Local handballers win two All-Ireland Hardball titles

CORK handballers had a good day on Saturday last at Broadford in Limerick when they contested and won two All-Ireland Hardball Finals.

The feature game on the programme was Senior Doubles in which Liscarroll pair Daniel Relihan and Michael Hedigan took on Kerry pair Dominic Lynch and John Joe Quirke, having come up through the ranks in recent years winning Minor Hardball and Softball All Ireland Doubles titles. They continued their upward climb with Junior & Intermediate All-Ireland titles in Hardball to elevate them to Senior status this year.

It’s never easy in your first year competing at Senior level to win an All Ireland title, but they gave it their all overcoming more fancied opposition on the way, defeating Dubliners Eoin Kennedy and Carl Browne in a quarter-final and another big win in their semi-final over Westmeath pair Robbie McCarthy and Colm Jordan brought them face to face with Kerry in the Final.

In the first game the more experienced Kerry pair looked as if they could take the first but Relihan and Hedigan were not going to let the chance slip as they wore the Kerry pair down to win 21-15.

Despite the best efforts of Lynch and Quirke to keep the game alive the Cork pair with the first game under their belt now had the scent of victory in their nostrils they controlled the game to win the second 21-9 and be crowned All-Ireland Senior Hardball Doubles champions.

In the opening game the Junior Doubles Final David Walsh, Mallow, partnering Jamie O’Donnell, Fermoy took on Tipperary Paul Mullins/Kevin Dempsey. The Tipperary pair started well but the Cork pair got themselves into the game took control and went on to win the first 21-12.

Having lost the first game Tipperary started well in the second knowing they had to win it to keep the game alive. However, Walsh and O’Donnell quickly got back in control and went on to win convincingly 21 aces to 7 to be crowned All Ireland Junior Hardball Doubles champions. From a Cork point of view it was a great achievement to win both titles.

Last Saturday at Conna Community Complex, the Garryanne Kennels, Conna sponsored County One Wall Boys Singles U-12 to U-17 Championship was played off producing some exciting and skilfull handball with a big entry.

RESULTS FROM THE FINALS U-12 Singles: Mallow (Wesley Delany) dft Ballydesmond (Ryan Linehan) 8-15, 15-9, 11-5.

U-13 Singles: Conna (Cian Dunning) dft Boherbue (Tomas O Connor) 15-6, 15-6.

U-14 Singles: Fermoy (Ben Sullivan) dft Ballydesmond (Darragh Murphy) 5-15, 15-5, 11-3.

U-15 singles: Fermoy (Hayden Supple) dft Ballydesmond (Eoghan Daly) 15-5, 15-4.

U-16 Singles: Boherbue (Evan Enright) dft Ballydesmond (Keelan Murphy) 15-5, 15-5.

U-17 Singles: Boherbue (Darragh Ducey) dft Conna (Sam Dunning) 1315, 15-6, 11-6.

It’s all systems go as the preparation for GAA Handball Feile Festival on Saturday June 15 continues, with a large entry from across the country it promises to be a hectic day as the different divisions in Boys and Girls and Skills Competition are played out.