Casey and O’Keeffe bid to reach All-Ireland final

ANOTHER busy weekend in 60x30 Handball which will feature Ladies All-Ireland Senior Doubles semi-finals in Croke Park Handball Centre on Saturday at 2pm. In the first semi-final reigning champions Ballydesmond pair Catriona Casey/Aishling O’Keeffe take on Kildare pair Leah Doyle/ Mollie Dagg, with the Cork pair fancied to win this and keep alive their hopes of retaining the All-Ireland title. In the second semi-final Mayo pair Pauline Gallagher/Amy Corrigan play Kilkenny Ciara Mahon/Aoife Holden with Mayo slight favourites to advance.

In other grades of 60x30 mostly Singles but also a few Doubles All-Ireland Finals are down for decision this weekend. On Sunday at Tipperary venue Lahorna 12 noon start in Junior B Singles Final David Walsh, Mallow plays Myles Carroll, Kildare. So far the Mallow player has had a good championship and was most impressive in winning Munster title and in his All-Ireland semi-final win. It appears his opponent on Sunday is a strong player so an interesting contest is in prospect on Sunday.

Also on Sunday at the Abbeyside venue, Dungarvan 2pm start in Intermediate Doubles Final Liscarroll pair Daniel Relihan/ Michael Hedigan face Wexford Galen Riordan/Keith Armstrong in what promises to be a close contest. Again the Cork pair are playing well but face a stern test from a strong Wexford pair.

The 60x30 Munster Colleges are also down for decision this week with the Girls in Hospital on Friday evening commencing at 6.30pm, with the following involved, In Girls First Year Singles Aoibhe Ducey, Boherbue carry Cork hopes, In Girls Junior Singles Muireann O’Brien representing Loretto, Fermoy is the Cork rep. In Girls Junior Doublers Grainne O’Connell/Celine Kelliher representing Boherbue Comprehensive will be in action.

Also included on the Hospital programme on Friday night will be Boys Intermediate Doubles in which Darragh Ducey/Aidan Lenihan representing Boherbue Comprehensive School will carry Cork hopes. The remainder of Boys College championships will be decided at St Augustines, Dungarvan and at the Cashel venue on Saturday both venues commencing at 10.30am.

The following Cork players involved: Boys First Year Singles will be Cian Cronin O’Neill representing St Colmans, Fermoy; First Year Doubles Ben Sullivan/ Hayden Supple representing Colaiste An Chraoibhin, Fermoy; Junior Singles, Darragh Bowen representing Doneraile CBS, Junior Doubles Cathal Ducey/Eoin Daly, representing Boherbue Comprehensive, Intermediate Singles, Kealan Murphy also Boherbue Comprehensive, Senior Singles, Anthony O’Connell, Davis College, Mallow and in Senior Doubles, Conor Walsh/Cian O’Driscoll, Patrician Academy, Mallow. The breakdown of the Saturday programme will see Boys First Year Singles and Senior Singles played at the Cashel venue, with all other games on Saturday going ahead at Dungarvan.

In Ladies 60x30 All Ireland Singles Final played in Croke Park on Saturday last Catriona Casey suffered a narrow defeat at the hands of her main rival Martina McMahon, Limerick in a hugely skilfull and entertaining contest, Catriona won the first 21-14, lost the second 21-20 and unfortunately lost the third also 21-20.

Cork players also won two Munster Doubles titles last weekend, David Walsh, Mallow partnered by John Hurley, Conna won Junior B Doubles while Ballydesmond pair Donnacha O’Dea/Philip O’Carroll won Over 35 B Doubles.

The County Juvenile Committee has also finalised Mallow Credit Union sponsored Cork teams for 60x30 Munster Inter County Team Championship which is due to commence on October 20 Under 12-13 team is four Fermoy players Cameron O’Sullivan, Hayden Supple, Ben Sullivan, Cian Cronin O’Neill, Boherbue duo Tomas O’Connor, Donal Murphy, Cian Dunning, Conna, Wesley Delany, Mallow. In U-14/15 team we have four Ballydesmond players Darragh Murphy, Eoghan Daly, John Cronin, Michael Mullane, Dan Sheahan, Boherbue and Eric Delany, Mallow.