Two Clare handballers have picked up world titles in the last twenty four hours at the World Championships in Calgary.
Tiarnan Agnew was victorious in the Boys U15 Doubles Big Ball One Wall Championship alongside Omagh’s Cormac Munroe as they had a comprehensive 21-8 21-1 final win over Tyrone duo Antoin Fox and Lorcan McBride. Sixmilebridge’s Agnew has also been in action in the U15 Big Ball Singles where he lost out to Alex Corey in the quarter-finals. A student of St Caimins Community School in Shannon, Tiarnan will also compete in the Small Ball U15 Singles Championship.
Kilkishen’s Chloe Phillpot picked up a world title in the U11 Girls Doubles Big Ball One Wall Championship when she partnered Galway’s Sadhbh Ní Fhlaithearta to success. Chloe lost out at the semi-final stage of the U11 Singles but will team up with Ní Fhlaithearta once again in the Small Ball Girls U11 Doubles competition.
Natasha Coughlan fell at the final hurdle in the Female Singles Big Ball Open Wall C Championship after a tight affair with Pennsylvania’s Cassandra Rodriguez with a 21-5 21-16 defeat.
Tulla’s Aoife Floyd alongside Leah Doyle of Leixlip, Kildare lost out to Armagh duo Dearbhla Coleman and Megan McCann in the U15 Girls Doubles Big Ball One Wall Championship on a score of 21-9 21-14.
There were semi-final defeats for Fergal Coughlan, Doireann Murphy, Tom Crehan and Bernie Agnew in both Singles and Doubles while Clodagh Nash, Ella Donnellan, Sean Coughlan, Tadhg Floyd and Ciarán Agnew all tasted defeat in the Big Ball One Wall Championships.
Focus now turns to the Small Ball Championships where the Banner County will look to bring home more medals. Twenty Clare representatives will be in action in the coming days in Calgary with Tuamgraney’s Diarmaid Nash competing in the prestigious Men’s Open.
Tulla’s Colin Corbett begins his World Championship campaign in the U19 Singles while he will partner Cashel’s Daniel Hayes in the Doubles equivalent. Clare U21 Hurling panellist Colin Crehan springs into action in the U23 Singles Challenger and he will partner Monaghan’s Darren Doherty in the Men’s Open Doubles.
In the U17 Girls Doubles, Kilkishen’s Ella Donnellan will team up with Clarecastle’s Doireann Murphy with the duo a real medal prospect for the Irish team. Donnellan’s father Pat is also competing in the Veteran Gold Masters.
