Handball News: Kanes Make It an All-Leitrim Final at “Battle of the Courts 2025”

Kanes Make It an All-Leitrim Final at “Battle of the Courts 2025”

Clough-Ballacolla, Co. Laois – Leitrim’s emerging handball talent made a powerful impression at the “Battle of the Courts 2025” last weekend, as six juvenile players competed against the country’s best in an early-season showcase. Hosted by Clough-Ballacolla Handball Club in County Laois, the event drew over 70 young athletes from all four provinces and served as a key warm-up for the upcoming Connacht and National 1-Wall Championships.

Leading the way for Leitrim were Fenagh sisters Sophie and Abbie Kane, who lit up the U13 girls’ division. Both impressed on opposite sides of the draw, showing outstanding skill and composure to reach the final. Sophie ultimately claimed the title, continuing her excellent run of form in 2025. Abbie, competing above her age category, also turned heads with her maturity and consistent performances. The duo will be strong favourites heading into the Connacht Championship.
In the U17 girls’ division, Katie Kane delivered a gritty and determined display. After a narrow defeat in her opener, she bounced back strongly with a dominant win and was unlucky to lose her third game 21-18 in a tightly contested encounter. As one of the younger competitors in this grade and facing some of the top-ranked players in the country, Katie showed she’s right in the mix as the championship season approaches.

In the U17 boys’ competition, Annaduff’s Gary Cox began strongly with a first-round win before facing Wexford’s Nathan Lawlor in a high-quality match. Despite a 21-15 loss, Cox played some outstanding handball. With some tightening of his serve, he looks poised to make a real impact in the weeks ahead.
Fenagh’s Daniel Kane also put in a strong showing in the U15 boys’ division. He secured wins against opponents from Kilkenny and Cork before narrowly losing out to eventual champion Thomas O’Brien of Wexford. Their match was evenly balanced until a few late errors swung momentum. Kane’s display suggests he’ll be a serious contender when championship action kicks off.
Annaduff’s Adam Neary also impressed in the U15 boys’ grade. After three consecutive wins, he once again met Wexford powerhouse Charlie Roche who denied him a place in the final four. While Roche repeated his win from a previous meeting, Neary showed continued improvement and is steadily closing the gap with the top players. He’ll be a key player for Leitrim in the provincial campaign.

As the Connacht and National 1-Wall Championships draw closer, Leitrim’s juvenile handballers look well-prepared to make their mark in 2025. Next up for the girls are back-to-back weekends of action, starting with the “She’s ACE” Wallball Festival in Galway (Sept 12–13). They will be joined by the boys on the following weekend for a trip to the Aran Islands to compete in the “Aon Bhalla Inis Mór” event.

L-R : Sophie Kane (Fenagh) – Winner of Girls U13 division, Kevin Brennan – Clough Ballacolla Handball Club, Abbie Kane (Fenagh) – Runner Up

 

David Mahon
Liathroid Láimhe Liatroma
https://www.facebook.com/LeitrimHandball

Handball News: Maxim Gilmartin’s Brave All-Ireland Semifinal Performance Ends in Defeat

Maxim Gilmartin’s Brave All-Ireland Semifinal Performance Ends in Defeat in Boys U14 Singles – All Ireland 60×30 Softball Semifinal

Leitrim’s Maxim Gilmartin showed immense grit and determination but was ultimately defeated in his U14 singles All-Ireland semifinal against Tyrone’s Eolann Kelly on Saturday last.

Competing in Kelly’s home alley at Loughmacrory Co Tyrone, Maxim found himself under pressure from the outset, losing the first game 15-1. However, the Annaduff native responded with renewed resolve in the second. After falling behind 10-1, Maxim found a serve that Kelly struggled to handle and mounted a remarkable comeback, bringing the score back to 13-12. With Maxim gaining control of the game, the match appeared poised for a tiebreaker, but a misjudged serve allowed Kelly the opportunity to close out the match, winning 15-12.

Despite the defeat, Maxim’s tenacity and fightback earned widespread admiration, with many believing he deserved the chance to play a deciding game. Though it wasn’t his day, Maxim’s performance served as a strong reminder of his potential and promise for the future.

 

David Mahon
Liathroid Láimhe Liatroma
https://www.facebook.com/LeitrimHandball

Handball News: All Ireland Ruby Masters 60 x 30 | Western Wallball Tournament | All Ireland 60 x 30 semi finals

Ed Lee falls at final hurdle

Hard luck to Fenagh’s Ed Lee who travelled to Crinkle in Co Offaly on Sunday last to represent Leitrim and Connacht in the All Ireland Ruby Masters 60 x 30 All Ireland final.
Ed , famous for his powerful serves and efficient kills overcame many hurdles effortlessly on his way to the All Ireland finals.
On Sunday he came up against Billy Mullins of Tipperary in a meeting of two fantastic handballers.
Unfortunately on the day Mullins won out on a score line 21-6 21-6 which didn’t do Ed justice as there were many fantastic rallies.
Well done to Ed on a very successful big alley season, bringing an All Ireland silver medal back to Leitrim is a rare achievement and one which he should be rightly proud of.
All in Leitrim handball congratulate Ed on his mighty feat.

Katie Kane shines at Western Wallball Tournament

Saturday last saw 4 Leitrim Handballers travel to Corrundulla in Galway to compete in the Western Wallball Tournament.
Gary Cox , Jp and Daniel Kane took part in the Men’s C competition. All 3 can be proud of their achievements and performances on the day. In what was Gary and Daniels first dip into adult competition they didn’t hold back and showed they are ready for adult level with Gary producing the performance of the day by reaching the quarterfinals stages. Well done to all 3 lads.
Katie Kane continues her mighty form in the One Wall by adding to her wins in Clonguish a few weeks ago and Antrim in June. Katie reached the finals of the Ladies B competition narrowly losing out to Galway’s Ella Sweeney. Katie is showing great form in the run up to the championship and the nationals with One Wall season in full swing now. Well done Katie, although still juvenile she has taken the step up to adult competition with ease.

Galway Ella Sweeney and Katie Kane who won Silver in Ladies B competition in the Western Wallball tournament last Saturday

Daniel Kane, Ciana Ni Churrain current and 40x 30 World Champion and Gary Cox at the Western Wallball on Saturday

Maxim Gilmartin in All Ireland Semis

Best of luck to Annaduff’s Maxim Gilmartin who this Saturday plays Ulster champion Eolann Kelly in the All Ireland 60 x 30 semi finals ,where a win will lead to a final to be played on Sunday against either Leinster or Munster.
Maxim’s match is scheduled to take place in Loughmacrory in Tyrone, best of luck Maxim.

 

 Liathroid Láimhe Liatroma
https://www.facebook.com/LeitrimHandball

Handball News: 60×30 Softball All-Ireland Champ Semi-Final | Maxim at 60×30 Juvenile Nationals | Leitrim Ladies Shine

Leitrim in the 60×30 Softball All-Ireland Championship Semi-Finals

Fresh off his recent Connacht title win, Ed Lee of Fenagh is set to represent Leitrim in the Men’s Softball Ruby Masters Singles All-Ireland Semi-Final. He will take on Michael Brady (Cavan) in what promises to be a closely contested match on Sunday morning, August 10th, in Mullingar, Co. Westmeath.
Best of luck to Ed as he carries Leitrim hopes onto the national stage!

Maxim Gilmartin Competes at the Irish Nationals

Congratulations to Annaduff’s Maxim Gilmartin and his doubles partner, Cian Buckley from Cork, who competed in the 60×30 Juvenile Nationals in Kilkenny on Saturday last.
Playing a year above their age group and up against some of the best young players in the country, the boys gave it their all but were edged out by more experienced opponents. Despite the results, the experience gained at this elite level will be invaluable for both players as they continue to progress in the sport.
Maxim now shifts focus to the upcoming All-Ireland Softball Championships, taking place on August 24th next.

Leitrim Ladies Shine at the Clonguish 1-wall Open

The annual Clonguish GAA Handball Open provided a fantastic weekend of 1-Wall handball, drawing top talent from across Ireland. Leitrim players, particularly in the ladies’ divisions, produced some of the tournament’s standout performances.
In the adult grades played on Sunday, Katie Kane (Fenagh) claimed two titles, winning both the Ladies B and Ladies Open Plate. She dominated the Ladies B category with wins of 25-3, 25-13, 25-11, and another 25-11 in the final. In the Ladies Open, she came up against eventual winner Ava Sweeney (Galway) who won their game on a 25-12 scoreline. Katie rebounded strongly in the Plate competition, securing further wins of 25-11 and 25-17 to take the title.
Her father, JP Kane, also impressed — finishing runner-up in the Adult Beginners final. He also featured strongly in the Junior grade semi-final, demonstrating excellent form and determination in his first competitive outing of the year.
Monday saw the juvenile competitions take centre stage, with six Leitrim players competing across various age grades. In the U14 Boys, Adam Neary (Annaduff) gave an excellent account of himself against Charlie Roche (Wexford), scoring a commendable 14 points before falling 25-14 to the current world u14 champion and eventual winner. Maxim Gilmartin (Annaduff) had a great win over Matthew Jordan (Roscommon) before also meeting Roche, who proved too strong in a 25-11 defeat.

In the U16 category, Daniel Kane (Fenagh) and Gary Cox (Annaduff) both showed strong form, with Gary making it to the semi-finals, where he lost narrowly to Mark Galligan (Longford), 25-21.
The biggest impact once again came from the Leitrim girls. Abbie Kane (Fenagh) had a remarkable tournament, playing eight matches and winning both the U10 and U12 Girls titles, showing outstanding skill and composure for her age throughout.

Her sister, Sophie Kane, was dominant in the U14 Girls division, winning all four of her matches convincingly — each by a margin of 25-11 or better. Her powerful, low serves and consistent play made her a standout performer.
Together, the three Kane sisters brought home an amazing 5 titles, underlining Leitrim and Fenagh’s strong presence in girls underage 1-wall handball.
A sincere thank you goes to Danny Reilly, and all involved at Clonguish GAA Handball Club for their superb organisation and warm hospitality, which made it a thoroughly enjoyable and successful weekend for all involved.

 

David Mahon
OCP Liathroid Láimhe Liatroma
https://www.facebook.com/LeitrimHandball

Handball News: Ed Lee Leads County to Victory | Boys U15 Doubles Challenge | Clonguish One Wall Open

Leitrim’s Ed Lee Leads County to Victory in Connacht Softball Championship

Titles Shared as Connacht’s Finest Shine in Drumkeeran and Collooney
A thrilling evening of 60×30 handball unfolded last Saturday as the 2025 Connacht Softball Singles Championship Finals took centre stage in Drumkeeran (Leitrim) and Collooney (Sligo). Spectators were treated to a series of high-quality contests across multiple grades, with titles shared among four counties.
Fenagh’s Ed Lee delivered one of the standout performances of the evening in Collooney, producing a dominant display in the Ruby Masters Singles Final to defeat Mayo’s John Nally with a convincing 21–4, 21–1 scoreline. Representing Leitrim, Lee’s consistent play and strong control throughout the match secured a well-deserved victory, bringing the title proudly back to the county. Ed’s victory served as an inspiration to the next generation of Leitrim handballers who were present to watch and support him.

In Drumkeeran, Sligo’s Josian Oskoz emerged victorious over Glencar Manorhamilton’s Joel Smith in the Golden Masters B Singles Final. The opening game was closely contested, with frequent changes of serve keeping the score tight at 9–7 in Oskoz’s favour. The Sligo player then found his rhythm, pulling away to claim the game 21–9. The second game mirrored the first, with Oskoz establishing an early lead. Smith battled hard to regain momentum, and both players showcased remarkable intensity and fitness in a fiercely competitive contest. Ultimately, Oskoz capitalized on crucial moments to maintain control and sealed the match with a 21–10 win.

There was further celebration for Roscommon in Drumkeeran as Glenn Walsh produced a commanding performance in the Golden Masters A Final, defeating Mayo’s Tom Sweeney 21–6, 21–5. Mayo ensured their presence on the honors board as well. In the Junior C Singles Final held in Collooney, Darren Walsh emerged victorious against Roscommon’s Eddie Conboy, who put in a determined effort to finish runner-up.

Earlier in the week, Joel Smith earned his place in the Golden Masters B final with a thrilling semi-final victory over Mayo’s Martin McAndrew in Collooney. After a tough opening game defeat (5–21), Smith rallied to take the second game 21–12 and clinched the tiebreak 11–7 in dramatic fashion. Though he narrowly missed out in the final, Smith’s performance throughout the championship garnered widespread admiration.
A special thanks is extended to the match officials and organizers at both Drumkeeran and Collooney for their dedication and professionalism in delivering a seamless and enjoyable championship finale.
Congratulations to all finalists and county representatives on an exciting and successful 2025 Connacht softball singles championship season


Pic: Leitrim’s Ed Lee celebrates with supporters after his Connacht Final victory.

Leitrim-Cork Pairing Set for Boys U15 Doubles Challenge

Best of luck to Leitrim and Annaduff’s Maxim Gilmartin, who is set to compete in the GAA Handball Juvenile Softball Nationals next weekend. Maxim will team up with Cian Buckley of Ballydesmond Handball Club, Co. Cork, forming a strong partnership in the Boys 15 & Under Doubles category.
The event takes place in Kilfane, Co. Kilkenny on Saturday, and all eyes will be on this promising duo as they look to make their mark on the national stage.
Go n-éirí libh!

Pic: Cian Buckley, Ballydesmond, Cork and Maxim Gilmartin from Annaduff, who will pair up for the Juvenile Softball Nationals next weekend.

 

Clonguish One Wall Open Draws Strong Leitrim Participation

Clonguish GAA Handball Club will host its third annual One-Wall Open over the August Bank Holiday weekend, with adult competitions on Sunday, August 3rd, followed by juvenile events on Monday, August 4th. The Co. Longford based tournament has gone from strength to strength, becoming a standout fixture on the One Wall calendar.
Leitrim Handball will be well represented across both days. Annaduff’s Adam Neary and Gary Cox are set to take part, while the Kane family from Fenagh—Daniel, Katie, Sophie, and Abbie—will also be in action. They’ll be joined by their father, JP Kane, who is competing in the Adult Junior category.
Best of luck to all Leitrim players heading to Clonguish.
Beir bua!

 


David Mahon
OCP Liathroid Láimhe Liatroma
https://www.facebook.com/LeitrimHandball

Handball News: Connacht 60×30 Softball Championship Roundup

Leitrim Handball News – Connacht 60×30 Softball Championship Roundup

Leitrim’s presence in the Connacht 60×30 Softball Championships remained strong this week, with two local players stepping into the big alley for provincial semi-finals.
In the Over 35 Singles semi-final held in Collooney on Wednesday evening last, Drumshanbo’s Leo Logan put in a determined performance against Mayo’s Wayne Devine. Logan started well but was visibly affected by a hip injury in the second game, which limited his movement and ultimately tilted the contest in Devine’s favour. The Mayo man advanced with a 21-13, 21-11 win.

On Friday evening in Ballymote, Manorhamilton’s Anthony O’Flynn lined out in the Silver Masters B semi-final against Roscommon’s Daragh O’Gara. O’Flynn matched his opponent for long stretches in both games, but O’Gara found an extra gear in the closing stages to edge out a 21-13, 21-16 victory.

Leitrim also hosted two high-quality Junior C semi-finals in Drumkeeran Alley on Saturday evening. In the opening match, Kilglass and Roscommon’s Eddie Conboy defeated Mayo’s Mark Heneghan 21-9, 21-14 to book his place in the Connacht final. The second game saw Mayo’s Darren Walsh produce a commanding performance to overcome Galway’s Aengus O’Conghaile 21-4, 21-12.

Upcoming Matches of Leitrim Interest:
– Golden Masters B Semi-Final: Joel Smith (Manorhamilton) vs. Martin McAndrew (Mayo), Wednesday evening in Collooney.
– Ruby Masters Final: Ed Lee (Fenagh) vs. John Nally (Mayo), Saturday evening in Collooney.

Keep an eye on Leitrim Handball Facebook page: facebook.com/LeitrimHandball for upcoming fixture details.

Well done to all Leitrim competitors for their efforts this week, and a sincere word of thanks to those who assisted with officiating duties in Drumkeeran. Best of luck to Joel and Ed in the upcoming fixtures.

Pic: Wayne Devine (Mayo) and Leo Logan (Drumshanbo) before their recent Connacht Softball Championship Over 35s semi-final in Collooney.

Pic: Anthony O’Flynn was edged out in the Silver Masters B semi-final in Ballymote on Friday evening against Roscommon’s Daragh O’Gara.


David Mahon
OCP Liathroid Láimhe Liatroma
https://www.facebook.com/LeitrimHandball

Handball News: Connacht Softball Singles Championship 2025 | Western Wallball Tournament 2025 – Leitrim Youths Shine

Connacht Softball Singles Championship 2025: Leitrim Players Make Their Mark

The Connacht Softball Singles Handball Championships are currently in full swing, bringing a wave of big-alley action to courts across the province. Played on the traditional 60×30 court, this classic variant of Irish handball continues to attract strong interest from both seasoned purists and newcomers to the sport alike.

Leitrim is well represented in this year’s competition with four male players – Joel Smith, Leo Logan, Anthony O’Flynn and Ed Lee competing across the various grades. The county also boasts a solo female entrant, Manorhamilton’s Nóra Smith who advances uncontested to the girl’s minor finals at national level.

Leitrim’s campaign got off to a strong start last Friday evening when Joel Smith (Manorhamilton) delivered a dominant performance against Mayo’s John Bourke in their Connacht 60×30 Golden Masters B Quarter-Final. Smith powered through with a 21-2, 21-4 victory in Collooney. Next up for Joel is a semi-final clash with Mayo’s Martin McAndrew, scheduled for Friday evening next, July 18th, in Belcarra.
Meanwhile, Drumshanbo’s Leo Logan is set to take on Mayo’s Wayne Devine in the Over 35s Singles Semi-Final. Their match is scheduled for Wednesday, July 16th, in Collooney. Another Manorhamilton player, Anthony O’Flynn, will be in action on Friday evening as well, facing Roscommon’s Daragh O’Gara in the Silver Masters B Singles Semi-Final in Ballymote.
Closer to home, Drumkeeran alley will host two exciting Junior C Semi-Finals on Saturday evening, offering local fans a great opportunity to catch some great handball action.
For match times and further updates, check the Leitrim Handball Facebook page: facebook.com/LeitrimHandball

 

Pic: John Burke – Mayo and Joel Smith – Leitrim & Manorhamilton after their Connacht 60×30 Golden Masters B Quarter Final match in Collooney on Friday evening last.

 

Western Wallball Tournament 2025: Leitrim Youths Shine in Marathon Day of Action

After ten hours of thrilling play, the 2025 Western Wallball Juvenile Tournament drew to a close in Claregalway Handball Club on Saturday last, one of the hottest days of the year. With 90 players competing in 145 games, it was a marathon day of top class 1-wall handball showcasing some of the best young talent in the country.
Leitrim was proudly represented by Abbie Kane (u12), Sophie Kane (u14), Adam Neary (u14), Daniel Kane (u16) and Gary Cox (u16), all of whom delivered outstanding performances throughout the day.
The standout Leitrim display came from young Abbie Kane (Fenagh), who stole the spotlight in the U12 girls’ grade. Facing opponents several years older, Abbie powered through seven matches to reach the final. In a dramatic showdown, she fought back from 13-4 down to lead 14-13, before narrowly losing 15-14. Her fearless performance drew praise from coaches and spectators alike, with many tipping her as a rising star to watch.

In the boys’ U14 grade, Adam Neary (Annaduff) reached the semi-finals after going toe to toe with one of Irelands top young players, Ciarán Corr in a thrilling encounter, before eventually bowing out in the high-quality grade.
Gary Cox (Annaduff) was also in top form, narrowly missing out on progression to the knockout stages after two tight losses by just a handful of points. Daniel Kane (Fenagh) suffered a similar fate, being narrowly edged out of a semi-final spot after consecutive 15-14 defeats in his final two matches. In the U14 girls’ competition, Sophie Kane (Fenagh) performed strongly in a very competitive group, just missing out on a knockout spot due to her narrower score difference.
The overall standard of play throughout the day was exceptional, with powerful serving, sharp kills, precise passes, and fast-paced rallies lighting up the courts from start to finish.
Abbie Kane’s runner-up finish in the U12 girls’ grade ensured Leitrim was proudly represented on the podium. All five players left Claregalway with heads held high, having proven they can compete with, and challenge, the very best young 1-wall handballers in the country.


Leitrim players, coaches and supporters celebrate at the Western Wallball tournament in Claregalway.
L-R : Maggie Cox, Angela Neary, Katie Kane, Sophie Kane, Daniel Kane, Abbie Kane, Gary Cox, Adam Neary, Aoife Kane, JP Kane.

David Mahon
OCP Liathroid Láimhe Liatroma
https://www.facebook.com/LeitrimHandball

Handball News: Connacht 60×30 Softball Championships 2025

Connacht 60×30 Softball Championships 2025

GAA Handball focus switched to the 60×30 big-alley when the 2025 Connacht Softball doubles championships fired into action in recent weeks.

It wasn’t to be for Leitrim Handball on Wednesday evening last when Manorhamilton’s Joel Smith and Anthony Flynn played Sligo’s Clive Slevin and Josian Oskozin in the 2025 Connacht Men’s Silver Masters B Doubles softball final. Playing on their home turf in Collooney, the Sligo pair were made to work hard throughout the match, overcoming the Leitrim duo on a 21-15, 21-9 scoreline. Best of luck to Sligo who now progress to the All-Ireland Final next month. For the Leitrim players, attention now switches to the Connacht Softball Singles championships throughout July.

Leitrim Handball hosts two very exciting Connacht Softball Singles championship games in Drumkeeran alley on Friday evening next, July 4th. First up at 7pm is the Junior C preliminary round match between Galway’s Daniel McDonagh and Roscommon’s Eddie Conboy. This is followed at 8pm by a highly anticipated Junior quarter final match between Galway’s Conor Noone and Seán Raftery from Roscommon. Good luck to everyone involved.

 

Pic: Joel Smith & Anthony Flynn before their Connacht Final

 

 

David Mahon
OCP Liathroid Láimhe Liatroma
https://www.facebook.com/LeitrimHandball

Handball News: Annaduff Handball skills rewarded at Féile na nGael 4-Wall competition in Monaghan

Annaduff Handball skills rewarded at Féile na nGael 4-Wall competition in Monaghan

Great fun times, and brilliant memories were made when Annaduff GAA Handball participated in the Division 4 Féile na nGael 4-wall competition hosted by St Mellans Handball Club Emyvale, Co. Monaghan on Saturday last. With 13 clubs from across the country vying for glory, Annaduff were placed in a group with traditionally strong teams from Carrickmore Co. Tyrone and Clogh Co. Kilkenny.

Annaduff’s young team made up of Conor Cox, Padraig Mahon, Eoin Mahon, Adam Neary and Maxim Gilmartin played extremely well, topping their group and getting into the divisional semi-final. The Annaduff pairings put everything into the semi-final but just couldn’t find a way to overcome the eventual overall winners from Kells Handball Club Co. Meath. However, Annaduff didn’t come home empty handed as Maxim Gilmartin’s talent was rewarded when he was selected as the overall winner of the individual skills competition on the day. An outstanding achievement for Maxim and Annaduff Handball Club!

Well done to all the Annaduff boys who took part, and a big thank you to all the coaches and parents who prepared them and who travelled to Monaghan to support them.

 

Top: Annaduff’s Maxim Gilmartin receives his Individual Skills award from Eoin Treanor (St Mellans HC, Emyvale) at Féile na nGael 2025
Bottom: Annaduff Handball Team who participated at Féile na nGael played in Emyvale, Co. Monaghan. L-R : Conor Cox, Adam Neary, Maxim Gilmartin, Eoin Mahon, Padraig Mahon.

 

 

 

David Mahon
OCP Liathroid Láimhe Liatroma
https://www.facebook.com/LeitrimHandball

Handball News: Great Fun at Leitrim National Schools Mixed One Wall tournament

Great Fun at Leitrim National Schools Mixed One Wall tournament.

A fantastic day’s handball was enjoyed by all at Drumkeeran handball alley, hosted by Manorhamilton club on Sunday. This week the focus was on the national school children and there were players from all four clubs in Leitrim.  Players were divided into three groups with an outright competition and plate competition in each.

Eimear Ni Thiarnan won the outright competition in group 1 against Senan Prior while Darragh Carney just pipped Philip O’Dell in the plate. In the U12 competition Abbie Kane moved up an age-group but still took victory in the outright while Niall Loughlin narrowly beat Danann English in the plate. In the thirteen and under competition Marc Mac Sheera beat Kian Mac Nabola in a scintillating outright final while Morgan Chandler put in a very steady performance to beat Andile Le Shane in the Plate. Andile had put in several great performances earlier in the day especially against Marc MacShera so he can take great consolation from that.

A special word of thanks to Joel Smith and Anthony O Flynn of the Manorhamilton club for organizing two very enjoyable handball competitions for Leitrim’s young up and coming players.

 

 

 

 

 

David Mahon
OCP Liathroid Láimhe Liatroma
https://www.facebook.com/LeitrimHandball

Handball News: Leitrim’s young guns shoot for the stars | Manorhamilton 1-wall tournament moved indoors to Drumkeeran

Leitrim’s young guns shoot for the stars in Cairn Community Games National Finals.

Medal success at national level is something which often alludes Leitrim’s juvenile athletes, however our young handball stars once again bucked this trend and consigned any sense of county inferiority to the bin when they secured two hard won Cairn Community Games medals in the national finals played in Drumlish Co. Longford last weekend.

Fenagh’s Sophie Kane playing for the Ballinamore Community games area once again showed why she is a name to watch in ladies 1-wall handball when the young 13 years old fought off older competitors to seal gold in the U16 girl’s national finals. Meanwhile Annaduff’ s Maxim Gilmartin who was representing the Mohill Community games area, won the bronze medal in the boys U16 national final.

Sophie Kane

Sophie’s was presented with a tough drawn against tournament favourite Aoife Walsh from Galway in her first game, but she competently defeated this top Irish player 21-13. This set the pace for the day as Sophie overcame Sligo, Wexford and Monaghan opposition, grinding out 21-11, 21-12 and 21-13 victories respectively. In the national final, which was an all-Connacht affair, Sophie defeating Grace Corrigan from Lisacull Roscommon on a 21-13 scoreline and securing the gold medal for Leitrim and rapturous celebrations.

Maxim Gilmartin started the day by quickly dispatching Cavan and Clare opponents 21-7, 21-9. His quarter final match against Sean Keyes from Meath produced a tough arm wrestle with two evenly matched players exchanging points all the way through the game. Tightly poised at 19 apiece, Maxim had to dig deep to eke out a 21-19 victory and a place in the semi-final against Enrico Patrizi from Westmeath. In the semi-final the Westmeath man gave a masterclass in serves with the eventual U16 Boys champion defeating Maxim 21-6. All was not lost as the plucky Annaduff man regained his composure in the third-place playoff to claim the bronze medal defeating Oisin McGrath from Kildare on a 21-14 scoreline.


Maxim Gilmartin

Leitrim had seven players in contention in the national finals and each proudly represented their county over the weekend. Well done to Abbie Kane representing Ballinamore Community Games area who reached the quarter finals of the girls u13 competition. Also well done to Eimear Ni Thiarnan from Drumshanbo area who was unlucky not to progress in the girls U13 competition too.
Ruairi McKiernan who also representing Drumshanbo area fell short of the medal positions when he bowed out in the boys u13 quarter finals. Eoin Mahon who represented Carrick area was given a very tough opening draw against Westmeath opposition in the boys U16 competition. Despite Eoin’s best efforts his Westmeath opponent prevailed. Conor Cox representing Mohill area gave a gallant performance against strong opposition in his first national finals in the U13 boys competition.


Conor Cox and his Westmeath opponent
Ruairi McKiernan and his Monaghan opponent   |  Maxim Gilmartin and Eoin Mahon
Eimear Ni Thiarnan and her Monaghan opponent | Abbie Kane and her Roscommon opponent

Interestingly all seven Leitrim players will all be eligible to play in their respective categories again next year! More great things to come from this brilliant bunch of athletes.

A special word of thanks to all the coaches and parents for preparing the Leitrim players for the national finals. A big thank you to everybody in Leitrim Community Games and Leitrim Handball for organizing competitions locally. Finally, a word of praise to all the referees and organizers, Longford Community Games, Longford Handball and Drumlish Sports Centre who ran the national finals so efficiently over the weekend.

Inclement weather doesn’t dampen spirits as Manorhamilton 1-wall tournament moved to Drumkeeran.

No outside event can be played in Leitrim without a plan B, this meant that Manorhamilton’s outdoor 2nd level student tournament was played indoor at Drumkeeran handball alley due to the heavy rain that we all experienced. A big thanks to the Drumkeeran team for their facilitation of the event which meant that we were able to run a great event indoors.

Players from Fenagh, Annaduff and Manorhamilton took part, and it was evident from an early stage that the Fenagh and Annaduff players had amassed a lot of experience in competitions already, none more so perhaps than young Abbie Kane from Fenagh who took the girl’s title. She defeated Abbey Miller from Manorhamilton who played some fantastic handball and performed excellently under pressure. Sadhbh Smith and Emma Curry battled it out in the plate competition, but it was Emma who triumphed on this occasion. In the main event there were lots of great games with Cormac Scarff, Daniel Kane, Adam Neary and Gary Cox all progressing. After some very entertaining games it was Daniel and Cormac who reached the final.

(1) Arró O’Reilly and Tadhg Kirwan with JP Kane.   (2) Abbie Kane and runner up Abbey Miller  (3) Sadhbh Smith and girls’ plate winner Emma Curry (4) Daniel Kane and Cormac Scarff 

From the outset you could see the experience that Daniel took into the final match, and he looked very comfortable at the front, but Cormac dug deep, and his competitive edge really came to the fore as he in turn moved forward to dominate the front. In the end it was Cormac who prevailed, taking the title on a scoreline of 15 12.

Finally, the plate competition was won by Arró O’Reilly who after an initial loss in the main competition put on a very dominant performance in the plate, however in the final Tadhg Kirwan really pushed him to the limit with some excellent play especially with his left and over hand. Arró really looked back to form and will be looking forward to the Connacht one wall later in the year.
Thanks to coach and referee Anthony O’Flynn and to Gráinne Mc Garty for hospitality as well as to the Drumkeeran club. Manorhamilton will host a national school competition next week.

Annaduff, Fenagh, Manorhamilton players and supporters at the 2nd level 1-wall tournament played in Drumkeeran.

 

 

David Mahon
OCP Liathroid Láimhe Liatroma
https://www.facebook.com/LeitrimHandball

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
https://www.facebook.com/LeitrimHandball