Stars on show at the Allianz Kerry Cumann na mBunscol Championships

MAGICAL, iconic, explosive, heroic and spectacular were just some of the accolades directed at children attending a number of Kerry Primary School who were top of the class when it came to sporting success at the weekend. Lispole was the venue on Friday night for the Kerry Cumann na mBunscol Handball finals, sponsored by Allianz, which saw competitions for Under 11 and Under 13 with the Kerry winners progressing to the Munster finals taking place in Tipperary shortly.

Following some exciting games in the opening rounds the main winners were Scoil Eoin Baiste Lispole and Glenbeigh National School each claiming two titles with Curraheen National School in Glenbeigh winning one title.

Girls U-11 Singles: Clodagh Quirke (Glenbeigh NS) defeated Dawn Griffin (Curraheen National School, Glenbeigh) 11-8 and 11-4.

Boys U-11 Singles: Thomas O’Gealbhan (Scoil Eoin Baiste Lispole).

Boys U-13 Singles: Lucas Riordan (Curraheen National School, Glenbeigh) defeated Liam Mac an tSighig (Scoil Eoin Baiste

Lispole) 11-5 and 11-7.

Boys U-11 Doubles: Dara O’Connor and Aidan Sheehan (Glenbeigh NS) defeated Shea O’Sullivan and Oisin O’Connor (Fybough NS) 11-3 and 11-5.

Boys U-13 Doubles: Jamie O Lionsigh and Padraig O Mainnin (Scoil Eoin Baiste Lispole) defeated Cathal Griffin and Liam O’Connor (Curraheen National School, Glenbeigh) 11-9, 11-3.

Battle of the Titans Sporting reputations and friendships will be put firmly on the line this weekend when the Munster Handball Master A Singles championship takes place in Glenbeigh. The top players in Kerry, close friends Dominick Lynch and John Joe Quirke, will battle it out for the prestigious title on Friday night where past form, including National and Provincial titles, will not guarantee success in what promises to be a night of explosive action peppered with some expected surprises.

Both players, members of Glenbeigh Handball Club, are among the most successful players in the modern game winning Kerry, Munster, All Ireland and World titles.

Lynch, the current All Ireland 60x30 Masters A Singles champion, partnered Quirke in the 2019 All Ireland Masters Doubles final, a game they narrowly lost having won the title in 2018. Many observers predict a close battle between these two seasoned players. Quirke started the season impressively in the Michael Purcell Memorial Tournament in Cashel where he won the opening games narrowly missing a final placing.

Quirke and Lynch know every inch of the Glenbeigh court, they know each others strengths and weaknesses and they are acutely aware of each others level of fitness. It’s a mouth watering contest set to attract a full house to Glenbeigh with the winner claiming the Munster crown and a step closer to a prestigious National title.

Munster Competitions

At the Munster 40x20 Minor Singles quarter final, played at the weekend, Sean Quirke (Glenbeigh) defeated Gearoid Healy (Cork) in an enthralling contest. Playing stylish and aggressive handball, Quirke won a nail biting opening game 21-18. He had a convincing 21-14 victory in the second game.

In the Munster 40x20 Emerald Master B Singles semi final Pat Lacey (Asdee) lost to Stephen McSweeney (Limerick) 21-10 and 21-14.

Cathal Griffin, Dawn Griffin and Lucas Riordan from Curraheen NS in Glenbeigh who were medal winners at the Allianz Kerry Cumann na mBunscol Handball finals

Handballers from Scoil Eoin Baiste in Lispole who were medal winners at the Allianz Kerry Cumann na mBunscol Handball finals in Lispole on Friday