Kilkishen have Largest Club Membership in Ireland
Kilkishen Handball Club were honoured by GAA Handball President Joe Masterson, at GAA Handball’s National Club Forum held in Croke Park on Saturday November 2nd. Liz Murphy and Tim Custy received the award, on behalf of Kilkishen Handball Club, for having the largest membership of any handball club in Ireland.
This is an amazing achievement for the Clare club, which currently caters for just over 150 members and boasts such players as Colin Crehan (All Ireland Senior Doubles Champion 2018 & 2019) and Chloe Philpott (U16 All Ireland Doubles Champion 2019).
Notable mentions were also given to Clooney Quin who have the fifth largest membership in the country and Toonagh, Tulla and Tuamgraney who were all listed in the top 20 clubs. This is a wonderful acknowledgment of all the hard work which clubs across the county are providing in developing and promoting the game of handball in county Clare.
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Coughlan Wins 17 and Under Title in Tuscon
Three of the Coughlan family from the Clooney Quin Handball Club travelled to Tuscon, Arizona, to compete in the Race 4 Eight tournament which took place there from Friday November 1 to Sunday November 3.
In the Open Pro Stop Singles tournament Fergal Coughlan Junior defeated Daniel Badillo (25-6) and Daniel Hernandez (25-15) in the qualifier rounds and in the main draw he was defeated by Sean Lenning (15-4, 15-5) and Abe Montijo (25-12).
Fergal Jnr finished the tournament in 12th place and as a result qualified for the next round of the Race 4 Eight Pro Stop circuit.
Seán Coughlan played in a number of events over the course of the weekend. He competed in the Open Pro Stop Singles qualifiers where he defeated Jair Cano (25-0) and he lost out to Marco Lemus (25-14). Seán also competed in the Men’s A Doubles where he partnered his father Fergal Coughlan Senior.
The Clare pair were defeated by Sanchez and Magana (15-13, 15-3). However this was not the end of Seán Coughlan’s weekend as he also competed in the Boys 17 and Under Singles Event.
Seán played some outstanding handball all weekend and this continued in his primary event where he defeated B Castillo, C Stout and R Asokan to claim the Boys 17 and Under Title.
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Mixed fortunes for Clare sides in Munster Inter Club
There were two Clare sides in action this week in the Munster Inter Club Championships. The Inter Club Championship is a team event, with teams compromising four players. Matches are broken down into three ties; tie 1 – singles, tie 2 – doubles and tie 3 – singles. Each tie has 2 games to 15 points in each.
The total aggregate score from all games will decide the winner.
Newmarket on Fergus travelled to Conna on Monday October 28th to play Conna (Cork) in the Munster 40 x 20 Inter Club Junior B Quarter Final.
In the first tie Darragh Burke won on an overall score of 27-19, Paul Gleeson and Darren Cullinane lost out in their tie on a score of 21-27 overall and in the last singles Glenn Murray closed out the match for Newmarket on an a score of 30-12, giving Newmarket a match win on an aggregate score line of 78-58.
This meant that Newmarket had earned themselves a home tie in the semi-final against Liscarroll (Cork) who had defeated Kilkishen’s Junior B team by a single point the week previous.
On Wednesday night, October 30th, Clooney Quin travelled to Cashel to face Friary Abbeyside (Waterford) in the Munster 40 x 20 Inter Club Junior Semi Final. Shane Hayes opened up proceedings for the Clooney team, but he faced stiff opposition in Kavan O’Keefe, 2018 All Ireland 40 x 20 Junior B Singles champion.
Clooney found themselves in an uphill battle after the first with the Waterford man defeating Hayes on an overall score of 30-9. In the doubles tie, John Cawley and Darren O’Neill were up against Philip Butler and Gary McCarthy. Cawley and O’Neill gave Clooney a glimmer of hope going into the last tie, when they finished on a score of 29-26.
This meant that going into the last the Waterford side needed to score 6 points to win. Pat Nolan of Clooney Quin went head to head with Anthony Fitzgerald, but it was Fitzgerald who closed out the match for Friary Abbeyside on a score of 27-26, giving the Waterford side the victory on an aggregate score of 86-61.
Newmarket on Fergus hosted Liscarroll (Cork) on Saturday morning November 2nd, in the Munster 40 x 20 Inter Club Junior B Semi Final. Newmarket went for the same line-up that had defeated Conna earlier in the week. Glenn Murray opened the match in impressive style giving Newmarket a commanding lead on an overall score of 30-11.
In the doubles Darren Cullinane and Paul Gleeson struggled to get into the tie and Liscarroll won out the doubles on an overall score of 30-18. This result gave Newmarket a 7 point lead going into the last tie. Darragh Burke knew that if he could score 24 points over the two games this would be enough to send Newmarket on to the final.
He was on track after the first game losing out on a score of 15-14 but more importantly the 14 points gained meant that he had to now get to 9 points in the last game. Unfortunately for Burke and Newmarket, the Liscarroll player was clinical and closed out the tie on a score of 15-4. This final tie gave Liscarroll a win on an aggregate score of 71-66.
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Clare Handball Juvenile Blitzes
Juvenile Blitzes continue this weekend with Round 2 games taking place in the Under 12/13, Uunder 14/15 and Under 18 grades in various venues across the county.
Under 12/13 A League Round 2, Sat Nov 9
Venue: Tuamgraney at 10am (Teams to attend: Clooney, Tuamgraney, Newmarket, Tulla, Kilkishen)
Under 12/13 B Blitz Round 2, Sat Nov 9
Venue: Toonagh at 10am (Teams to attend: Toonagh 1, Tulla, Newmarket, Tuamgraney 1, Clooney 1, Kilkishen)
Venue: Clooney at 10am (Teams to attend: Clooney 2, Clooney 3, Toonagh 2, Toonagh3, Tuamgraney 2, Tuamgraney 3)
Under 14/15 League Round 2, Sun Nov 10
Venue: Tuamgraney at 10am (Teams to attend: Tuamgraney 1, Clooney, Newmarket, Tuamgraney 2, Tulla)
Under 18 League Round 2, Sun Nov 10
Venue: Tulla at 6pm (Players to attend: Orla O’Brien, Leah Minogue, Jamie Howard, Seandha Liddy)
Venue: Clooney at 6pm (Players to attend: Arron Shanahan, David Considine, Tiarnan Slattery, Chloe Philpott)
Venue: Tuamgraney at 6pm (Players to attend: Gearóid Sheedy, Seán Coughlan, Seán Whytcombe, Tommy Minogue)
Venue: Newmarket at 6pm (Players to attend: Oisín McInerney, Tony Leyden, Patrick Crotty, Dara Keogh)
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Clare Handball Adult Championships Fixtures
Date: Thursday, November 7th, Venue: Kilkishen, Time: 20:00, OIC: B.Hannon
Intermediate (Women) Rd.1: Bridín Dinan -v- Caitríona Millane
U21 (Men) Rd.1: Mark Crehan -v- Darragh Burke
Date: Thursday, November 7th, Venue: Clooney, Time: 20:00, OIC: K O’Brien
Golden Masters B Rd.1: John Nihill -v- Mike Kenneally
Junior B (Men) Pre.2: Henry McGrath -v- Darren Cullinane
Date: Thursday, November 7th, Venue: Toonagh, Time: 20:00, OIC: E.Hynes
Masters B Rd.1: Brian Reilly -v- Alan Cummins
Date: Friday, November 8th, Venue: Tuamgraney, Time: 20:00, OIC: S.Walsh
Minor (Men) Rd.1: Tiarnan Slattery -v- Patrick Crotty
U21 (Men) Rd.1: Conor Downes -v- Fionn Slattery
Date: Saturday, November 9th, Venue: Tuamgraney, Time: 13:00, OIC: S.Walsh
Junior A (Men) Rd.1: Ciarán Malone -v- Pat Nolan
Junior A (Men) Rd.1: Christopher Philpott -v- Brian Fahy
Date: Saturday, November 9th, Venue: Clooney, Time: 18:00, OIC: P.Nolan
Intermediate (Men) QF1: John Cooney -v- Mark Rodgers
Intermediate (Men) QF2: Tiarnan Agnew -v- Cathal Hannon
Date: Sunday, November 10th, Venue: Tulla, Time: 17:00, OIC: J.Corbett/C.Hannon
Junior B (Men) Pre.1: Brendan Hannon -v- Blake Sheedy
Date: Monday, November 11th, Venue: Tulla, Time: 20:00, OIC: J.Corbett/C.Hannon
Junior B (Men) Pre.3: Ryan O’Neill -v- Kevin O’Callaghan
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Clare Handball League Division 1
Newmarket on the Move after Round 5
Newmarket on Fergus (Glenn Murray, Paul Gleeson, Mike Kelly, Darragh Burke) travelled to Tuamgraney (Fionn Slattery, Gearóid Sheedy, Tiarnan Slattery, Patrick Crotty) on Tuesday night October 29th. Newmarket have been on the march over the last couple of rounds but they would face a stiff test in the young Tuamgraney side.
It was the more experienced Newmarket side however who took victory on an overall score of 80-63.
In a rescheduled clash, Kilkishen A (Christy Philpott Jnr, Henry McGrath, Mark Crehan, Aidan Moroney) travelled to Clooney Quin (John Cawley, Darren O’Neill, Pat Nolan, John Nihil) on Friday night November 1st. This match flew into action with neither side willing to give way to the other with the first two pairings finishing level on a score of 41-41.
Unfortunately for Kilkishen, Clooney took command in the second tie and closed out the match on an overall score line of 83-53.
The match of Round 6 will be the return clash of Newmarket on Fergus v Tuamgraney
Tues Nov 5th at 8pm – Clare Handball League – Division 1, Round 6
Venue: Kilkishen – Match: Kilkishen A v Clooney
Venue: Newmarket – Match: Newmarket on Fergus v Tuamgraney
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Clare Handball League Division 2
Tuamgraney Win Again
Tuamgraney (Conor Downes, Thomas Minogue, Gearóid Sheedy, Shane Walsh) travelled to Clooney to take on Clooney Quin A (Pa Clune, John Nihil, Conor Clune, Ryan O’Neill) in Round 6. Clooney would have hoped that home advantage would help them to victory against the undefeated Tuamgraney team, but this was not to be the case.
Tuamgraney won out on an overall score line of 84-53.
In Toonagh the home side (Kevin Hassett, Shane Griffin, Alan Cummins, Michael Callinan) got back to winning ways when they saw off the challenge of Clooney Quin B on an overall score line of 74-63.
The tie of Newmarket versus Kilkishen has been postponed and is to be played at a later date.
Tie of Round 7 will be, Newmarket on Fergus v Clooney A.
Wed Nov 06th at 8pm – Clare Handball League – Division 2, Round 7
Venue: Clooney – Match: Clooney Quin B v Kilkishen
Venue: Newmarket – Match: Newmarket on Fergus v Clooney Quin A
Venue: Clarecastle – Match: Clarecastle v Toonagh
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Clare Handball League Division 3
Clooney Quin win Two on the Bounce
Clooney Quin (Kevin Keogh, David Sheehy, Rory Corbett, Brian Clune) travelled to Kilkishen (David Kennedy, Fergal Kennedy, Keith Crehan, Diarmuid Boyce) to play Round 4. Clooney made it their second win in a row as they took the points on an overall score of 84-55.
In Toonagh, Toonagh A (Michael Callinan, Brian Reilly, Noel Barry, Philip Lucas) hosted Tuamgraney (Keith Hogan, Oisín Molloy, Jason McCarthy, Emmett Ryan). Toonagh A have looked extremely composed this year in Division 3 and they continued this form with an impressive 84-17 victory.
The tie of Newmarket v Toonagh B has been postponed and is to be played at a later date.
Next week’s match of Round 5 is Kilkishen v Toonagh A.
Mon Nov 04th at 8pm – Clare Handball League – Division 3, Round 5
Venue: Toonagh – Match: Toonagh B v Clooney Quin
Venue: Kilkishen – Match: Kilkishen v Toonagh A
Venue: Tuamgraney – Match: Tuamgraney v Newmarket on Fergus
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