Juvenile joy for Jodie and Diarmuid
CONGRATULATIONS TO Jodie Keeling (St. Joseph’s) and Diarmuid Moore (Ballymitty) who won their respective Leinster Juvenile open 60 x 30 championships, held in Kilkenny recently.
The championships were run on a round robin format with the top two competing in the final. All games were of 15-minute duration.
In the girls’ Under-15 championship, held in Kilfane Handball Club, Jodie got off to a great start, beating her county colleague April Moran from Ballymitty in her first game.
She then went on to beat Eimear Barron from Windgap, which guaranteed her place in the final against Nathania Jackson, also from Windgap, who had won both her games as well.
Jodie continued her great form on the day with a comprehensive win to take the Leinster title.
This was a great achievement for Jodie, especially when you consider she was playing against older girls and is eligible again at this age group for another two years!
In the boys’ Under-17 championship, held in Talbot’s Inch Handball Club, Diarmuid had wins over club colleague Dean O’Neill (Ballymitty), Tom Carroll (Talbot’s Inch) and James Love (Clogh), to set up an all-Ballymitty final, as Dean had also won his other round robin games.
In the end Diarmuid got the better of his doubles partner in a very entertaining final, with his serve and shot selection overcoming the hard hitting ciotóg Dean.
This turned out to be the game of the day, and a credit to both players.
It is encouraging to note that both Diarmuid and Dean are eligible at this grade again next year.
Well done to both players on their fantastic displays in Kilkenny.