Handball News: More European Handball Success | Maxim Gilmartin wins 1st year Boys Connacht Softball Championship
More European Handball Success for Fenagh’s Kane Family
Katie, Sophie and Daniel Kane from Fenagh added to their growing collection of European and Irish underage handball accolades when the European 1-wall tour stopped off in Ireland last weekend. Playing in a packed field of top Irish and European wallball players at the “Antrim Slam” event near Belfast, this Fenagh trio brought home a slew of awards reinforcing their growing reputation on the 1-wall circuit.
Older sister Katie won the 17 and under girl’s championship in some style on Sunday morning having been undefeated in all matches in this category. Also playing in the Ladies B category, Katie came tantalizingly close to booking herself a spot on the prestigious ladies tour when she was pipped by the bare minimum 21-20 in a nail-biting final.
Katie’s younger sister Sophie added to her earlier European Junior championship successes, winning the 13 and under girl’s plate title. Coming up against a strong opponent in her first group game on Saturday, Sophie was unlucky to lose by the bare minimum to the eventual group winner. Regrouping from this initial setback, Sophie went on to decisively win her remaining games and bring the plate back to Fenagh.
Meanwhile, their brother Daniel played some brilliant stylish handball to claim the runner up spot in the boys 15 and under cup competition. Holding his own against tough opposition at the group stage on Saturday, Daniel showed a great improvement in his game before eventually succumbing to current world number 1 player Kevin McGrath in the final.
Collectively Katie, Daniel and Sophie brought home more silverware from the European tour this weekend than any other family involved. Wales is the next stop on the European tour for the Fenagh trio when the Welsh open takes place in August.
Well done to everyone involved.
L-R : Dan McVicker (Irish Wallball Coach), Katie Kane (Girls 17 & under cup winner & Ladies B runner up),
Sophie Kane (Girls 13 & under plate winner), Daniel Kane (Boys 15 & under cup runner up).
Annaduff’s Maxim Gilmartin wins 1st year Boys Connacht Softball Championship
Huge congratulations to Annaduff’s Maxim Gilmartin who was crowned Connacht Softball – 1st year boys singles champion on Sunday last in Moycullen Co. Galway. Representing Mohill Community College, the young Annaduff clubman had to put in a brilliant performance in the big 60×30 alley to defeat Senan Johnston from St Nathy’s College in the final on a 15-12, 15,13 scoreline. The final turned into a long and physically demanding game of handball between two evenly matched players, where the lead and serve changed hands multiple times. Maxim dug deep to overcome Senan in both games and in so doing won the first ever Connacht Handball title for Mohill Community College!
Leitrim also competed in the boy’s intermediate singles championship with Tadhg Kirwan representing St Clares CS. Manorhamilton in the finals. Tadhg met a strong player in Sean Corrigan from St Nathy’s in his semi-final and despite his best efforts couldn’t find a way past him this time.
Maxim Gilmartin – 60×30 Connacht Colleges 1st year boys singles champion.
David Mahon
OCP Liathroid Láimhe Liatroma
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