Cormac Finn through to All-Ireland U21 decider
IN yet another very busy handball weekend with a packed programme of All-Ireland semi-finals and a most dramatic men’s senior final at Headquarters and the conclusion of the provincial B championships on Sunday last, there was at some good news for Sligo’s contenders.
Cork’s, Eoin Daily provided the opposition for Sligo’s Cormac Finn in the All-Ireland Under 21 semi-final on Sunday last. There were high expectations that Finn would progress, based on his excellent earlier performance in the Under 21 doubles four weeks ago and his two minor titles in 2022. While a little slow to get going in the opening game where he trailed the Munster champion 1 ace to 8 early on, he only conceded five further aces to Daily to secure the opener 21 aces to13. Finn carried this momentum into the second game, totally outclassing his game opponent to secure the win 21 aces to 7. The Ballymote clubman now faces Seán Barron of Kilkenny, who defeated Antrim’s Conor McClean by a similar margin in his semi-final, on Saturday next at Headquarters. Barron will offer a sterner test but one which Finn is more than capable of passing.
In total contrast to the events at Headquarters last weekend, the Newport and Mulranny handball clubs hosted the remaining Juvenile B finals on Sunday last. While the ‘B’ grade may be considered a secondary competition for players who had not represented their county in the A juvenile grade, there is often very little difference in the standard of contenders, particularly in the youngest grades.
Having won three matches already to reach the boys U11 doubles decider, Castleconnor duo Michael Jones and Lorcan Foody had to settle for second-best against Galway twins, James and Joseph Rodgers in a hard-fought provincial decider at Mulranny on a 15-9, 15-10 scoreline.
Ballymote’s Girls U15 doubles pairing of Grace Hegarty and Aoife Walsh are relative beginners to the sport of handball but they claimed gold in their provincial final against Mayo duo, Caolin Geraghty and Louise Conway on a very impressive 154, 15-2 scoreline at Newport on Sunday. A fine and encouraging result for them and their coaches, Francis McCann and Laura Finn.
There was a most dramatic, tragic even, conclusion to the highly-anticipated All-Ireland Senior Singles final at Headquarters on Saturday as Cavan’s Paul Brady attempted to bridge an eleven year gap since his last senior final appearance against five-time champion, Robbie McCarty from Mullingar.
Brady took the opening game 21 aces to 16 and led 16 aces to 3 in the second only to sustain a serious groin injury. Following a ten minute injury time out, Brady returned, only needing five more aces for victory, but it was not to be and he retired soon after while leading 16 aces to 7.
Roscommon’s Fiona Tully had her chances in her bid to secure the ladies Senior Singles title against seven-time champion, Cathriona Casey from Cork, but had to settle for the runners-up spot, losing out on a 21-10, 21-16 scoreline.