Hardball interest now confined to the Intermediate Singles and Minor Singles

AS the All-Ireland Hardball championship programme comes closer to completion Cork interest is now confined to Intermediate Singles and Minor Singles.

In Intermediate Singles quarter final last Saturday in Talbots Inch Colm Jordan, Fermoy, had an impressive win over Dubliner Ian Griffin. Jordan played exceptionally well winning on a score of 21-5, 21-17 to qualify for a semi-final clash with Kilkenny's Ciaran Neary, on Saturday next at Cashel at 2pm. A win for Jordan would see him take on Wexford's Jason Murphy in the final on Saturday, May 31.

In Minor Singles at Mullinavat on Sunday Shane Flynn, Boherbue, defeated Thomas Hall, Wexford, playing very well he won on a score of 21-4, 21-17. Shane played his semifinal against Limerick's Evan Murphy in Ballymacelligott last night (Wednesday).

Daniel Relihan went very close to also making it to the final. He lost out to Wicklow's Keith Kavanagh, Kavanagh won the first 21-11. Relihan started the second well and looked to be on his way to winning that game to take it to a tie break but Kavanagh with a few late aces got over the line on a score of 21-20 to book his place in the final.

Next Saturday will be a busy one with Conna hosting County One Wall Juvenile Championship Finals catering for Boys and Girls from U-12S to U17S games getting underway at 11am. winner in each age group will represent Cork in Munster One Wall championship which will again be played in Conna on Saturday June 7.

The 60x30 Munster Inter Club Championship also kicks off this week Boherbue will be first into action they take on Ballymacelligott in a Junior club quarter final game in Broadford on Tuesday next at 7.30pm, Broadford will be strong but Boherbue have a good side makes for an interesting game.

Last weekend was another big one for Mallow player Killian Carroll he competed with distinction in the Canadian Open Singles and Doubles Championship played at Laval, Quebec. Carroll, displaying the same skill and determination that saw him win the Boston Open for the second year in a row two weeks earlier, ensured him a place in the final against the reigning Canadian Open Champion and USHA and World number one ranked player Luis Moreno.

From the start Moreno took a grip and raced into a 12 aces to 3 lead, Killian gradually worked his way back into the game hitting some unbelievable shots to draw level with Moreno at 16 aces all. The question was had Killian used up too much energy in getting back on level terms,but he continued in the same determined mood hitting five unanswered aces to take the first 21/16.

The second game started with the same pattern as the first Moreno in control he led 11 aces to 2 and 17 aces to 10. It certainly looked at that stage as if a tie break to decide the game was inevitable, but again Killian broke Moreno's grip on the game hitting ten aces without reply to go into a 20 aces to 17 lead.

Moreno regained the serve and tried hard to close the gap but again Killian rose to the occasion winning back the serve and scoring that crucial ace to win it 21-17 and take the title, a truly remarkable performance.

Carroll also competed in the doubles partnering Conor McElduff, Tyrone and they also put in some mouthwatering performances defeating Luis Moreno and Kevin Kopchuk in the final, 2118, 10-21, 11-6.

Mallow played off a very successful One Wall Tournament in the Patrician Academy Sports Hall and Mallow Handball Court,they had a huge entry with players from Limerick clubs also competing. The list of winners were: U16 Cup: winner David Walsh, R/Up: Tadhg O’Neill U16 Plate: winner Eoghan Sheehan, R/Up: Billy O’Malley U14 Cup: winner: Michael O’Malley, R/up: Jack O’Brien U14 Plate: winner: Brooklyn Hickey U12 Cup: winner: Anthony O’Connell, R/Up: Jamie Burke U12 Plate: winner; Sean Hogan, R/Up: Ryhs McCarthy U10 Cup: winner: Cormac Conroy, R/Up: Cathal Ducey U10 Plate: winner: Darragh Bowen, R/Up: Tomas O Coileain.