Local Handball Notes (week ending 24th November 2019)

U14/15 League Winners Tuamgraney: Liam Madden, Mici Sheedy, Eimear Rodgers, Liam Minogue.

Clare Handball U14/15 and U12/13 Leagues end on a high

In an effort to develop the game of handball within the county, Clare Handball introduced some innovative changes to juvenile handball in Co. Clare this year. Among these changes was the introduction of Under 12/13 and Under 14/15 Leagues.

These leagues commenced in early October and were run over multiple weekends in various venues across the county. The leagues were played in a team format, with four players on each team. All four players competed as doubles pairings, gaining points for their teams for every game won.

CONTINUE READING BELOW

There were teams representing Tuamgraney, Newmarket on Fergus, Toonagh, Kilkishen, Clooney Quin and Tulla Handball Clubs in action.

Last Sunday, November 24th, saw Tulla Handball Club hosting the finals of the U14/15 League. Tuamgraney took the Clare Handball U14/15 A League Title for 2019 after overcoming Tulla in the semi-final and defeating Clooney Quin in an epic final, winning out by the narrowest of margins, 44-43.

The victorious Tuamgraney team was represented in the final by Liam Madden, Mici Sheedy, Eimear Rodgers and Liam Minogue

Newmarket was the place to be on Saturday, November 23rd, as it hosted the finals of the U12/13 A League. Clooney Quin won the Clare Handball U12/13 A League Title for 2019 when they defeated Kilkishen in the semi-final and Tuamgraney in the final on an impressive overall score of 60-25.

The players representing Clooney Quin in the final were Ellen Collins, Jerry O’Connor, Matthew Coughlan, Cormac Hale and Cathal Leamy.

====

Adult County Championship Results

The Clare Handball Adult Championship are in full swing now, with games coming thick and fast in various grades. Last week’s action started on Thursday night, November 21, in Kilkishen with the Men’s Junior Singles, where Christy Philpott Jnr had an impressive win against Pat Nolan 21-12, 21-15.

On the same night in Newmarket tiebreakers were needed in both Men’s Junior B Singles matches, where Séan Murphy defeated Darren Cullinane 21-3, 20-21, 21-19 and Shane Walsh defeated Darren O’Neill 21-14, 17-21, 21-19.

On Friday night the spotlight was on the Men’s U21 grade where there were two matches in action in the newly re-floored O’Callaghan’s Mills court. In the first tie Conor Downes defeated Mark Crehan 21-18, 21-13 and in the second tie Darragh Burke defeated Fionn Slattery 21-12, 21-17.

The marquee championship in Clare this year has to be the Men’s Intermediate Championship where there are outstanding players throughout. Tuamgraney hosted the semi-finals of the Men’s Intermediate Singles Championship on Saturday.

In the first semi Niall Bolton defeated Mark Rogers 21-14, 19-21, 21-13 and in the second Fergal Coughlan Jnr defeated Tiarnan Agnew 21-14, 21-15. This sets up a mouth-watering final, which will be a repeat of the Clare Open Final, held on the October bank holiday weekend, where Niall Bolton took the spoils.

Also played in Tuamgraney on Saturday was the Men’s Minor Singles clash of Seán Coughlan versus Tiarnan Slattery. Seán Coughlan won this on a score line of 21-11, 21-13. Later on Saturday a large crowd gathered in Clooney for three matches in the Men’s Junior B Singles Championship. First up Glenn Murray defeated Brendan Hannon 21-4, 21-2.

In the second match Kevin O’Callaghan defeated Paul Gleeson 21-10, 21-8. The last tie produced a very competitive game where Shane Walsh defeated Shane Hayes 21-4, 21-20.

Finally on Saturday night in Kilkishen, Aidan Moroney defeated Alan Cummins 21-18, 21-9 in the Men’s Masters B Singles.

On Sunday in O’Callaghan’s Mills, Seán Murphy/Kevin O’Callaghan defeated Shane Walsh/Oisín Molloy 21-14, 21-9 in the Men’s Junior B Doubles.

Clare Handball Adult Championship Fixtures

Date: Thursday, November 28th, Venue: Tuamgraney, Time: 20:00

Men’s Junior B Singles: Shane Walsh -v- Kevin O’Callaghan.

Date: Friday, November 29th, Venue: Tulla, Time: 20:00

Men’s Junior B Singles: Glenn Murray -v- Seán Murphy.

Date: Sunday, December 1st, Venue: Tulla, Time: 18:00

Men’s Junior B Doubles SF1: Glenn Murray/Blake Sheedy -v- Shane Hayes/Darren O’Neill

Date: Wednesday, December 4th, Venue: O’Callaghan’s Mills, Time: 20:00

Men’s Junior B Doubles SF2: Ryan O’Neill/Patrick Clune -v- Seán Murphy/Kevin O’Callaghan

====

Clare Handball League Division 1

Kilkishen B and Newmarket ramp up the pressure

The pressure is really on at the top of Division 1 with three teams now vying for top spot. Last year’s defending champions Clooney Quin have been sitting pretty at the top of the table since week one but after Round 8, they now find themselves in a battle with Newmarket on Fergus and Kilkishen B.

The format of this year’s league is such that the top two teams, once all home and away ties are completed after Round 10, will play a straight final. This means that two of these three teams will play in this year’s final, but with two rounds to go anything could happen.

In Round 8 Kilkishen B (Conor Cooney, John Cooney, Barry McMahon, Jacob Loughnane) recorded what could prove to be a pivotal win against Clooney Quin (Fergal Coughlan Jnr, John Cawley, Shane Hayes, Pat Nolan) on a score line of 72-49.

This win for Kilkishen B puts them back in contention for one of the top two spots, which would send them to the Division 1 final.

Newmarket on Fergus (Mike Kelly, Glenn Murray, Blake Sheedy, Darragh Burke) heaped even more pressure on Clooney Quin when they took the points after an impressive 79-56 victory over Kilkishen A (Mark Crehan, Brendan Hannon, Aidan Moroney, Cathaoir Agnew).

The match of Round 9 will be the derby clash of Kilkishen A v Kilkishen B

Tues Nov 26th at 8pm – Clare Handball League – Division 1, Round 9

Venue: Kilkishen – Match: Kilkishen A v Kilkishen B

Venue: Clooney – Match: Clooney Quin v Tuamgraney

====

Clare Handball League Division 2

Clooney A take bragging rights

There was a large crowd in Clooney on Wednesday night, November 20th, to witness the latest instalment of the Clooney derby. Clooney Quin B (Cian Keogh, Kevin O’Brien, David Sheehy, Paschal Brooks) officially hosted Clooney Quin A (Conor Clune, Darren O’Neill, Pa Clune, John Nihill) with both sides relishing the chance to use home advantage in their favour!

It was Clooney A who won out on the night on a score line of 83-56.

In Newmarket the home side (Mike Kelly, Seadhna Liddy, Darragh Burke, Blake Sheedy) were unable to halt the charging Tuamgraney (Gearóid Sheedy, Cathal McKenna, Shane Walsh, Tommy Minogue) who won on a score line of 84-55.

Finally it was Kilkishen (Niall Crehan, Greg Shanahan, Mark Crehan, Jacob Loughnane) who had the most impressive win in Round 9, travelling to Clarecastle (Patrick Casey, Pakie Healy, Finbar Sheridan, Jamie Coughlan) and winning on a score line of 81-55.

Tie of Round 10 will be, Clooney A v Clarecastle.

Wed Nov 27th at 8pm – Clare Handball League – Division 2, Round 10

Venue: Tuamgraney – Match: Tuamgraney v Clooney Quin B

Venue: Kilkishen – Match: Kilkishen v Toonagh

Venue: Clooney – Match: Clooney A v Clarecastle

====

Clare Handball League Division 3

For Toonagh A only 100 percent will do

In Toonagh on Monday night November 18th, the home side Toonagh A (Brian Reilly, Michael Callinan, Noel Barry, Philip Lucas) welcomed Clooney Quin (Conor Stack, Rory Corbett, Brian Clune, Cian Keogh). Toonagh are fast becoming known in Clare as the ‘Invincibles’, as they once again scored an impressive victory in Round 7, on a score of 84-64.

In Kilkishen, the home side of (Fionn Hickey, Keith Crehan, Ciaran Agnew, Adam Murray) were in no luck as they lost out against Newmarket on Fergus (Barry O’Driscoll, Colin O’Halloran, Pat Callinan, Cian Fawl) on a score line of 72-51.

Next week’s match of Round 8 is Newmarket on Fergus v Toonagh A.

Mon Nov 25th at 8pm – Clare Handball League – Division 3, Round 8

Venue: Toonagh – Match: Toonagh B v Kilkishen

Venue: Newmarket – Match: Newmarket on Fergus v Toonagh A

Venue: Clooney – Match: Clooney Quin v Tuamgraney

====

Please follow Clare Handball on Social Media:

Facebook – @ClareHandball

Twitter – @ClareHandballCE