Handball News

No Joy For Shane

Shane Doonans dream of reaching another All-Ireland Minor Final was shattered on Sunday as he was comprehensively beaten by Wexfords Galen Riordan on a scoreline of 5-21, 10-21 in The M Donnelly 60×30 Minor Semi-Final.
 
From the start of the game Riordan looked impressive with a powerful serve that Doonan couldnt get to grips with, and to compound matters further Riordan could kill the ball any time he got the opportunity. In the first game aces were hard to come by for Doonan as Riordan was on top of the game in all aspects from his power serve to his dominance in the rallies and his first class kill shots into the right hand corner. Doonan could never pull more than one ace whenever he got serve and the game simply slipped away from him. The second game started better for Doonan  and he kept in sight of Riordan in the early exchanges, he got the upper hand in some of the rallies and got in some great kill shots. However midway through the game Riordan pulled away and closed out the match to secure his place in the All-Ireland Minor Final.
 
In what was a bad week-end for Leitrim handball Drumshanbos Leo Logan lost out to Kilkennys Brendan Burke in the 60×30 Junior B semi-final on a score line of 6-21, 8-21. played in Inchs Point Co. Kilkenny. In the Connacht 60×30 u17 Championship Quarter -Final Fenaghs Aaron Scollan was defeated by Jason Earlis (Castleconnor, Co.Sligo) on a score line of 15-21, 10-21.
 
This week-end The Connacht 60×30 Juvenile Championship semi-finals take place with Cormac Scollan (u12), Alan Doonan (u15) and Jarlath Scollan and Alan Wrynne (u15D) in action.

 

 

26-Aug-13 by Niall Scollan – Handball PRO

Historic First For Fenagh

Historic First For Fenagh

History will be made next Sunday when the newly renovated Fenagh Handball Alley hosts The M Donnelly 60×30 All-Ireland Minor Semi-Final between Fenaghs own Shane Doonan and Wexfords Galen Riordan.
 
This will be the first major championship match the state of art alley has hosted and an intriguing game is anticipated as Donal Wrynn is the link between these two opponents. Shane Doonan partnered Wrynn to win the 60×30 Doubles Minor title last year, while Galen Riordan was beaten by Wrynn in the 40×20 Minor Final earlier last year. Riordan is not to be under estimated having reached the 40×20 Final again this year, while Doonan has only started back playing handball, having taken a break to concentrate on his studies this year. Having said that Doonan has put in a lot of work over the last few weeks and while he struggled at times in the first game in the Connacht semi-final against Galways Alan Kilboy losing by 2 aces before going on to comprehensively beat him in the second game and then in the tie break. The Connacht Final was played on July 30th in Castlebar against Mayos Darragh Cunnane. Doonan was back in his stride by then and made sure of the title defeating Cunane 21-12, 21-14 with some great serving and kill shots. This is sure to be a tight and tense semi-final in front of a large home crowd with an All-Ireland Final place at stake, but Doonan is no stranger to pressure having played in an U16 semi-final, and Minor 40×20 Doubles semi-final with Donal Wrynn before winning his Minor Doubles title. The Match starts at 3.00pm.
 
The curtain raiser to Sundays game is the Connacht 60×30 Juvenile first round between Leitrim and Sligo. Fenaghs Alan Doonan (U15) and Aaron Scollan (U17) are in action for Leitrim and the games start at 12.00.
 
In another All-Ireland semi-final scheduled for Sunday, Drumshanbos Leo Logan takes on Kilkennys Brendan Burke in The M Donnelly 60×30 Junior B to be played in Inchs Point Kilkenny.

 

 

20-Aug-13 by Niall Scollan – Handball PRO

M Donnelly 60×30 Connacht Championship

M Donnelly 60×30 Connacht Championship
 
The 60×30 Connacht Championship kicked off at the weekend with action in Intermediate, Junior B and Minor, with Donal Wrynn, Leo Logan and Shane Doonan in action. Leitrim had home advantage against Galway with the games played in Fenagh on Friday and Saturday evening. First up was Donal Wrynn playing in his first Intermediate Championship against Ollie Conway from Williamstown. The step up from  Minor to Intermediate proved too great for Wrynn as he lost on a scoreline of 12-21,19-21. In the first game Wrynn never got going and trailed Conway from the first serve. The second match went better for Wrynn and he led 19-15 and looked like taking it to a tie break, but he lost serve and Conway closed out the game.
 
The Junior B semi-final followed with Leo Logan taking on Daniel Connaughton also from Williamstown. In a very tight first match Logan came out on top by a single ace 21-20. Buoyed up from the tight win in the first match Logan pulled ahead in the second and eased out a win on a score of 21-12. 
 
The Minor Semi-Final was played on Saturday evening with Fenaghs Shane Doonan having home advantage over Alan Kilboy from Loughrea. This was Doonans first handball action of the year, but he found his rhythm during the first match losing narrowly 19-21. Having serve in the must win second game Doonan raced ahead and went on to win on a score of 21-6, to force a tie break. Having the most aces Doonan had serve for the tie-break which he used to great effect and eased to victory 21-1.  

 

 

23-Jul-13 by Niall Scollan – Handball PRO

Connacht Club Title for Fenagh Handballers

Connacht Club Title
 
Fenagh took The Connacht 60×30 Junior Team title on Sunday in St Comans Roscommon where they over came Curraghboy Co. Roscommon by just 2 aces.
 
In a nailbiting final match Martin Raftery went in with Fenagh trailing by 8 aces and showing great composure under pressure took the game 21-10 to win on a scoreline of 103-101. The games are played in the team format of 1 Singles, 1 Doubles and 1 Singles with each playing 2 games to 21 aces with a maximum score of 126.
 
The Fenagh team for the final comprised of Jamie Murray (first singles), Leo Logan and Aaron Scollan (doubles) and Martin Raftery. Against a very strong Curraghboy, Murray took one game, while Logan and Scollan lost both their games leaving Fenagh trailing by 18 aces going into the final two games. Raftery took the first game, but needed to win the second by 10 aces to secure victory. Buoyed up from the first game, with great serving and kill shots he raced into a 16-3 lead before going on to a magnificient victory 21-10, capping a great week-end for the Fenagh clubmen having defeated Williamstown Co. Galway in the semi-final on Saturday on a scoreline of 85-62 without having to play the last game. The Fenagh team for the semi-final was Jamie Murray (first singles) Ed Lee and Leo Logan (doubles) and Martin Raftery. They play The All-Ireland Semi-Final next Saturday.
 

 

 

 

08-Jul-13 by Handball

Handball News 27th May 2013

Handball News 27th May 2013
 
Mark Murphy & Jamie Murray victorious in Michael Hannon Cup
Ballymote HC  hosted the Annual Michael Hannon Memorial Cup on Sunday. Eight doubles teams entered in the 60 x 30 doubles competition with players from Roscommon, Mayo & Sligo taking part. In the Cup final the duo of Mark Murphy (Castleconnor) & Jamie Murray (Fenagh) went all the way defeating Michael McMorrow (St. Marys)& Joe Dowling (Ballaghadeerin) in an exciting final.
Williamstown One Wall Tournament
The annual Williamstown One Wall Tournament took place at the week-end with a number of Leitrim juvenile players taking part inÓgrades from u11-u18. Cormac Scollan succesfully defended the Boys U11 Plate which he won last year defeating Armaghs Fiachra Doyle in the final. Aaron Scollan U18 reached the quarter final stage as did Alan Wrynne U16. Also in the Boys U16 grade Jarlath Scollan and Tony Simms were both defeated at the second round stage as was James Wrynn U12.
Connacht One Championship
The Connacht One Wall Championship takes place this week-end June 1st and 2nd at The Breaffy Sports and Leisure Complex Castlebar with adult and juvenile grades from u12 up.
Games are of 15 min duration or the first to 31.
One Wall Nationals
The One Wall Nationals take place in The Breaffy Sports and Leisure Complex in Castlebar from June 28th-30th. Entries must be in by 31st May and can be done online on the GAA Handball web site.

 

 

28-May-13 by Niall Scollan – Handball PRO

40×20 Junior Nationals

40×20 Junior Nationals
 
The 2013 40×20 Junior Nationals were held in Clare venues over the week-end. Leitrim had four competitors in action Aaron Scollan U17B, Jarlath Scollan U15B, Eoin McLoughlin U11 and Cormac Scollan U11. Aaron Scollan was defeated by Tipperarys Eoin Meagher 10-21, 19-21 having reached the last 16. Jarlath Scollan reached the quarter final in Boys U15B having defeated Mark McDonagh (Galway) in a qualifier round two weeks ago. He defeated Corks Aidan OBrien 15-9, 10-15, 11-5 to set up a quarter final meeting with Tyrones Aaron Owens losing out by a single ace in the tie break. In a very tight quarter final match Owens took the first game 15-7. Going into the second must winÓgame Scollan upped the tempo and with superb serving and kill shots went into a10-0 lead,and took the game on a 15-8 scoreline to force a tie-break. In a very tight and absorbing tie break with great volleys, serving and kill shots Scollan lost serve at 10-10 and Owens got the cruical ace to secure victory.
In the Boys 11 and under Eoin McLoughlin easily overcame the challenge of Corks Tiernan McAllister winning on a scoreline of 11-2, 11-1, to set up a last 32 meeting with Liam Egan (Roscommon), but unfortunately came out the wrong side on a score of 2-11, 4-11. Cormac Scollan went one step further reaching the last 16 defeating James Cummins (Galway) 11-2, 10-11 (Agrigate score 21-13), and Tiernan McGarrity (Tyrone) 11-6, 11-2, to set up a meeting with Wexfords Diarmuid Moore who defeated him 9-11, 6-11. Leitrim had two other competitors in the Nationals, Aaron McLoughlin U15B and Alan Wrynn U15 who were both defeated in the qualifing rounds two weeks ago.

 

 

22-Apr-13 by Niall Scollan – Handball PRO

Connacht 40×20 Juvenile B Championship

Connacht 40×20 Juvenile B Championship
The 2013 Connacht 40×20 Juvenile B Championship came to its conclusion on Saturday with the finals played in Ballaghadereen and Charlestowm. Cormac Scollan was the only Leitrim competitor to reach the finals and he came away with the Boys u11 title defeating Niall Flemming of Mayo on a scoreline of 15-6, 15-10. In a very entertaining match with some great rallies and kill shots Scollan eased to victory to take the first game. The second game was much tighter early on with both players swapping scores, but once Scollan took the lead he never relinquished it. Flemming put up a real battle but midway through the game Scollan took control and put enough daylight between them to secure a great victory. On his route to the final he defeated Conor Finn of Sligo 15-10, 15-12 in the quarter final and Colm Cunningham Galway 15-6, 15-2 in the semi-final.
 
Leitrim had a total of 11 competitors taking part in the championship including: Fergal McLoughlin and James Wrynn u11 Doubles, Eoin McLoughlin u12, Robert Maguire u13, David Wrynn u14, Aaron McLoughlin u15, James Maguire and Conor McKeon u15 Doubles Tony Simms u16 and  Mark Leddy u17. All players reached the semi-finals against a stronger Galway selection with Mark Leddy losing out to Eamon OMaoilchianain in the u17 Final.

The annual Williamstown One-Wall Tournament takes place this year on May 24th – 26th in Williamstown HC, Galway.

th 2012. Entry forms can be downloaded from the GAA Handball website. 

 

 

14-Apr-13 by Niall Scollan – Handball PRO

Connacht Community Games Finals 2013

Connacht Community Games Finals
Ballinamore area Boys u13 One Wall Handball Team took Silver in The Community Games Connacht Final played in Fenagh Alley on Saturday. The team comprising of Caolan McDermott, Tom McKeon, Eoin McLoughlin, Fergal McLoughlin, Cormac Scollan and James Wrynn defeated Charlestown, Mayo on a scoreline of 78-63 in a tight semi-final with Leitrim trailing by 6 aces going into the last singles games. Roscommon-Kilteevan proved a bridge too far for Ballinamore Area in the Final and took Gold with a comprehensive victory 90-57.
 
Drumkeeran hosted The Girls u13 One Wall Finals, unfortunately Leitrim had no competitors.

 

 

08-Apr-13 by Niall Scollan – Handball PRO

Cuman na mBunscoil National Finals

Congratulations to Fergal McLoughlin and Cormac Scollan St Caillins NS Fenagh who represented Connacht along with the other provincial winners in the Boys u11 Doubles section at the Cumann na mBunscoil All-Ireland Handball Finals in Kingscourt on Saturday. All players were presented with a medal and a certificate after the games.

 

 

04-Mar-13 by Niall Scollan – Handball PRO

Handball News week beginning 25th February 2013

Connacht 40×20 Juvenile Championship
There was no joy for Leitrim in the Connacht 40×20 Juvenile Championship Semi-Finals against Galway in Claremorris on Saturday. In the Boys u15 grade Jarlath Scollan was defeated by Desmond Conneely (Moycullen)  on a scoreline of 15-6, 15-8. In Boys u15 Doubles Alan Doonan and Alan Wrynn lost out to Ruadhan OCurraoin and Ronan OCurraoin (Micheal Breathnachs) in a tie break after taking the first game15-2, they lost the second 15-10, and lost the tie break 15-11, bringing to an end Leitrims interest in the 2013 Championship. The focus now turns to The Connacht Juvenile 40×20 B Championship taking place in March with fixtures and venues being announced shortly.
 
Irish 40×20 Junior Nationals    
The 40×20 Junior Nationals are taking place in Clare from the 19th to 21st of April, with qualifiers being held on March 30th. Entry fee is 20 euro and applications must be in by March 8th.
For more information check the GAA Handball website.

 

 

25-Feb-13 by Niall Scollan – Handball PRO

Cumann na mBunscoil Connacht Finals

Cumann na mBunscoil Connacht Finals
The Cumann na mBunscoil Connacht finals took place in Castleconnor Co. Sligo on Sunday February 10th with players from St Caillins NS Fenagh representing Leitrim. Taking part were Sarah Rowley Girls u11 singles, Louise Cafferty Girls u13 singles, Eoin McLoughlin Boys u11 Singles, Fergal McLoughlin and Cormac Scollan Boys u11 Doubles. Fergal McLoughlin and Cormac Scollan won the Boys U11 Doubles Title defeating Enda Collins and James Cummins Carnmore NS Galway in the semi-final, and Sean Dunleavy and Jack Curley Cloonlyon NS Mayo in the final. Cormac and Fergal go on to represent Connacht in the Finals in Kingscourt Co. Cavan on Saturday March 2nd.

 

 

19-Feb-13 by Niall Scollan – Handball PRO

Connacht 40×20 Championship

Connacht 40×20 Championship
The Connacht 40×20 Championship is drawing to a close with the Finals now taking place. Martin Raftery took on Mayos Kieran Burke in The Junior 40×20 final on Saturday but unfortunately came out the losing end on a score line of 9-21, 12-21.
The Juvenile 40×20 Championship is now up and running with the semi-finals set for next week-end. Leitrim are up against Galway and have three players in action in the u15 grade: Jarlath Scollan u15 singles and Alan Doonan and Alan Wrynn u15 doubles. 

 

 

19-Feb-13 by Niall Scollan – Handball PRO