there will be many difficult hurdles to overcome.
There will certainly be a hectic schedule from Tuesday last to next Sunday when the curtain will finally come down on the 2018 World Championship. For all the players still involved in both singles and doubles there will be cautious optimism that the Cork players involved will return next week with some World titles.
For all those currently competing in the Worlds and for players who could not make it to the US there won’t be much time to get back to the domestic scene with the start of Munster 60x30 Singles and Doubles championship at both adult and juvenile level scheduled to commence at the end of August which only gives a two week window to get ready for the opening rounds of 60x30 championship.