All-Ireland Doubles final places up for grab for handballers
ANOTHER busy weekend in 40x20 Handball as the Doubles semi-finals in the different grades are decided at venues across the country in the countdown to The All Ireland Doubles Finals weekend scheduled for Kingscourt on weekend of April 27/28.
Cork interest this week will commence at Ballydesmond this Thursday with Over-35 A Doubles sem1-final in which Donnacha O’Dea. Ballydesmond teams up with Tim Breen, Boherbue, to play Wexford’s Gavin Buggy/ Paddy Haughton. This is a difficult assignment for the Cork pair who will have to strike top form against a strong Wexford pair if they hope to advance to the Final.
On Saturday the spotlight will be on Ladies and Men’s Senior Doubles semi-finals as Cork players strive to make it to the Final. Men’s Doubles semi-finals are scheduled for Kingscourt on Saturday commencing at 2pm.
The programme opens with the meeting of Clare’s Colin Crehan and Diarmuid Nash with Meath pair Tom Sheridan and Brian Carrroll both partnerships were impressive in their quarter Final wins last weekend in particular the Clare pair who defeated Ballydesmond pair Tony Healy and Brendan Fleming narrowly after a lively contest, it won be easy but Clare will fancy their chances.
The second semi-final will be of main interest to Cork as Liscarroll pair Daniel Relihan and Michael Hedigan take on Galway’s Martin Mulkerrins and Diarmuid Mulkerrins. Relihan and Hedigan had a good win over Dublin duo Eoin Kennedy and Carl Browne in their quarter final game last Saturday and if they can at least maintain and possibly step up on that form they would have a real chance of making the final.
On Saturday at St Brigids club in Dublin at 5.30pm start Ballydesmond women Catriona Casey and Aishling O’Keeffe take on Kildare pair Leah Doyle and Mollie Dagg in a semi-final. The Cork pair are the reigning All Ireland Doubles champions and will be hoping to overcome the Kildare challenge and book their place in the All-Ireland Final.
Cork Mallow Credit Union sponsored U-16/17 team took the All Ireland team champion ship title at St Josephs Club venue,Wexford on Saturday last they defeated Wexford in the semi-final and overcame Galway in the Final 49 aces to 39. A very impressive performance from a team who had put in a lot of work leading up to Saturday. The Cork team consisted of three Boherbue players Cathal Ducey, Evan Enright, Dan Sheahan, Mallow players Darragh Bowen and Eric Delany, and Callum McCarthy from Liscarroll.
There was no joy for Cork U-12/13 team they lost to Kilkenny in the semi-final with Kilkenny going on to take the title defeating Tyrone in the Final. The Cork team on duty was three Conna players Gearoid Sheehan, Diarmuid O’Connell, Cian Dunning, two Mallow players John Murphy, Wesley Delany, Tomas O’Connor, Boherbue, Cameron O’Sullivan, Fermoy, and Ryan Linehan, Ballydesmond.
Girls Team of Ten Interprovincial was also played off on Sunday last resulting in a good win for Munster who overcame Leinster and Connacht to take the spoils. It was an excellent performance from a Munster team that had three Cork players on duty Sarah Walsh, Mallow, Carmel Kelleher, Boherbue, and Cliona Dunning, Conna. A lot of work from a number of mentions went in to preparing the Munster team an effort that was well rewarded.