Kerry Handball to showcase young stars at Juvenile Championship

THE future stars of Kerry handball will showcase their skills when the Glenbeigh Handball Complex hosts the Kerry Juvenile Handball Championships this weekend.

Juvenile handball in Kerry continues to make progress with 2020 set to be a winning year for many of the rising stars. The initial step to success for many young players will be the Kerry championships which takes place on Saturday next commencing at 11am.

An impressive programme of championship games is featured on the agenda under the direction of World Handball medal winner John Joe Quirke (Glenbeigh).

“The Kerry Juvenile championships will kick start the 2020 handball season in Kerry. Down for decision we will have Singles and Doubles competitions in all grades. Currently we have entries from players in Killarney, Lispole, Glenbeigh, Ballymacelligott and Tralee with entries still coming in. These championships will be followed on Friday January 24 at 7pm by the Kerry Cumann na mBunscoil finals in Lispole for Under 11 and Under 13 players,” said John Joe Quirke.

Among those tipped to win medals at the Kerry Juvenile championships are Maggie and Clodagh Quirke (Glenbeigh), winners of the 2019 Under 12 Munster Doubles title, the All Ireland Under 11 Cumann na mBunscoil title and the Kerry Under 12 title. Others to feature prominently include 2019 Kerry One Wall medal winners Roisin King and Sara Mason (Glenbeigh), Jamie Lynch and Liam Sheehy (Lispole), Darragh O’Connor and Rhys Murphy (Glenbeigh), Adrian Sheehan and Matthew O’Connor (Glenbeigh), Liam O’Connor and Lucas Riordan (Glenbeigh).

Ranked 17th on the Irish Handball Ranking Table in 2019, Dominick Lynch (Glenbeigh) travelled to the invitational John Gaffney Memorial 40x20 Tournament in Ballaghdreene, Co. Mayo at the weekend. In the first round game, Lynch beat David Hope (Offaly) 15-4 and 15-2 to qualify for the Last 16 in this prestigious event. Lynch lost to Number 1 seed Diarmuid Nash (Clare) 15-14 and 15-9 but moved up the Ranking Table.

Fixtures

Munster 40x20 Master A Singles Semi-final

John Joe Quirke (Glenbeigh) will play John Ferncombe (Tipperary) on Friday at 7.30 in Mallow.

Munster Over 35 B Singles Quarter-finals

Danny Riordan (Ballymacelligott) will play Pat Delaney (Tipperary) at 7.30 in Cashel on Friday

Clive Counihan (Ballymacelligott) plays James Moakley (Cork) on Saturday at 1pm in Ballymacelligott.

Munster Intermediate Singles Quarter-final

Jack O’Shea will play Tadgh O’Neill (Cork) on Saturday at 1pm in Glenbeigh.

Munster Diamond Master B Singles Quarter-final

Dermot Casey (Ballymacelligott) plays Dave Stack (Cork) on Monday 20th at 7.30 in Ballydesmond.

Munster Silver Master B Singles Quarter-final

Mike Scanlon will play Joseph Ryan (Tipperary) on Monday 20th at 1.30 in Dolla.

MUNSTER COLLEGES Sunday, January 19

Kerry competitors are Darragh Lynch (Killorglin Community College) in the Junior Singles and Sean Quirke (Milltown) in the Intermediate Singles.