Leitrim Handball News

Connacht Colleges 40×20 Championship

The Connacht Colleges 40×20 Finals were played in St Comans HC Roscommon at the weekend. Leitrim was represented by Cormac Scollan 1st Year Singles and Jarlath Scollan and Alan Wrynne Intermediate Doubles (Ballinamore CS) and Fergal Moran and Gareth Gilmartin 1st Year Doubles and David Gallagher and Cathal McGourty Junior Doubles (Drumshanbo VS). In First Year Singles Cormac Scollan defeated Conor Finn (Colaiste Mhuire, Ballymote) 15-10, 15-11 in the semi-final. He came up against Evan ODioluin (Colaiste Cholm Cille, Galway) in the final but lost on a score line of 15-4, 15-11. In the 1st Year Doubles Final, Fergal Moran and Gareth Gilmartin (Drumshanbo VS) lost out to Kieran Moran and Tommy McNeela (Colaiste Einde, Galway) 15-2, 15-2.
In the Junior Doubles semi-final David Gallagher and David McGourty (Drumshanbo VS) were defeated by Diarmuid and Vincent Harte (Summerhill College, Sligo) 15-5, 15-6.
The Intermediate Doubles pairing of Jarlath Scollan and Alan Wrynne (Ballinamore CS) met Patrick Murphy and Niall Joyce (St. Colmans Claremorris) in the final. After dominating 
much of the first game the Ballinamore CS pair were unable to close out the match losing 15-14. They lost the second game 15-5.
 
Connacht Junior B 40×20 Championship
 
In Junior B Doubles the Fenagh/Drumshanbo pairing of Jamie Murray and Leo Logan met Roscommons Brendan McDonagh and Nevan McCartin, with the Leitrim lads having home advantage. However, things didnt go according to plan for the Leitrim men and they were defeated 21-10, 21-2.

 

 

 

09-Feb-15 by Niall Scollan – Leitrim Handball

Connacht 60×30 Juvenile B Championship Finals

Connacht 60×30 Juvenile B Championship Finals

In another first for Fenagh Handball Alley, the Connacht 60×30 Juvenile B Championship finals were played there on Sunday last. Leitrim was represented by Fergal McLoughlin and Caolan McDermott (U12 Doubles) and David Wrynn (U15), all from Fenagh. David Wrynn had to settle for silver after coming up against a stronger Khalid Yehkyaev (Roscommon) losing out on a score line of 13-15, 4-15. Fergal McLoughlin and Caolan McDermott took the U12 Doubles title with a great victory over Jack Glynn and Anthony Dunne (Galway) winning on a score line of 15-8, 15-4.

 

 

08-Oct-14 by Leitrim GAA

Gold for Leitrim in Handball

Martin Raftery was Drumshanbos pride and joy last weekend when he captured the All Ireland Junior 60×30 championship at the expence of Paul Lambert of Wexford.   In a thrilling and energy sapping three game marathon at the Na Fianna GAA handball complex inÓglasnevin Dublin, Raftery won the game 16-21  21-17  21-19.

In a game that could have gone either way, Raftery had to dig deep after a very good start by Lambert. A sharper looking Lambert was killing the ball at every chance while Raftery relied more on defencive and passing shots. Both sides found aces hard to come by and long rallys took its toll on energy levels, so it was always going to be the survival of the fittest. In that regard it was Raftery who looked the strongest and more composed as the game went on. 

After losing the first set Raftery adjusted his game and serves to Lamberts weaker left overhand side had telling effect and with veteran Ed Lee emparting his knowledge and experience as coach the Leitrim man was now looking at a more vunerable Lambert. In a hard fought second game lasting thirty eight minutes Raftery tied the game with a 21-17 victory.

Everything was now to be played for by both men, but the momenteum was now with Raftery. Some fine tuning with coach Ed Lee and Raftery was in a confident mood with the smell of victory in his nostrils.  A blistering start from the Leitrim man in the third game had the Leitrim supporters on their feet and at 12-4 up it looked good but a revival by Lambert brought him to 13 all and it was now backs to the wall. Raftery made another break 20-14 only to be reeled in again and repeatedly served game ball before crossing the line at 21-19, a triumptant and delighted Raftery waved his Leitrim shirt to the crowd releasing the tension of a gruelling and tough two hour twelve minute game. 

Afterwards Raftery was presented with his  All Ireland Gold medal to the delight of his supporters by referee Frank Daly. It was a case of the west awake as the two Sligo players, Martin Cooney and Shane Bruen also went on to win their games in what was a great day for both sets of supporters.

 

 

 

 

24-Sep-14 by Handball – PRO

Latest Handball News

Connacht 60×30 Junior Doubles Champions

Martin Raftery and Jamie Murray won The M Donnelly 60×30 Connacht Junior Doubles Championship defeating Declan Connaughton and Kevin Craddock (Galway) on a score line of 10-21, 21-9, 21-11. The game which was played on Sunday August 31st in St Comans Roscommon saw Martin Raftery completeing the double having won the 60×30 Junior Championship the previous week. Having got off to a slow start the first game went away from the Leitrim lads, but they made no mistake in the second match taking control from the start and never looked like losing, taking the match to a tie break. With Leitrim having serve for the third game Murray and Raftery built up a lead that they wouldnt relinquish and went on to win the game comfortably. The Leitrim lads now play Tipperarys John Ferncombe and Kevin Dempsey in the All-Ireland semi-final, set for Roscommon on Saturday at 3.00pm.
 
M Donnelly 60×30 All Ireland Junior Semi Final
In what has been another great weekend for Leitrim handball Martin Raftery forced his way into the All Ireland Junior 60×30 final when he defeated John Paul O Connor of Limerick at Hospital Co Limerick on Sunday on a score line of 21-18, 20-21, 21-9 in the All Ireland semi final. In fact Martin had a busy weekend as he captained the Allen Gaels football team against Aughawillan on Saurday evening in the Leitrim Senior semi-final at Carrick on Shannon.
 
It was a tired  Raftery that set out for Limerick on Saturday night for a twelve  noon meeting with O Connor in his own court on Sunday. The game was close in the first two games as the scoreline shows. Raftery found it tough against a very experienced player in the first game but pulled off 21-18 win. O Connor pushed Raftery to the back wall in the second game to reduce his killing power and pulled off a21-20 win in a very tight struggle, however his efforts drained him and Rafterys fitness and court craft was too much for him in the third game. This semi final win now sets up an All Ireland final against Paul Lambart of Wexford on 20th September
 
 
 

 

 

08-Sep-14 by Handball PRO

Community Games National Finals

Community Games National Finals

Pictured are The Ballinamore Area community games Handball Team of Cormac Scollan, Eoin McLoughlin, Caolan McDermott, James Wrynn, Andrew and Sean Kelly receiving their medals from Paulin Martin-ORourke Community Games National Director. The team which is made up of players from Fenagh Handball Club finished third on 134 points with Clare taking silver on 139 points. Wexford took gold with a total of 205 points. The Leitrim lads suffered a heavy defeat at the hands of a very strong Wexford but had an 11 point victory over Clare, however Clare scored 5 points more on aggregate and took silver. 

 

 

22-Aug-14 by Hurling – PRO

M Donnelly Connacht 60×30 Championship

M Donnelly Connacht 60×30 Championship

In The Connacht 60×30 Junior Championship Semi-Final played in Fenagh on Sunday August 10th Martin Raftery secured victory over Mayos Ciaran Burke on a score line of 21-20, 21-14. The Final is set for Saturday at 8.00pm in Ballymote when Raftery takes onÓgalways Kevin Craddach. In The 60×30 Junior Doubles Championship Raftery teamed up with Jamie Murray and secured an impressive victory over Ciaran Burke and Garoid Hughes on a score line of 21-9,21-6. That Final will be played the on week-end of August 29-30.
In Emerald Masters Ed Lee over came the challenge of John Ward (Galway) and takes on Mayos KevinÓgearity on Saturday at 5.00pm in St Comans Roscommon.
Fenagh Alley also hosts 3 Connacht Finals on Saturday evening from 5.00pm starting with Junior C: Galway v Mayo, Junior B: Roscommon v Mayo and Golden Masters Sligo v Roscommon.

 

 

22-Aug-14 by Hurling – PRO

First Senior Championship Match For Fenagh Handball Alley

First Senior Championship Match For Fenagh Handball Alley

The 2014 M Donnelly 60×30 Championship is commencing and Fenagh Handball Alley has been chosen to host the Mens Open Senior Championship first round match between Roscommons Rikki OGara and James Brady of Cavan to be played there on Wednesday (6th Aug) at 8pm. This is the first senior championship match to be played in the redeveloped state of art alley. This is a great oppertunity for anyone who wants to see handball played at this level. 
 
Connacht 60×30 Championship 
The M Donnelly 60×30 Connacht Championship commences this weekend with two Leitrim compeditors taking part: Drumshanbos Martin Raftery (Junior) and Fenaghs Ed Lee (Emerald Masters). Martin Raftery takes on Mayos Kieran Burke in Drumkeerin on Saturday at 3.00pm while Ed Lee has home advantage when he meets Galways John Ward, also set for Saturday at 3.00 pm in Fenagh. The following weekend Martin Raftery teams up with Jamie Murray in the Connacht 60×30 Doubles Junior Championship.
 
Development Draw 
Fenagh Handball Club are running a Development Fundraising Draw with a first prize of €1000, second prize of €300 and third prize of €100. Tickets are priced at €10 with the draw taking place in Conefreys Abbey Bar on Sunday August 31st.

 

 

04-Aug-14 by Handball PRO

Connacht B Handball Championships

Connacht 40×20 Juvenile B Championship

Leitrims young handballers took on their Sligo counterparts at the weekend in Drumshanbo in the first round of the Connacht B Championship inÓgrades from U11 up to U15.
 
A total of 13 Leitrim competitors took part with three getting through and another two having byes to the semi-finals against Mayo. Leitrims winners were U12 Doubles Fergal McLoughlin and James Wrynn and U14 Singles Oisin McLoughlin. The action started on Friday night with Drumshanbos Edel ODonnell  first up inÓgirls U11 against Laura Foody (Castleconnor) losing 2-15,4-15. The Drumshanbo/Fenagh pairing of Sean Kelly and Ronan Moran took on Cormac Finn and Patrick Cooney (Ballymote) in U11 Doubles and despite battling hard lost on a score line of 6-15, 6-15. The game of the night was the U12 Singles between Eoin McLoughlin (Fenagh) and Conor Finn (Ballymote) with Eoin just losing out by two aces in the Tie-Break having taken the first game 15-13. He lost the second game 7-15 and though leading 8-3 in a tight third game lost on a score of 13-15. The U12 Doubles game between Fergal McLoughlin/James Wrynn (Fenagh) and Daniel Gearity/Brian Byrne (Tubbercurry) didnt match the intensity of the singles match with the Fenagh lads winning comfortably 15-1, 15-4. Drumshanbos David Gallagher came up against Colm Naughton (Castleconnor) in U13 Singles. After getting off to a great start David took the first game 15-9, lost the second one 9-15 and while starting well in the tie break lost on a score line of 8-15. The final game of the night was the U14 Singles between Fenaghs Oisin McLoughlin and
Castleconnors Ronan Wilson with Oisin having a comfortable win on a score of 15-2, 15-6. On Saturday Tom McKeon and Sean McNabola (Fenagh/Drumshanbo) took on Dara Barnes and Fergal Boland (Castleconnor) in U13 Doubles. The Leitrim lads settled well in the first game and went on to win 15-11. The second game slipped away from them and they lost on a score of 7-15. The Sligo lads took control of the Tie-Break having serve and went on to win 4-15. The second match was the U15 Singles of David Wrynn (Fenagh) and Adhorn Quinn (Castleconnor) with David losing on a score line of 10-15, 7-15. The final game of the week-end was the U14 Doubles of James Lennon and Caolan McDermott (Fenagh) and cousins Diarmuid and Vincent Harte (Collooney). The Leitrim lads started well but midway through the game the Sligo duo took control and went on to win 7-15. The Fenagh pairing never got going in the second game and were defeated 1-15. Ciaran McMorrow (Drumshanbo) U11 and Aaron McLoughlin (Fenagh) U16 have byes to the semi-finals.

 

 

25-Mar-14 by Handball PRO

Handball News

Connacht 40×20 Finals

The Connacht 40×20 Championship has come to its conclusion. Leitrim handballers reached Connacht Finals in three grades: Junior Doubles, U12 and U16 Singles. The Fenagh/Drumshanbo pairing of Shane Doonan and Martin Raftery were defeated in the Junior Doubles Final by Roscommons Dennis Creighton and Sean Jennings on a scoreline of 14-21, 21-20, 16-21.
In the Juvenile A Championship Cormac Scollan (U12) was defeated by Roscommons Liam Egan in a very tight and entertaining game by a single ace in the Tie Break on a score line of 10-15, 15-14, 14-15. Jarlath Scollan (U16) having defeated Mayos Michael Conlon in the Semi-Final came up against the 2013 All-Ireland U15 Champion Desmond Connelly and lost on a score line of 6-21, 5-21. Alan Doonan and Alan Wrynne U16 Doubles were defeated in the Semi-Final by Mayos Martin Mulhern and Matthew Lenehan on a score line of 18-21, 16-21.
The first round of the Juvenile B Championship takes place this week-end with Leitrim having home advantage against Sligo in Drumshanbo on Sunday with games inÓgrades from U11-16 in singles and doubles. 

 

 

19-Mar-14 by Handball PRO

Leitrim Handball

Connacht Colleges 40×20 Championship

Ballinamore Community College represented Leitrim in the Connacht Finals played in St Marys College Galway on Saturday. Taking part were David Wrynn (Junior), Alan Wrynne (Intermediate) and Alan Doonan and Aaron McLoughlin (Intermediate Doubles). All came up against stronger opposition from Mayo Colleges in the Semi-Finals.

 
Connacht Cumann na mBun Scoil Finals 
 
The Connacht Finals were played in Salthill on Sunday with St Patricks NS Drumshanbo and St Caillins NS Fenagh representing Leitrim. Drumshanbo had Edel ODonnell (U11), Ciaran McMorrow (U11) and Conor Flood and Ronan Moran (U11 Doubles). Fenagh were represented by Cormac Scollan (U13) and Fergal McLoughlin and James Wrynn (U13 Doubles). In the U11 competition Ciaran McMorrow finished third In Boys U11 Singles, Ronan Moran and Conor Flood came fourth in Boys U11 Doubles and Edel ODonnell came fourth inÓgirls U11 Singles. In the U13 competition Fergal McLoughlin and James Wrynn took silver in Boys U13 Doubles and Cormac Scollan took bronze in Boys U13 Singles.

 

 

11-Feb-14 by Niall Scollan

Latest Handball News

Connacht 40×20 Championship

The Connacht 40×20 Championship is under way, with first round games in the Junior B Championship played in Singles and Doubles.  Drumshanbos Leo Logan had home advantage when he came up against Peter Cassidy from Swinford on Sunday January 19th.  In a very tight opening game with the lead changing several times, Leo lost out by three aces 18-21.  The second game didnt go any better for Logan and he was defeated 16-21.  Last Sunday Leo was in action again teaming up with Jamie Murray in the Junior B Doubles.  Peter Cassidy again provided the opposition, this time paired with Seamus Casserly also from Swinford.  The match which was played in Claremorris proved to be a marathon one, lasting nearly three hours.  The Leitrim duo took a hard earned first game on a score line of 21-20.  The second game slipped away from the Leitrim lads with the Cassidy/Casserly combination taking the game 21-16. The tie-break was a very tight game, with the Leitrim lads trailing 17-11 they regained serve and tied the game 17-17.  The lads lost serve and regained it at 19-17 but the Mayo men secured a win on a score of 21-19.  This week-end the Junior Championship and Ladies Championship commences with Martin Raftery taking on Mayos Ciaran Burke or Shane Heraty.  In Ladies Junior B Michelle Gaffney takes on Mayos Shona Ruane.
 
Leitrim Cumann Na mBunscoil Handball Finals  
The Leitrim Finals of Cumann na mBunscoil 40×20 take place this Sunday February 2nd in Drumshanbo HC starting at 3.00pm. The winners qualify for the Connacht Finals on February 16th in Salthill Co. Galway.
 
Leitrim GAA Awards
Congratulations to Mary Shanley (Ladies Handballer), Leo Logan (Senior Handballer), Shane Doonan (Junior Handballer) and Alan Doonan (Juvenile Handballer) who received their awards on Saturday night.

 

 

26-Jan-14 by Niall Scollan

U12 Connacht Handball

Connacht 60×30 U12 Final

The Connacht 60×30 U12 Final was played last Friday in Roscommon.
 
Cormac Scollan was defeated by Dylan Hanley by a single ace after taking the match to a tie-break. The final finished on a score line of 13-15, 15-10, 14-15.

 

 

04-Nov-13 by Colette Fox – PRO