Archive for category: Handball

Leitrim had two handballers in action at the weekend in All-Ireland 40×20 semi-finals, Leo Logan (Junior B) and Cormac Scollan (U15), with neither player overcoming their Leinster opponents. Leo Logan was defeated by Carlows AaronÓgeoghegan, while Cormac Scollan lost out to Kilkennys Jack Doyle. In the Junior B semi-final, played in Ballaghadreen, Logan made a great start opening up an early lead which he didnt relinquish and went on to take the first game 21-15. The second game could have gone Leos way early on, but his Carlow opponent got some key scores and took the game away from him, on a score of 21-15. The tie-break game which was played at a very high intensity started to slip away from Logan, and the Carlow man went on to win comfortably 21-8.

 

The Boys U15 semi-final was played in Clogh Co. Kilkenny with Cormac Scollan coming up against a stronger Jack Doyle, losing on a scoreline of 15-5, 15-2. ScollanÓgot off to a great start in the first game, going into a 4 point lead before his Kilkenny opponent started to get to grips with his excellent serving. That was as good as it got for the Fenagh lad, and he was left chasing both games as Doyle was in complete control.

Drumshanbos Leo Logan captured the Connacht 40×20 Junior B title on Saturday when he over came the challenge of Roscommons Gordon Nolan on a score line of 21-16, 21-19. As the score suggests the games were very tight with Leos fitness and strength coming to the fore, to edge out two very tough games. The final which was played in Collooney was top class with all the skills of handball on display. Logan had to fight hard to come from behind at the start of both games, but when he pulled ahead he never let Nolan regain the lead in either match, With the first game under his belt, Leo had the composure to see off Nolans strong challenge in the second game, losing serve at 20-19, and, holding his nerve, he regained serve and finished off the game to claim the title. He now faces Leinster opposition in the All-Ireland semi-final in two weeks time. Collooney Handball Club streamed the final live on Facebook and the game can be viewed on the Sligo Handball Facebook page.

 

St Patricks NS Drumshanbo had three pupils taking part in the Connacht Finals played in Moycullen Co. Galway on Sunday. Sean McGarry played in the Boys U11 Singles, and Karl Foley and Aidan Dowler were runners up in the Boys U13 Doubles.

 

The Leitrim Juvenile B Finals will take place this Sunday in Drumshanbo at 4pm

Action in the Connacht 60×30 Championship continued at the week-end with the Singles Championship at semi-final stage. There were five Leitrim Handballers in action: Martin Raftery (Intermediate), Leo Logan (Junior), Joel Smith (Junior B), Barry McDonagh (Junior C) and Ed Lee (Emerald Masters). Despite playing some top class handball none of Leitrims finest progressed to the finals. The Intermediate semi-final was played on Friday night in Williamstown between Drumshanbos Martin Raftery and Ollie Conway (Williamstown). This was Rafterys first time to play in the Intermediate Championship and he took the game to the experienced Conway, losing the first game 21-17, taking the second with a comprehensive win 21-9, but narrowly lost the tie break 21-18. In the Junior semi-final Leo Logan came up against a stronger Denis Creighton (Roscommon) in Roscommon on Saturday losing on a score line of 21-15, 21-14. The Junior B semi-final was played in Collooney between Joel Smith and Jason Earlis with the Sligo man taking the game 21-11, 21-15. In Junior C Barry McDonagh took on Mayos Aidan Connachton in Castlebar where he was defeated on a score line of 21-8, 21-10. To round off a disappointing week-end for Leitrims handballers Ed Lee was defeated in the Emerald Masters semi-final by Michael Hearty (Mayo), after taking the match to a tie break losing the first game 21-8, winning the second one 21-18, he lost the tie break 21-12.

The 60×30 Doubles semi-finals are fixed for this week-end with Leitrim having home advantage. The Intermediate pairing of Martin Rafery and Donal Wrynn, and Minor pairing of Jarlath Scollan and Alan Wrynne play in Fenagh on Sunday with a start time of 3.00pm where they face Galway opposition.

The 40×20 Junior Nationals were played over the week-end at Galway venues. Cormac Scollan (U15B) reached the last 4 in his section, losing the semi-final to Anthony Carroll (Mallow, Cork) in a tie break 8-15, 15-6, 6-11. Having a bye to the last 16 Cormac got a walk over from Enda Lawless (Galway). He met Philip Doran (Co Down) in the quarter final and defeated him on a score line of 15-5, 14-15, 11-6. Jarlath Scollan (U17) came up against World U17 champion Danial KavanÓgh (Wexford) in the final 16 and was defeated 8-15, 2-15.