Local Handball Notes (week ending 10th November 2019)

Intervarsity Doubles Men's Open Finalists, Fergal Coughlan Jnr, Mark Rodgers, Brian Mahon, Galen Riordan

Clare Pairs beaten in Intervarsities’ Finals

This weekend saw Moycullen hosting the ICHA (Irish Collegiate Handball Association) 40×20 Doubles Intervarsities competition. There were a number of Clare players representing their respective 3rd level colleges over the two days.

In the Men’s Open Fergal Coughlan Jnr (Clooney Quin HC) and Mark Rodgers (Tuamgraney HC) paired up to represent the University of Limerick. The Clare pair went all the way to the final only to be defeated after a gripping tiebreaker by defending champions Galen Riordan and Brian Mahon of UCD.

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In the Ladies Open Ella Donnellan (Kilkishen HC) and Doireann Murphy (Newmarket on Fergus HC) joined forces to represent the University of Limerick. Ella and Doireann played some great handball over the weekend and lost out in the final to the defending champions also, Fiona Tully and Meadhbh Ní Dhálaigh of UCD.

 Intervarsity Doubles Ladies Open Finalists, Fiona Tully, Maedhbh Ní Dhálaigh, Ella Donnellan, Doireann Murphy
Intervarsity Doubles Ladies Open Finalists, Fiona Tully, Maedhbh Ní Dhálaigh, Ella Donnellan, Doireann Murphy

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Adult County Championships Blast Off

Last weekend marked the start of the 40×20 All Ireland Championship season for 2020 with Clare’s County Championships starting in earnest. There were a number of matches played in various venues across the county.

There are a number of mouthwatering ties ahead in the Men’s Intermediate Championship. This championship will feature among others Tiarnan Agnew and Mark Rodgers, All Ireland Minor Champions 2018, Fergal Coughlan Jnr, All Ireland Junior Champion 2019 and Niall Bolton Clare Open Champion 2019.

In the opening match of this championship, Tiarnan Agnew (Kilkishen HC) took on Cathal Hannon (Tulla HC) in Clooney on Saturday November 9th. Tiarnan has only recently returned to the 40 x 20 game, due to commitments with the Sixmilebridge Senior Hurlers, although he showed few signs of any kind of rustiness.

Agnew was slow to start both games but when he got into his stride he was at times sublime. He went on to win the match on a 21-9, 21-9 score line. Intermediate action returned to Clooney on Sunday November 10th where John Cooney (Kilishen HC) was in action against Mark Rodgers (Tuamgraney HC).

Mark entered this match having already played a number of matches over the course of the weekend in the ICHA 40X20 Intervarsities representing the University of Limerick. However this did not seem to have any detrimental effect on his play, as he defeated John Cooney in two straight games 21-7, 21-11.

In the Men’s Junior Singles, last year’s All Ireland Doubles finalist, Ciarán Malone (Tuamgraney HC) was in dominant form against Pat Nolan (Clooney Quin HC) winning on a score line of 21-2, 21-9. In Men’s Junior B Singles Mark Crehan (Kilkishen HC) travelled to Newmarket on Fergus to take on Darragh Burke.

It was the Newmarket man he won out on a score line of 21-12, 21-7. In the Men’s Minor Singles there was a Tuamgraney derby as Tiarnan Slattery faced Patrick Crotty. This proved to be the match of the weekend with only four points separating them after two games. Slattery winning out 21-18, 21-20.

In the Men’s U21 Singles there was another all Tuamgraney tie as Conor Downes played Fionn Slattery. It was Downes who took this one 21-8, 21-19. Also in the Men’s U21 Singles Mark Crehan (Kilkishen HC) travelled to Newmarket on Fergus to take on Darragh Burke in his home alley. Here it was the Newmarket man he won out on a score line of 21-12, 21-7.

All eyes will now move on to this weekend’s action, where there are a number of exciting ties both in singles and doubles.

Clare Handball Adult Championship Fixtures

Date: Monday, November 11th, Venue: Tulla, Time: 20:00

Men’s Junior B Singles: Ryan O’Neill -v- Kevin O’Callaghan

Date: Wednesday, November 13th, Venue: Tulla, Time: 20:00

Men’s Junior B Doubles: Aidan Moroney/Brendan Hannon -v- Shane Hayes/Darren O’Neill

Date: Thursday, November 14th, Venue: Newmarket on Fergus, Time: 20:00

Intermediate Men’s Doubles: Fergal Coughlan Jnr/Seán Coughlan -v- Mark Rodgers/Tiarnan Agnew

Date: Friday, November 15th, Venue: O’Callaghan’s Mills, Time: 20:00

Men’s Junior B Singles: Henry McGrath -v- Darren Cullinane

Venue: Tulla, Time: 20:00

Men’s Minor Singles Round 2: Seán Coughlan -v- Patrick Crotty.

Date: Saturday, November 16th, Venue: Tulla, Time: 18:00

Men’s U21 Singles Round 2: Conor Downes takes -v- Darragh Burke

Venue: Clooney, Time: 18:00

Ladies Intermediate Singles Round 2: Bridín Dinan -v- Ella Donnellan

Date: Sunday, November 17th, Venue: TBC, Time: 17:00

Men’s Junior B Doubles: Paul Gleeson/Darren Cullinane -v- Ryan O’Neill/Patrick Clune

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Clare Handball Juvenile Blitzes

Juvenile Blitzes continue this weekend with Round 3 games taking place in the Under 12/13, Under 14/15 and Under 18 grades in various venues across the county.

Under 12/13 A League Round 3, Sat Nov 16

Venue: Toonagh at 10am (Teams to attend: Clooney, Tuamgraney, Newmarket, Tulla, Kilkishen)

Under 12/13 B Blitz Round 3, Sat Nov 16

Venue: Newmarket at 10am (Teams to attend: Toonagh 1, Newmarket, Tuamgraney 1, Clooney 1, Kilkishen)

Venue: Tuamgraney at 10am (Teams to attend: Clooney 2, Clooney 3, Toonagh 2, Toonagh3, Tuamgraney 2, Tuamgraney 3)

Under 14/15 League Round 3, Sun Nov 17

Venue: Clooney at 10am (Teams to attend: Tuamgraney 1, Clooney, Newmarket, Tuamgraney 2, Tulla)

Under 18 League Round 3, Sun Nov 17

Venue: Tulla at 6pm (Players to attend: Arron Shanahan, Oisín McInerney, Gearóid Sheedy, Chloe Philpott)

Venue: Clooney at 6pm (Players to attend: Seán Coughlan, Seán Whytcombe, Patrick Crotty, Rossa Keehan)

Venue: Tuamgraney at 6pm (Players to attend: Tiarnan Slattery, Cathal McKenna, Tony Leyden, Seadhna Liddy)

Venue: Newmarket at 6pm (Players to attend: Cian Fawl, Tommy Minogue, David Considine, Orla O’Brien)

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Clare Handball League Division 1

Clooney Quin and Newmarket win on the double in Round 6

Clooney Quin (John Cawley, Darren O’Neill, Shane Hayes, Pat Nolan) travelled to Kilkishen to take on the home side, Kilkishen A (Christy Philpott Jnr, Henry McGrath, Mark Crehan, Brendan Hannon) for the second time in four days. Kilkishen A started very strongly with Philpott and McGrath laying down a marker to last year’s league champions.

They took the first tie 21-3, 21-15. However Clooney Quin showed that they are a very tough team to beat with Hayes and Nolan playing some great handball, bringing their side to victory on an overall score of 60-52.

Newmarket on Fergus (Glenn Murray, Blake Sheedy, Mike Kelly, Darragh Burke) hosted Tuamgraney (Conor Downes, Gearóid Sheedy, Tiarnan Slattery, Patrick Crotty) on Tuesday night November 5th.

Just like Clooney Quin in the previous match Newmarket made it back to back wins, away and at home against Tuamgraney on a score line of 73-62.

The match of Round 7 will be the return clash of Clooney v Newmarket on Fergus

Tues Nov 12th at 8pm – Clare Handball League – Division 1, Round 7

Venue: Tuamgraney – Match: Tuamgraney v Kilkishen B

Venue: Clooney – Match: Clooney Quin v Newmarket on Fergus

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Clare Handball League Division 2

Clooney Quin A Pip Newmarket on Fergus

Clooney Quin A (Pa Clune, John Nihil, Darren O’Neill, Ryan O’Neill) travelled to Newmarket on Fergus to play the home side in what turned out to be the tie of the week. There was little to separate both sides but it ended with a victory for the away side on an overall score of 78-70.

In Clarecastle the home side (Patrick Casey, Darragh Healy, Jake Kearney, Jack Hayes) proved to be too strong for Toonagh (Kevin Hassett, Shane Griffin, Alan Cummins, Michael Callinan) winning on a score of 76-51

Kilkishen (Neil Crehan, Greg Shanahan, Mark Crehan, Mark O’Donovan) won away in Clooney against Clooney Quin B (Cian Keogh, Kevin O’Brien, David Sheehy, Dara Keogh) on an overall score line of 70-56.

Tie of Round 8 will be, Newmarket on Toonagh v Clarecastle.

Wed Nov 13th at 8pm – Clare Handball League – Division 2, Round 8

Venue: Clooney – Match: Clooney Quin A v Newmarket on Fergus

Venue: Toonagh – Match: Toonagh v Clarecastle

Venue: Kilkishen – Match: Kilkishen v Clooney Quin B

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Clare Handball League Division 3

Away Wins All Round

Kilkishen (Keith Crehan, Fionn Hickey, Adam Murray, Daniel Cotter) hosted the undefeated Toonagh A (Brian Reilly, Pat Hanrahan, Noel Barry, Philip Lucas) and true to form Toonagh A took the points on an overall score of 72-59.

Newmarket on Fergus (Colin O’Halloran, Pat Callinan, Barry O’Driscoll, Cian Fawl) travelled to Tuamgraney (Keith Hogan, Oisín Molloy, Jason McCarthy, Emmett Ryan) where they defeated the home side on a score of 82-59.

Clooney Quin (Kevin Keogh, David Sheehy, Rory Corbett,Cian Keogh) were away against Toonagh B (Eoghan Hynes, Pat Lynch, Declan Vaughan, Barry Farrell) where the Clooney side won out with a clinical score of 84-19.

Next week’s match of Round 6 is Clooney Quin v Toonagh B.

Mon Nov 11th at 8pm – Clare Handball League – Division 3, Round 6

Venue: Toonagh – Match: Toonagh A v Kilkishen

Venue: Clooney – Match: Clooney Quin v Toonagh B

Venue: Newmarket – Match: Newmarket on Fergus v Tuamgraney

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